Nailers vs. Americans Game Day Snap Shot
June 3, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
One in the Bank on Home Ice
The Wheeling Nailers tied another team record on Wednesday night, as they picked up their seventh home victory of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. For the second straight game, the win came in nailbiting fashion. After a scoreless first period, the Nailers got on the board first at 3:18 of the middle frame, when Ty Loney stole the puck in his own zone, before leading and scoring on a 2-on-1 rush. Allen answered back immediately, but Wheeling regained the lead later in the stanza, as Anton Zlobin tipped in his sixth power play goal of the postseason - a total which ranks second in the league. The Americans pulled even with a power play goal in the third period, but with 12:35 left, a new hero rose to the occasion. James Melindy scored his first career postseason goal to give the Nailers a 3-2 lead. Franky Palazzese made 28 saves to help that translate into the final score, including 13 stops in the third period.
Battle Back Twice, but Not Thrice
The Allen Americans found themselves trailing for the second contest in a row, but battled back to tie the Nailers twice in game three on Wednesday night. Just 43 seconds after Wheeling opened the scoring in the second period, Allen came up with a response, as Gary Steffes took a pass from linemate Chad Costello, and wired a slap shot into the top-right corner of the cage. The Americans fell behind again later in the middle frame, but at the 4:22 mark of the third period, their top ranked power play came up with the equalizer. Costello was once again involved in setting up the play, as he fed Greger Hanson, who quickly spun in a shot from the left side of the slot. Despite a strong third period which featured 14 shots on goal, Allen was unable to come up with another tying goal in support of Riley Gill, who made 24 saves in his first start of the series.
Number One was a Big One
James Melindy will remember Wednesday night's clash for a long time to come, as he broke a 2-2 tie with 12:35 remaining in regulation, giving the Nailers a 2-1 lead in the Kelly Cup Final Series. The goal was the first of Melindy's professional playoff career, in addition to being his first postseason point. This spring is James' first taste of playoff hockey since his final season of juniors in 2012-13. The 22-year old became the 17th different player to score a goal for Wheeling during the team's run and the 22nd player (including both goalies) to record a point. He is also the eighth player to net a game winning goal and second defenseman to do so, joining Mathew Maione, who is second on the club with three deciding strikes.
You Will Help Make History
In the first 23 games of their postseason run, the Nailers have set new, incredibly high marks in their history, picking off team records one after another, while also tapping into the league's history books on occasion. On Friday night, Wheeling will join an elite group, thanks to its outstanding fans, who are experiencing a championship series for the second time in 24 years. Prior to 2016, there have been 32 games played in the Riley Cup Finals and Kelly Cup Finals which have been sold out. There have already been over 5,000 tickets sold for game four on Friday, meaning that will go into the history books as the 33rd championship sellout in ECHL history. If games four and five both become sellouts, the overall playoff attendance number for the Nailers will jump over 36,000, which will be the second highest total in team history.
More June Hockey in Wheeling
Friday night is game four of the Kelly Cup Final Series between the Nailers and Americans, as well as the second of three battles at WesBanco Arena. Allen skated on Wheeling ice for the first time ever on Wednesday night, as the Nailers came away with the 3-2 victory, improving to 7-4 at home during the current postseason and 37-29 at home all-time in the playoffs. 2016 has been Wheeling's most successful year at home during the spring dance since 1993, when the Thunderbirds posted a 7-1 mark during their run to the Riley Cup Final. With that mark, the Nailers are guaranteed to have a winning home record in the postseason for the first time since 1998, and will be in search of two more victories to lock up the club's first championship. Thanks to Wednesday's triumph, Wheeling will be the only team that can win the trophy if the series were to end in West Virginia during the first three home games ever played in June.
Wheeling Nailers (14-9) vs. Allen Americans (13-8)
WHEELING NAILERS
(14-9)
74 GF, 72 GA
PP: 22.7% (22-for-97), 2nd
PK: 85.2% (92-for-108), 4th
23-F-Riley Brace (5 goals, 20 assists, 25 points in 23 games)
18-D-Mathew Maione (6 goals, 15 assists, 21 points in 23 games)
25-F-John McCarron (10 goals, 10 assists, 20 points in 22 games)
11-F-Cody Wydo (9 goals, 9 assists, 18 points in 23 games)
24-F-Ty Loney (7 goals, 9 assists, 16 points in 23 games)
19-F-Shane Bakker (5 goals, 9 assists, 14 points in 23 games)
29-G-Franky Palazzese (5-3 record, 2.27 GAA, .913 Sv% in 10 games)
(37-26-5-4, 83 PTS, 2nd North, 5th East)
214 GF, 211 GA
PP: 17.8% (48-for-269), 9th
PK: 83.6% (225-for-269), 15th
23-F-Riley Brace (26 goals, 41 assists, 67 points in 56 games)
18-D-Mathew Maione (11 goals, 43 assists, 54 points in 70 games)
11-F-Cody Wydo (23 goals, 27 assists, 50 points in 59 games)
25-F-John McCarron (14 goals, 17 assists, 31 points in 51 games)
17-F-Jordan Kwas (9 goals, 20 assists, 29 points in 60 games)
27-D-Brett Stern (7 goals, 17 assists, 24 points in 72 games)
29-G-Franky Palazzese (20-15-3 record, 2.86 GAA, .906 Sv% in 39 games)
ALLEN AMERICANS
(13-8)
69 GF, 60 GA
PP: 27.8% (25-for-90), 1st
PK: 79.3% (69-for-87), 11th
13-F-Chad Costello (5 goals, 24 assists, 29 points in 21 games)
15-F-Greger Hanson (13 goals, 7 assists, 20 points in 20 games)
10-D-David Makowski (5 goals, 15 assists, 20 points in 18 games)
12-F-Gary Steffes (11 goals, 5 assists, 16 points in 21 games)
7-D-Eric Roy (3 goals, 13 assists, 16 points in 20 games)
16-F-Vincent Arseneau (7 goals, 6 assists, 13 points in 19 games)
30-G-Riley Gill (9-5 record, 2.43 GAA, .918 Sv% in 16 games)
(41-24-3-4, 89 PTS, 2nd Central, 4th West)
222 GF, 204 GA
PP: 21.1% (58-for-275), 1st
PK: 86.4% (247-for-286), 3rd
13-F-Chad Costello (24 goals, 79 assists, 103 points in 72 games)
18-F-Casey Pierro-Zabotel (15 goals, 32 assists, 47 points in 58 games)
12-F-Gary Steffes (22 goals, 23 assists, 45 points in 69 games)
10-D-David Makowski (17 goals, 21 assists, 38 points in 54 games)
43-D-Matt Register (7 goals, 30 assists, 37 points in 53 games)
15-F-Greger Hanson (14 goals, 22 assists, 36 points in 33 games)
30-G-Riley Gill (13-12-1 record, 2.74 GAA, .907 Sv% in 29 games)
Head to Head
Playoff Series: Nailers 2, Americans 1
Playoff Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 1, Americans 0
No Previous Games Between the Teams
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