Nailers vs. Jackals Game Day Snap Shot
December 6, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Torquato Tallies Teddy Goal
The Wheeling Nailers will take the ice on Sunday, looking to forget the past 24 hours as quickly as possible, following an ugly 6-1 loss to the South Carolina Stingrays on Saturday night. South Carolina had fallen to Wheeling 3-2 the night before, and came out surging, grabbing a 3-0 lead in the opening period of play. The visiting Stingrays added two more goals to their lead in the middle frame, before tallying once more in the third. With 18.2 seconds remaining, Zack Torquato got the lone goal for the Nailers, leading to the annual Teddy Bear Toss, as a plethora of bears came raining on the ice. The attendance of 3,454 was the third highest of the season at WesBanco Arena.
Putting the Wraps on a Northern Week
The Elmira Jackals have already had a busy week, as they will play their fourth game in five days, when they lace up the skates at WesBanco Arena on Sunday afternoon. All three of the Jackals' previous games took place on home ice against the Kalamazoo Wings, whom they defeated in two of three contests. Elmira was victorious 4-1 on Wednesday and 3-1 on Saturday, as goaltender CJ Motte allowed only two goals on 47 shots. The loss came on Friday, when Kalamazoo's Joel Martin turned in a 47-save performance for the Wings in a 3-2 decision. Allan McPherson was the only player to light the lamp multiple times during the mini-series, as he found the back of the net on Wednesday and Saturday.
Casey Gets the Call
When the Nailers fell behind 5-0 at the 15:26 mark of the second period on Saturday night, Clark Donatelli made his first in-game goaltending change of the season, as Casey DeSmith took over in the crease for Franky Palazzese, who suffered his second straight defeat after going 4-0-1 in his previous five games. The appearance was the first of DeSmith's professional career, as the 24-year old made 14 saves on 15 shots, which included 12 stops during the third period. The former University of New Hampshire Wildcat will make his first career start on Sunday afternoon, going up against Niklas Lundstrom, who is 3-1-0 in four tilts with Elmira. Lundstrom is a member of the St. Louis Blues organization, and St. Louis does not have an ECHL affiliate.
Continuing the Upward Climb
After reaching the postseason in each of their first six seasons in the ECHL, the Jackals have found themselves on the outside looking in during each of the previous two campaigns. In 2013-14, Elmira finished with a team worst 56 points, missing out on the playoffs by a landslide. 2014-15 featured a better effort, as the Jackals improved by 15 points in the standings, going 32-33-7, missing out on the spring dance by 13 points. Thus far this season, Sunday's opposition has posted a 12-9-0 mark, which includes six wins in nine road contests. Elmira's lone setback on enemy ice over the course of the last five contests was a 2-1 decision against Adirondack, which the Jackals rebounded from with a 5-4 triumph at First Arena three days later.
Finally the First Clash
Sunday afternoon marks the first of six head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Jackals this season, as well as the first of three battles at WesBanco Arena. Wheeling has had a decided advantage over the course of the past two seasons, winning 21 of the 28 matches between the clubs, including 12 of the last 14 in the Ohio Valley. Despite not being in the same division a year ago, the Nailers and Jackals met on 13 occasions - a number that shrinks down to six this season, as the two will once again be in different divisions, but the same conference. There will be one two-game series in each building later in the campaign, as the Nailers visit Elmira for two clashes in January, before the Jackals return to the Wheel for two more games in February.
Download the Nailers new smartphone app presented by Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration. Available in theiTunes and Google Play Store. Use promo code "Leader" to receive 100 Nailers points.
In addition to Nailers Rewards, the app also includes:
Notifications and Alerts
News Feed containing team news, photos & videos
Interact Feed containing Nailers posts on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
Team Summary
Roster
Team Stats and League Standings
View Schedule & Buy Tickets
Venue Information (Map, Directions, Parking, and Seating Chart) Individual tickets, mini plans, and group tickets are on sale now, with prices starting as low as $10 per seat. For tickets and more information, call the Nailers at (304) 234-GOAL or online at wheelingnailers.com.
---
Wheeling Nailers (11-9-1-0, 23 Pts.) vs. Elmira Jackals (12-9-0-0, 24 Pts.)
