ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers vs. Komets Game Day Snap Shot

Published on January 23, 2015 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Wheeling Nailers (18-18-0-0, 36 PTS) vs. Fort Wayne Komets (27-8-1-2, 57 PTS)

WHEELING NAILERS

(18-18-0-0, 36 PTS, 4th North, 10th East)

109 GF, 113 GA

PP: 20.0% (27-for-135), 6th

PK: 84.8% (128-for-151), 8th

23-F-Riley Brace (10 goals, 22 assists, 32 points in 25 games)

16-F-Derek Army (15 goals, 16 assists, 31 points in 36 games)

15-F-Zack Torquato (9 goals, 18 assists, 27 points in 24 games)

12-F-David Gilbert (11 goals, 12 assists, 23 points in 33 games)

3-D-Morgan Ellis (8 goals, 11 assists, 19 points in 28 games)

98-F-Chaz Johnson (8 goals, 6 assists, 14 points in 31 games)

29-G-Franky Palazzese (8-11-0 record, 3.47 GAA, .888 Sv% in 20 games)

FORT WAYNE KOMETS

(27-8-1-2, 57 PTS, 1st North, 1st East)

143 GF, 111 GA

PP: 19.3% (29-for-150), 9th

PK: 80.5% (124-for-154), 25th

15-F-Mike Embach (15 goals, 25 assists, 40 points in 36 games)

27-F-Shawn Szydlowski (19 goals, 20 assists, 39 points in 33 games)

36-F-Matthew Pistilli (12 goals, 19 assists, 31 points in 30 games)

55-D-James Martin (6 goals, 22 assists, 28 points in 38 games)

8-D-Drew Daniels (1 goals, 22 assists, 23 points in 38 games)

23-F-Garrett Meurs (12 goals, 9 assists, 21 points in 27 games)

34-G-Roman Will (4-3-2 record, 2.61 GAA, .919 Sv% in 9 games)

Head-to-Head

Season Series: Nailers 1, Komets 0

Season Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 1, Komets 0

All-Time Series: Nailers 5, Komets 2

All-Time Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 1, Komets 1

Showtime for the Second Half

The Wheeling Nailers will begin the second half of the 2014-15 regular season on Friday night, after posting an 18-18-0 mark during the first 36 games of the campaign. Prior to the All-Star Break, Wheeling played a three-game series on the road against the Brampton Beast, picking up victories in two of the three contests. Offense was the name of the game in the Friday and Saturday tilts, which were won by the Nailers 5-2 and 7-2, before the Beast won the 2-1 defensive tussle on Sunday, with the winning goal coming during the final two seconds. Derek Army had the most productive weekend for Wheeling, tallying three goals and five points, while Eric Hartzell was the netminder for the two wins.

Komets are Kings in the North

The Fort Wayne Komets finished the unofficial first half of the 2014-15 regular season with the highest point total in the North Division, compiling a 27-8-3 record, good for 57 points. Fort Wayne holds a two-point lead over Toledo, but the Walleye have three games in hand. Prior to the All-Star Break, the Komets suffered their first two-game losing streak of the season, as they were swept in a home-and-home series by the Kalamazoo Wings. Dan Fox scored twice in the first period for the Wings in the Friday night game, which they won, 4-2. Then, on Saturday night, Eric Kattelus snapped a 1-1 tie with a shorthanded goal at 10:03 of the third, lifting Kalamazoo to the 2-1 triumph at Wings Stadium. Roman Will has been the goaltender of record in seven of Fort Wayne's last eight games, going 3-2-2 during that time.

Brace Bagged One in Orlando

Riley Brace in the lone player who has been in action since Wheeling's last contest, as he was the Nailers' representative at the 2015 ECHL All-Star Classic at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. Brace was a member of the ECHL All-Star Team, who defeated the host Orlando Solar Bears, 8-4. Riley was one of ten players to light the lamp on Wednesday night, as he completed the scoring at the 16:34 mark of the third period, depositing a rebound of Evansville's Myles Bell's initial shot. Fort Wayne's representative was James Martin, who served as team captain for the ECHL All-Stars. Although he didn't record a point, Martin registered four shots on goal.

Knocking on History's Door

Wheeling enters Friday's tilt on the verge of checking off another historical milestone, as the team has racked up 799 regular season wins during its time in the Ohio Valley. Once the Nailers earn their next victory, they will become the second team in ECHL history with 800 victories, joining the South Carolina Stingrays, who have 847. This will be the first of a few potential milestones for Wheeling during the second half of the regular season, as the team sits 12 points away from 1,000 on home ice, while Clark Donatelli is ten wins shy of Doug Sauter's all-time mark of 124 career triumphs. Zack Torquato is seven points away from ninth place on the club's all-time scoring list, while his 173 games played rank 15th.

The Rest are Here

Friday night marks the second of four head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Komets this season, as well as the first of three battles between the two clubs at WesBanco Arena. The first clash took place on January 2nd, when Wheeling made its lone trip of the campaign to Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. Fort Wayne jumped out to 3-0 and 4-1 leads, before the Nailers rallied to tie the game in the third period, forcing overtime and eventually a shootout. Shawn Skelly broke the deadlock on Wheeling's final shot, giving the Nailers their fourth victory in five visits to "The Jungle." 2014-15 will be the first time that Wheeling and Fort Wayne will play multiple games at WesBanco Arena, after each team won once during the first two seasons.

January 23rd & 24th will be a two-game series at home against Fort Wayne, as the new jumbotron will make its debut.

Friday's promotions include: Flat Screen Friday, courtesy of The Highlands and The Law Firm of Bordas and Bordas... Mike Ratchuk Poster Giveaway (2,000), presented by RSQP Print & Design... Wheeling Island Nailer Night... Frosty Friday .

Saturday's game will be Star Wars Night, as well as a ski cap giveaway to the first 1,000 kids (14 & under) in attendance. That night will also feature the annual Boy Scout Sleepover. McDonald's Friends & Family Tickets are available for $39.99, and include four tickets, four hats, and four McDonald's Value Meal coupons.

On February 7th, the Nailers will host Duck Dynasty Night, featuring an appearance by Jep Robertson.

Wheeling Nailers 2014-15 season tickets, flex tickets, group tickets and single-game tickets 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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ECHL Stories from January 23, 2015


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