ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers vs. IceMen Game Day Snap Shot

Published on April 4, 2014 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


WHEELING NAILERS

(37-25-1-5, 80 PTS, 2nd Atlantic, 7th East)

203 GF, 186 GA

PP: 15.6% (36-for-231), 13th

PK: 84.4% (232-for-275), 13th

15-F-Zack Torquato (14 goals, 38 assists, 52 points in 44 games)

21-F-Sahir Gill (11 goals, 38 assists, 49 points in 63 games)

16-F-Cody Sylvester (24 goals, 18 assists, 42 points in 49 games)

2-D-Mike Ratchuk (15 goals, 26 assists, 41 points in 65 games)

7-F-Max MacKay (16 goals, 22 assists, 38 points in 56 games)

98-F-Chaz Johnson (13 goals, 20 assists, 33 points in 60 games)

1-G-Mike Condon (21-12-4 record, 2.27 GAA, .927 Sv% in 37 games)

EVANSVILLE ICEMEN

(29-28-4-7, 69 PTS, 4th North, 10th East)

212 GF, 225 GA

PP: 19.3% (50-for-259), 1st

PK: 79.4% (208-for-262), 21st

15-F-Nathan Moon (11 goals, 33 assists, 44 points in 47 games)

19-F-Daultan Leveille (20 goals, 22 assists, 42 points in 63 games)

23-F-Kellan Tochkin (10 goals, 29 assists, 39 points in 53 games)

17-F-Matt Lowry (15 goals, 21 assists, 36 points in 49 games)

29-D-Matt Krug (12 goals, 22 assists, 34 points in 66 games)

9-F-Kevin Lynch (12 goals, 21 assists, 33 points in 63 games)

35-G-Mike Clemente (18-17-5 record, 2.86 GAA, .902 Sv% in 41 games)

Head-to-Head

Season Series: IceMen 2, Nailers 1

Season Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 1, IceMen 1

All-Time Series: Nailers 3, IceMen 3

All-Time Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 3, IceMen 1

No Fish in Condon's Pond

The Wheeling Nailers have won the first four games of their current six-game homestand, while coming out on top in six straight home contests, dating back to March 14th. Earlier in the week, Wheeling swept a pair of games from the Toledo Walleye, winning by scores of 4-0 on Tuesday and 3-0 on Wednesday. Mike Condon was the netminder for both tilts, as he combined to make 65 saves, earning his fourth and fifth shutouts of the campaign. Christiaan Minella, Tyler Fernandez, and Tom Kuhnhackl were the goal scorers on Wednesday, with Minella and Fernandez both extending their goal streaks to four games.

Putting on the Mileage

The Evansville IceMen are playing in the fifth of eight consecutive games away from Ford Center, when they visit the Nailers on Friday. Last weekend, Evansville made its lone visit of the season to the Sunshine State, where it went 0-2-1 against Florida and Orlando. On Thursday night, the IceMen added the North Division to their journey, as they fell 4-1 to Cincinnati at US Bank Arena. Road play has been an issue for Evansville during the 2013-14 campaign, as the IceMen have won just nine of their first 32 games on opposition ice. A Wheeling victory would eliminate Evansville from postseason play.

5-on-5 Would be Welcomed

Over the course of their last ten victories, the Nailers have scored just one power play goal, as they have dominated their opposition when playing 5-on-5. During those ten contests, Wheeling has netted 42 goals, with 39 coming at even strength, two shorthanded, and one on the man advantage. On the season, even strength play has been one of the keys to the Nailers' success, as they have outscored their opposition by 20 goals in that situation. Meanwhile, Evansville has seen a large amount of special teams goals this season, as the IceMen rank first in the ECHL with a 19.3% power play, while also ranking 21st with a 79.4% penalty kill.

Four Straight Seasons of 20

WesBanco Arena has seen lots of success for the Nailers and Thunderbirds during its 22 years as an ECHL building, and that has been the case again this season. On Wednesday night, Wheeling secured its 20th home victory of the season, marking the fourth year in a row, fifth in the last six, and 14th overall that the team has been able to reach that plateau. The Nailers also eclipsed the 40-point mark at home for the sixth consecutive campaign. If Wheeling can win its final two home contests, it would give the club its highest win total at home since the 2005-06 season.

Last Home Game Against the North

Friday night marks the fourth and final head-to-head meeting between the Nailers and IceMen this season, as well as the third battle between the two clubs at WesBanco Arena. Evansville has won two of the prior three contests, picking up a 6-3 victory in Wheeling on December 20th and a 4-3 home win on March 21st. The Nailers' lone triumph took place on December 21st, when they erased a 2-1 deficit, with Scott Zurevinski's tying goal at 19:51 of the third, before Mike Ratchuk netted the overtime goal at 4:17. The two sides have split the first six games of the all-time series, with Wheeling going 3-1-0 on home ice.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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