ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers vs. Cyclones Game Day Snap Shot

Published on February 7, 2015 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Wheeling Nailers (21-22-0-0, 42 PTS) vs. Cincinnati Cyclones (20-19-0-4, 44 PTS)

WHEELING NAILERS

(21-22-0-0, 42 PTS, 5th North, 11th East)

129 GF, 134 GA

PP: 19.1% (31-for-162), 7th

PK: 84.6% (148-for-175), 8th

23-F-Riley Brace (13 goals, 29 assists, 42 points in 32 games)

16-F-Derek Army (18 goals, 19 assists, 37 points in 43 games)

15-F-Zack Torquato (10 goals, 24 assists, 34 points in 30 games)

12-F-David Gilbert (13 goals, 16 assists, 29 points in 40 games)

3-D-Morgan Ellis (12 goals, 11 assists, 23 points in 35 games)

98-F-Chaz Johnson (10 goals, 6 assists, 16 points in 38 games)

14-D-Tristin Llewellyn (4 goals, 12 assists, 16 points in 37 games)

30-G-Eric Hartzell (10-8-0 record, 2.62 GAA, .914 Sv% in 18 games)

CINCINNATI CYCLONES

(20-19-0-4, 44 PTS, T-3rd North, T-8th East)

125 GF, 131 GA

PP: 13.3% (21-for-158), 25th

PK: 80.3% (110-for-137), 24th

20-F-Josh Shalla (16 goals, 19 assists, 35 points in 43 games)

51-F-Branden Gracel (9 goals, 14 assists, 23 points in 40 games)

25-F-David Pacan (6 goals, 17 assists, 23 points in 34 games)

11-F-Stephan Vigier (9 goals, 11 assists, 20 points in 38 games)

12-D-David MacDonald (5 goals, 15 assists, 20 points in 35 games)

10-F-Geoff Irwin (12 goals, 3 assists, 15 points in 38 games)

23-F-Brian Nugent (4 goals, 11 assists, 15 points in 42 games)

29-G-Rob Madore (8-9-3 record, 2.77 GAA, .896 Sv% in 21 games)

Head-to-Head

Season Series: Nailers 1, Cyclones 1

Season Series at WesBanco Arena: First Meeting

All-Time Series: Nailers 55, Cyclones 54

All-Time Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 32, Cyclones 24

Taking Down the Top

The Wheeling Nailers began a four-game homestand Friday night, when they challenged the North Division leading Toledo Walleye at WesBanco Arena. Wheeling's lethal home power play opened the scoring late in the first period, on a redirection goal by David Gilbert, before Chaz Johnson's tenth tally of the season added to the advantage in the middle frame. Kyle Bonis cut the margin to one during the early stages of the third period, but Riley Brace had the final say, banging in two insurance markers for a 4-1 final score in favor of the Nailers. Franky Palazzese turned in a second straight stellar start on a Friday, as he backstopped the win with 27 saves. Wheeling has now defeated a first place team on four occasions this season.

Spinning Back to the Pack

The Cincinnati Cyclones reached their high water mark on January 23rd, when they were five games over .500, holding a 19-14-4 mark. Since then, life has become challenging for Cincinnati, who has gone 1-5-0, allowing at least four goals in all six contests. Most recently, the Cyclones traveled to Elmira on Friday night, where David Pacan put the visitors ahead at the 3:12 mark of the first period. That turned out to be the lone celebration for Cincinnati, as the Jackals rattled off four straight markers, erasing the early deficit for a 4-1 win. Taylor Stefishen, Justin Kea, Riley Wetmore, and Mike Seidel were the four players who solved Rob Madore, helping Travis Fullerton to a positive decision between the pipes.

Another Four-Point Game on the Line

For the second straight weekend, the Nailers find themselves facing a big divisional game against a team very close by in the standings. Wheeling, Cincinnati, and Kalamazoo are separated by just two points, with the Cyclones and Wings currently holding the final two playoff spots at 44 points, and the Nailers nipping at their heels with 42 points. Kalamazoo continues to have played the fewest games out of the three, playing its 41st on Saturday evening, while Wheeling and Cincinnati will both play their 44th. Thanks to a 10-1-1 run, the Indy Fuel are five points out of a playoff spot, and will play game 46 on Saturday. The Nailers have two games remaining against the Cyclones (including Saturday), three against the Wings, and one against the Fuel.

Half-Dozen in Double Digits

With his second period tally on Friday, Chaz Johnson became the sixth member of the 2014-15 Nailers to reach double digits in goals, as he netted his tenth of the campaign. This is nothing new for Johnson, who has lit the lamp over 150 times during his ten-year professional career, reaching the ten-goal mark nine times, while also racking up at least 20 goals on four occasions. If Chaz can keep up his current pace, he will be able to eclipse his totals from each of the previous two seasons, when he ended up with 12 and 13 goals respectively. The other five players with at least ten goals this season are Derek Army (18), Riley Brace (13), David Gilbert (13), Morgan Ellis (12), and Zack Torquato (10).

They Finally Came Here

Saturday night marks the third of four head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Cyclones this season, as well as the first of two battles between the two clubs at WesBanco Arena. Wheeling and Cincinnati have split the first two matches of the season series, as both sides came away with one-goal victories in the Queen City. The Nailers earned their triumph, 4-3 on November 8th, thanks to an early third period goal by David Gilbert, while the Cyclones came away with the two points on January 3rd, as they busted out to a 3-0 lead, before Wheeling crawled back to within one. The two long-time rivals have not faced off in West Virginia since March 15th, 2014, when Mike Condon pitched a 31-save shutout in a 2-0 Nailers win.

Saturday, February 7th is Duck Dynasty Night at 8:05 against Cincinnati, with an appearance by Jep Robertson from A&E's highest rated television show. Fans can purchase a McDonald's Friends & Family Pack at the Nailers office for $39.99, consisting of four tickets, four hats, and four McDonald's Value Meal coupons.

Sunday, February 8th is a 4:05 face-off against Elmira, and after the game, fans can join the Nailers for a post game skate. Kids tickets for that contest will be $5, and the Oglebay Good Zoo will have an exhibit in the concourse.

Friday, February 13th is Swipe Right Night on Valentine's Eve at 7:35 against Reading, as the Nailers invite all singles to the game to hopefully find their match. That evening will also be a Flat Screen Friday, Frosty Friday, and Player Poster Giveaway.

Wheeling Nailers 2015-16 season tickets, as well as flex tickets, group tickets and single-game tickets for 2014-15 are on sale now. For more information, call 304-234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com.

Listen to all Nailers regular season and post-season games live on the Valley's rock station EAGLE 107.5 FM, on www.iheartradio.com or watch live on www.echl.tv. Catch every road game live on WLUTV on Comcast Cable 14.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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