Sports stats

ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers vs. Komets Game Day Snap Shot

March 27, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Wheeling Nailers (30-30-1-1, 62 PTS) vs. Fort Wayne Komets (43-15-2-4, 92 PTS)

WHEELING NAILERS

(30-30-1-1, 62 PTS, T-4th North, T-10th East)

181 GF, 185 GA

PP: 17.0% (41-for-241), 15th

PK: 83.6% (219-for-262), 11th

23-F-Riley Brace (18 goals, 41 assists, 59 points in 51 games)

16-F-Derek Army (25 goals, 30 assists, 55 points in 62 games)

15-F-Zack Torquato (15 goals, 39 assists, 54 points in 49 games)

12-F-David Gilbert (16 goals, 19 assists, 35 points in 57 games)

20-F-Jarrett Burton (10 goals, 16 assists, 26 points in 46 games)

98-F-Chaz Johnson (14 goals, 10 assists, 24 points in 56 games)

22-D-Clark Seymour (1 goal, 11 assists, 12 points in 50 games)

30-G-Eric Hartzell (13-12-1 record, 2.74 GAA, .912 Sv% in 26 games)

FORT WAYNE KOMETS

(43-15-2-4, 92 PTS, 2nd North, 3rd East)

230 GF, 180 GA

PP: 20.1% (49-for-244), 5th

PK: 80.3% (212-for-264), 23rd

27-F-Shawn Szydlowski (33 goals, 32 assists, 65 points in 49 games)

15-F-Mike Embach (22 goals, 41 assists, 63 points in 61 games)

36-F-Matthew Pistilli (21 goals, 35 assists, 56 points in 56 games)

72-F-Eric Faille (22 goals, 23 assists, 45 points in 37 games)

8-D-Drew Daniels (4 goals, 37 assists, 41 points in 64 games)

17-F-Matt Lowry (9 goals, 29 assists, 38 points in 65 games)

24-F-Christian Ouellet (15 goals, 20 assists, 35 points in 54 games)

31-G-Pat Nagle (22-5-2 record, 2.36 GAA, .911 Sv% in 30 games)

Head-to-Head

Season Series: Nailers 2, Komets 1

Season Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 1, Komets 1

All-Time Series: Nailers 6, Komets 3

All-Time Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 2, Komets 2

Couldn't Quite Catch Them

The Wheeling Nailers put forth a strong effort in the third period of Wednesday night's game against the Toledo Walleye, but when all was said and done, a three-goal deficit ended up being one goal too many for the home team to overcome. After a scoreless first period, Justin Daniels and Tyler Barnes got the scoring started for the Walleye in the middle frame, while AJ Jenks tacked on another in the third for a 3-0 advantage. Shortly after Jenks' tally, Wheeling began to turn things around, as David Gilbert and Sahir Gill scored less than three minutes apart from each other. Gill had two points in his return from the American Hockey League, but he and the Nailers were unable to get the equalizer, as their record evened at 30-30-2.

It Was Over From the Start

The Fort Wayne Komets took a less dramatic approach to their most recent game, as they took down the Elmira Jackals, 7-3 on Wednesday night at First Arena. Fort Wayne exploded out of the gates, scoring four times on its first six shots, en route to a five-goal opening stanza. Eric Faille led the way in the first period for the Komets, as he netted the first two goals, while adding one assist. He and Shawn Szydlowski both had two goals during the evening, while five other Fort Wayne players registered multiple points. Taylor Stefishen scored during the first minute of the second period for Elmira, but that was a minor blip on the radar screen, as the Komets, bounced back with two more tallies in the next five minutes. Roman Will was the beneficiary of all of the offense, as he was the winning netminder with 30 saves.

Dipping Into the Fountain of Youth

For the second game in a row, the Nailers will have a player making his professional debut, as forward Cody Wydo will be wearing uniform number 17 on Friday night. Wydo comes to Wheeling from just up the road at Robert Morris University, where he racked up over a point per game in both his junior and senior seasons. In 151 career games with the Colonials, Cody accumulated 85 goals, 65 assists, and 150 points. As previously mentioned, he becomes the second player to debut this week, joining goaltender Brandon Whitney, who saw just 2:34 of action on Wednesday night, but made his first professional save on Cody Lampl's left circle wrist shot. Prior to joining the Nailers, Whitney, a 2012 draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, spent time with Victoriaville and Gatineau of the QMJHL, in addition to Miramichi of the MJAHL.

The Definition of a True Top Line

If the Nailers are to have success on Friday night, one of their keys will be to shut down Fort Wayne's dynamic top line of Shawn Szydlowski, Eric Faille, and Mike Embach. Over the course of the last three games, those three players have combined to collect 23 points, with 11 of those points coming in last Saturday's 6-4 victory over the Missouri Mavericks. That night, Szydlowski made headlines, posting a five-goal performance, which included three shorthanded tallies. He also earned a +4 rating, while directing ten shots on goal. Each of the five goals was set up by Faille, while Embach chipped in with one helper. Szydlowski currently ranks eighth in the ECHL in scoring, Embach is 14th, and Faille is eighth among rookies.

All or Nothing in the Season Series

Friday night marks the fourth and final head-to-head meeting between the Nailers and Komets this season, as well as the third battle between the two clubs at WesBanco Arena. Wheeling has won two of the first three tilts, and will have an opportunity to win the season series for the second time in the three years since Fort Wayne joined the ECHL. Each of the three prior contests took place in January, as the Nailers won 5-4 in a shootout in Indiana, before the two sides exchanged victories in West Virginia later in the month. The Nailers' triumph was once again a 5-4 final score, while the Komets won their game, 4-1. Fort Wayne's Shawn Szydlowski has seven points to lead all scorers, while Riley Brace leads Wheeling with five. The Nailers lead the all-time series, 6-3, and are 2-2 at home.

Friday, March 27th is a 7:35 contest against the Fort Wayne Komets, as CORE Weekend begins. The first 2,000 fans will receive a Shane Bakker poster, one lucky fan will win a flat screen TV, and all fans 21-and-over are invited to responsibly enjoy Frosty Friday.

Saturday, March 28th continues CORE Weekend with NASCAR Night at 7:35 against the Reading Royals. The Nailers will be wearing special race car driver style uniforms, featuring their twitter handles on the nameplates. West Virginia University's Travis Braden will be signing autographs, and there will be two race cars on display.

Sunday, March 29th wraps up the week at 4:05 against the Cincinnati Cyclones. That day will be a Family Funday with $5 kids tickets, a post game skate with the team, and an Oglebay Good Zoo Day.

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



ECHL Stories from March 27, 2015


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.

Other Recent Wheeling Nailers Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central