WHEELING NAILERS
(11-9-1-0, 23 PTS, 2nd North, 7th East)
64 GF, 65 GA
PP: 16.5% (15-for-91), 18th
PK: 78.8% (63-for-80), 22nd
20-F-Jarrett Burton (9 goals, 11 assists, 20 points in 21 games)
23-F-Riley Brace (8 goals, 12 assists, 20 points in 21 games)
21-F-Sahir Gill (3 goals, 13 assists, 16 points in 20 games)
15-F-Zack Torquato (10 goals, 3 assists, 13 points in 15 games)
27-D-Brett Stern (5 goals, 8 assists, 13 points in 21 games)
25-F-John McCarron (3 goals, 9 assists, 12 points in 21 games)
30-G-Casey DeSmith (0-0-0 record, 2.44 GAA, .933 Sv% in 1 game)
ELMIRA JACKALS
(12-9-0-0, 24 PTS, 3rd East, 6th East)
63 GF, 65 GA
PP: 18.7% (17-for-91), T-13th
PK: 79.3% (69-for-87), 20th
10-F-Cason Hohmann (10 goals, 11 assists, 21 points in 20 games)
18-F-Colin Jacobs (5 goals, 11 assists, 16 points in 21 games)
27-D-Spiro Goulakos (3 goals, 11 assists, 14 points in 18 games)
74-D-Nathan Oystrick (2 goals, 10 assists, 12 points in 19 games)
17-F-Mike Seidel (7 goals, 4 assists, 11 points in 21 games)
14-F-Justin Bernhardt (4 goals, 7 assists, 11 points in 19 games)
35-G-Niklas Lundstrom (3-1-0 record, 2.94 GAA, .923 Sv% in 4 games)
Head to Head
2014-15 Season Series: Nailers 9, Jackals 4
2014-15 Season Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 6, Jackals 1
All-Time Series: Nailers 43, Jackals 42
All-Time Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 26, Jackals 15
ECHL Stories from December 6, 2015
- Mallards Comeback Stuns IceMen in Overtime - Evansville IceMen
- Mallards Rally for Overtime Win at Evansville - Quad City Mallards
- Jackals Will Past Wheeling in Shootout, 3-2 - Elmira Jackals
- Solar Bears Split Weekend Series with Gladiators Following 4-3 Loss - Orlando Solar Bears
- Elmira Ekes out 3-2 Shootout Victory - Wheeling Nailers
- Royals Drop Rubber Game in Manchester, 4-2 - Reading Royals
- Monarchs Take the Crown with 4-2 Victory - Manchester Monarchs
- Stingrays Top Fuel 3-1 - Indy Fuel
- Atlanta Gets Revenge on Orlando with 4-3 Victory - Atlanta Gladiators
- Steelheads Announce Record Donations Following Teddy Bear Toss for Tots - Idaho Steelheads
- Yes He Cann: Beast Score Three in Third to Shut out K-Wings - Brampton Beast
- K-Wings' Defense Stout, But Late Flurry Propels Beast - Kalamazoo Wings
- Rodrigues Leads Stingrays to 3-1 Win at Indy - South Carolina Stingrays
- Nailers vs. Jackals Game Day Snap Shot - Wheeling Nailers
- ECHL Transactions - December 6 - ECHL
- Budish Signs PTO with Milwaukee - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Greenville Forwards Land AHL Call-Ups - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Mallards Game Day - Quad City Mallards
- Jackals Travel to Wheeling for First Meeting with Nailers - Elmira Jackals
- Bussieres Returns to Mallards - Quad City Mallards
- Forward Pavel Padakin Loaned to Reading - Reading Royals
- ECHL Today - December 6 - ECHL
- Reading Strikes Back to Blank Manchester, 3-0 - Manchester Monarchs
- Perfetto, Aces Prevail over Colorado 4-3 - Alaska Aces
- Aces Use Three-Goal Second Period to Win 4-3 - Colorado Eagles
- Mavericks Win 2015-16 Independence Cup Rivalry Series - Kansas City Mavericks
- Peters, Everblades Swipe Two Points from Steelheads - Idaho Steelheads
- Thunder Start Road Trip with 5-2 Loss at Missouri - Wichita Thunder
- 'Blades Close Road Trip with Hard-Fought 3-1 Win - Florida Everblades
- Elmira Rides Power-Play Past Wings, 3-1 - Elmira Jackals
- Massa Earns First Career Shutout in Solar Bears' 4-0 Win - Orlando Solar Bears
- Allen Beats Grizzlies with Quick Start - Utah Grizzlies
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
