ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers Open Four-Game Trip Tonight

Published on February 20, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


WHEELING, W.Va. - Locked in an ongoing battle for a playoff spot in the North Division, the Wheeling Nailers begin an important 4-game road trip tonight when they take on the Trenton Devils at 7:30 p.m.

Wheeling, sporting a 25-17-7 record, has compiled 57 points and is in fifth place in the North Division, just one point behind the Devils (27-19-4). Johnstown is in first place in the North Division, but only five points ahead of the Nailers.

The Nailers should get a boost when they welcome back defenseman Reid Cashman and veteran forward Kelly Miller tonight. Cashman has split time this season with the Nailers and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He was re-assigned today to the Nailers. Due to an injury, Miller has been out of the lineup since Wheeling defeated Dayton 3-2 on Feb. 6.

Wheeling travels to Reading on Saturday for a 7:05 p.m. contest, then plays Trenton again at 6 p.m. on Sunday and 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

The Nailers' next home stand is Feb. 27-28 when they host Dayton and Trenton, respectively. The Feb. 27 game is Friday Family Four Pack Night, where families receive four tickets, four sodas, four hotdogs and one large popcorn for just $44. In addition, a collector poster will be given away to the first 2,500 fans in attendance. A Coal Miner Spike Bobble Head will be given away to the first 2,500 fans in attendance at the Feb. 28 game.

For complete game notes, click here.

2008-09 Records

Wheeling: 25-17-2-5, 57 points (5th place, North Division)

Trenton: 27-19-2-2, 58 points (4th place, North Division)

Last Time Out

Wheeling - The Nailers were defeated by the Johnstown Chiefs on Sunday, Feb. 15, 5-2. Bryan Ewing gave the Nailers a 1-0 lead 40 seconds into the game, but Johnstown recovered and got two goals apiece from Andrew Sarauer and Petr Pohl down the stretch.

Trenton - The Trenton Devils defeated the Reading Royals on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 4-1. The win pushed the Devils into playoff position for the first time this season, setting up a trio of important games against fifth-place Wheeling over the next five days. Matt Radoslovich and Jeff Prough led Trenton with one goal and one assist apiece in the Feb. 18 victory.

Nailers v. Devils, Head-to-Head in 2008-09

Wheeling is 3-1-0-1 against Trenton this season. Trenton, however, won the last contest 3-2 on Feb. 11. The Nailers are 14-9-1-2 against the Devils in the last five years.

Head Coaches

Wheeling - Greg Puhalski (2nd season)

Trenton - Rick Kowalsky (3rd season)

NHL Affiliate

Wheeling - Pittsburgh Penguins

Trenton - New Jersey Devils

AHL Affiliate

Wheeling - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Trenton - Lowell Devils

Cash is Back

Defenseman Reid Cashman, who has split time this season between Wheeling and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, was re-assigned to the Nailers today. In 14 games with the Nailers this season, he has scored three goals and added 10 assists.

Miller Time Again

Veteran forward Kelly Miller is expected to be in uniform tonight when the Nailers take on the Devils. Due to an injury, Miller has not played since Wheeling defeated Dayton 3-2 on Feb. 6.

Newest Nailer

Forward Billy Ryan joined the Nailers on Feb. 17. Ryan, 23, was a 2004 third round NHL Entry Draft selection of the New York Rangers. He was the 80th pick overall in the NHL's 2004 draft. The left-hander played collegiately at the University of Maine, where he played in 135 games with the Black Bears and scored 35 goals with 57 assists. Ryan saw ice time in 15 games with the AHL's Philadelphia Phantoms this season.

Top Scorers

Wheeling - Back with the Nailers after a short stint with the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Bryan Ewing is Nailers' offensive leader with 33 goals and 31 assists (64 points) in 46 games. Jordan Morrison is the team's second leading scorer with 17 goals and 42 assists (59 points) in 45 games.

Trenton - Defenseman Ryan Gunderson leads the Devils with 39 points (3G, 36A). Winger Eric Castonguay is the second leading scorer with 13 goals and 24 assists (37 points).

Nailers Currently With AHL Teams

Tommy Goebel (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton); Nick Johnson (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton); Cliff Loya (Portland); Rob Sirianni (Philadelphia); Shane Willis (Springfield).

Notes

Bryan Ewing, recently returned to the Nailers from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, is the second leading scorer in the ECHL with 64 points (33G, 31A) in 46 games. ... Ewing leads all rookies in goals scored and points. ... Ewing is also tied for the league best in shorthanded goals (5). ... Jordan Morrison is Wheeling's second leading scorer and overall fifth best points-getter in the league with 59 (17G, 42A). Morrison and Ewing have 11- and 10-game home points streaks, respectively. ... Nailers goalie Curtis Darling is fourth in the league with 2,071 minutes and 1,018 saves. ... The Nailers have the best home power play in the league at 26.2 percent. They are fourth overall in the league on the power play at 21.2 percent. ... Wheeling is the second highest scoring team in the ECHL with an average of 3.8 goals scored per game. ... Wheeling is 19-2-0-0 when leading after two periods. ... Forward Aaron Clarke leads the Nailers against Trenton with seven assists and is tied for the team lead with 10 points. ... Curtis Darling is 2-1-0 with a goals-against average of 2.46 against Trenton. ... Trenton goaltender Gerald Coleman is 11-2-1 with a goals-against average of 2.26 in his last 14 games. ... Eric Castonguay has led Trenton against Wheeling this season with five assists and six points in three games.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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ECHL Stories from February 20, 2009


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