Nailers vs. Fuel Game Day Snap Shot
January 10, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Good Thing They're Gone
The Wheeling Nailers can look at the remainder of their 2015-16 regular season schedule and smile, knowing that they won't have to face their Kryptonite, known as the Orlando Solar Bears. Orlando swept the brief two-game weekend series from the Nailers at WesBanco Arena, running their overall record to 7-0-0 in the all-time series. For the second straight night, Wheeling scored first, as Danny Fick fired in his first professional goal. The Solar Bears rallied back for a 2-1 lead late in the first period, before Andrew Cerretani's redirection evened the contest 2-2 after forty minutes. The teams exchanged goals in the first 10:59 of the third, with Matia Marcantuoni converting on a power play for the Nailers, but Orlando ended up with the final say, as TJ Foster broke a 3-3 deadlock with 6:51 remaining. Denver Manderson and Eric Faille added empty netters for a 6-3 final score. Ryan Massa defeated Brian Foster in goal.
Sweet Sweep at Home
The Indy Fuel were also involved in a two-game weekend sweep on Friday and Saturday night, but they were the ones who did the sweeping, as they took both games against the Evansville IceMen at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. On Friday night, the clubs battled to a 2-2 tie, until the 12:28 mark of the third period, when Michael Colantone netted the winning goal for the Fuel. Ben Marshall and Patrick Koudys lit the lamp from the blueline that night, while Mac Carruth backstopped the win with 28 saves. On Saturday, Shane Owen was handed the goaltending duties, and he didn't disappoint, blanking Evansville on a 32-shot attack. Indy scored once in each period, receiving goals from Adam Lapsansky, and two from Derek Roehl. The Fuel are now 5-2-0 in seven games against the IceMen in 2015-16.
Two Go Up, Three Come Down
Prior to Sunday's game, the Nailers and their AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, made a few exchanges with players on their rosters, as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton prepares for a Tuesday-Wednesday series in St. John's, Newfoundland. Making the trip up to the AHL are defenseman Harrison Ruopp and forward Matia Marcantuoni. Ruopp was recently with the AHL Penguins, before returning to Wheeling for the last four games. Marcantuoni played the last five games with the Nailers, returning from injury with three goals. The three players joining Wheeling are goaltender Casey DeSmith, as well as forwards Patrick McGrath and John McCarron. DeSmith backstopped his first pro win with 22 saves on January 3rd at Hartford, McGrath took part in his first two AHL fights against Eric Selleck and Mark Fraser, and McCarron also saw action in a pair of tilts.
Making Noise at the Higher Levels
In addition to the players in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the Nailers also have players performing well with other AHL clubs. On Saturday night, Zack Torquato and Riley Brace found the back of the net for the Chicago Wolves in a 5-2 defeat at the hands of the Texas Stars. Torquato's goal was his first in five games for Chicago, while Brace has added two assists in his five tilts with the Wolves. Those two are teammates with fellow ex-Nailer Scooter Vaughan, who began his professional career in Wheeling during the 2011-12 season. Further to the west, Derek Army has snatched two assists in five games with the Ontario Reign. One level higher, Tom Kuhnhackl made his National Hockey League debut for the Pittsburgh Penguins against Mike Condon and the Montreal Canadiens. Kuhnhackl registered a +1 rating and one blocked shot, receiving 9:26 of ice time in a 3-1 win for the Penguins.
The Bash at the Banc
Sunday afternoon marks the second of three head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Fuel this season, as well as the lone battle at WesBanco Arena. Last month, the two clubs collided for the Circle City Clash at Indiana Farmers Coliseum, which was won by Wheeling, 2-1, on Derek Army's goal with 10:07 to go in the third period. Last year, the Nailers and Fuel split four games, with each side winning once on home ice. The most significant of those four came in March, when Indy was attempting to climb into playoff contention, but an early four-goal outburst helped the Nailers maintain their position, ultimately locking up their 13th postseason appearance in team history. Wheeling and Indy will take the ice against each other again next Sunday in Indianapolis.
Wheeling Nailers (15-15-2-2, 34 Pts.) vs. Indy Fuel (16-18-2-0, 34 Pts.)
WHEELING NAILERS
(15-15-2-2, 34 PTS, 2nd North, 11th East)
103 GF, 111 GA
PP: 15.2% (22-for-145), 23rd
PK: 81.8% (108-for-132), 18th
20-F-Jarrett Burton (13 goals, 16 assists, 29 points in 34 games)
18-D-Mathew Maione (5 goals, 16 assists, 21 points in 32 games)
25-F-John McCarron (7 goals, 11 assists, 18 points in 29 games)
17-F-Anton Zlobin (5 goals, 9 assists, 14 points in 18 games)
27-D-Brett Stern (5 goals, 9 assists, 14 points in 34 games)
11-F-Cody Wydo (6 goals, 4 assists, 10 points in 21 games)
29-G-Franky Palazzese (9-9-2 record, 3.12 GAA, .895 Sv% in 20 games)
INDY FUEL
(16-18-2-0, 34 PTS, 4th Midwest, T-10th West)
85 GF, 96 GA
PP: 13.5% (17-for-126), 27th
PK: 85.3% (93-for-109), 8th
19-F-Alex Lavoie (9 goals, 18 assists, 27 points in 36 games)
41-F-Garett Bembridge (10 goals, 11 assists, 21 points in 34 games)
22-D-Ben Marshall (5 goals, 16 assists, 21 points in 36 games)
24-F-Dylan Clarke (7 goals, 11 assists, 18 points in 28 games)
7-F-Peter Schneider (7 goals, 9 assists, 16 points in 28 games)
27-D-Kevin Quick (1 goal, 13 assists, 14 points in 36 games)
50-G-Shane Owen (6-12-0 record, 2.38 GAA, .918 Sv% in 19 games)
Head to Head
Season Series: Nailers 1, Fuel 0
2014-15 Season Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 1, Fuel 1
All-Time Series: Nailers 3, Fuel 2
All-Time Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 1, Fuel 1
ECHL Stories from January 10, 2016
- Americans Big Second Period Leads to 5-2 Victory - Allen Americans
- Michalek, Mallards Blank Fort Wayne 2-0 - Quad City Mallards
- Fuel Get Fortunate in Final Minutes, Win 3-2 - Wheeling Nailers
- Allen Scores Five Straight to Sink Eagles 5-2 - Colorado Eagles
- Royals Stymie Stingrays to Snap Skid, 3-1 - Reading Royals
- Indy Completes Flawless Weekend with Win in Wheeling - Indy Fuel
- Beast Erupt for Seven Goals in Romp over K-Wings - Brampton Beast
- Power Play Tallies Push Royals Past Rays 3-1 Sunday - South Carolina Stingrays
- Breton's Penalty Shot Goal Kickstarts Aces Win - Alaska Aces
- Aces Knock off Gladiators 2-1 - Atlanta Gladiators
- K-Wings and Beast Combine for Ten, But Beast Hold Home Ice - Kalamazoo Wings
- Americans Host Colorado Today at 4:05 pm - Allen Americans
- Garbowsky and Kea Head to Rochester - Elmira Jackals
- ECHL Transactions - January 10 - ECHL
- Rush Add Scofield - Rapid City Rush
- Nailers vs. Fuel Game Day Snap Shot - Wheeling Nailers
- Mallards Game Day - Quad City Mallards
- Game Preview: South Carolina at Reading, 4:00 p.m. - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Today - January 10 - ECHL
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