ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers vs. Road Warriors Game Day Snap Shot

December 19, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Wheeling Nailers (12-10-0-0, 24 PTS) vs. Greenville Road Warriors (16-9-0-1, 33 PTS)

WHEELING NAILERS

(12-10-0-0, 24 PTS, 3rd North, 9th East)

69 GF, 70 GA

PP: 21.7% (18-for-83), 5th

PK: 82.7% (81-for-98), 14th

23-F-Riley Brace (9 goals, 19 assists, 28 points in 20 games)

16-F-Derek Army (9 goals, 8 assists, 17 points in 22 games)

15-F-Zack Torquato (7 goals, 8 assists, 15 points in 15 games)

12-F-David Gilbert (6 goals, 7 assists, 13 points in 22 games)

20-F-Jarrett Burton (2 goals, 7 assists, 9 points in 10 games)

3-D-Morgan Ellis (2 goals, 7 assists, 9 points in 14 games)

29-G-Franky Palazzese (7-6-0 record, 3.56 GAA, .878 Sv% in 13 games)

GREENVILLE ROAD WARRIORS

(16-9-0-1, 33 PTS, 2nd East, 4th East)

79 GF, 67 GA

PP: 11.5% (10-for-87), 24th

PK: 84.9% (79-for-93), 8th

27-F-Vinny Saponari (7 goals, 10 assists, 17 points in 22 games)

10-F-Kyle Jean (8 goals, 7 assists, 15 points in 15 games)

18-F-Michael St. Croix (4 goals, 11 assists, 15 points in 19 games)

19-F-Trevor Parkes (5 goals, 9 assists, 14 points in 21 games)

29-F-Josh Nicholls (5 goals, 8 assists, 13 points in 13 games)

7-D-Ryan Hegarty (4 goals, 9 assists, 13 points in 24 games)

31-G-Jason Missiaen (5-4-1 record, 2.86 GAA, .910 Sv% in 10 games)

Head-to-Head

Season Series: Nailers 1, Road Warriors 0

Season Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 1, Road Warriors 1

All-Time Series: Nailers 9, Road Warriors 9

All-Time Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 5, Road Warriors 3

Home Was the Place to Be

The Wheeling Nailers enter play on Friday night, coming off of a three-game weekend series against the Reading Royals. As has been the case in the majority of Wheeling's games this season, the home teams came away with the upper hand. Reading opened with 5-4 and 2-1 wins at Santander Arena on Friday and Saturday, before the Nailers rebounded with a 3-2 victory on Sunday. David Makowski, Jarrett Burton, and Derek Army were the goal scorers for Wheeling, while Eric Hartzell notched his fifth win of the season with 36 saves. Home teams are now 16-6-0 in games involving the Nailers, who are 9-3-0 at WesBanco Arena and 3-7-0 on enemy ice.

Not Intimidated by the North

The Greenville Road Warriors are playing the fourth of five straight games away from home, and their third of four consecutive contests against North Division opponents. This is Greenville's second trip to the North Division this season, and thus far, the Road Warriors have posted a 4-3-0 record, including a perfect 3-0-0 record against top teams Toledo and Fort Wayne. Greenville defeated Toledo 2-1 in overtime on Tuesday, before blanking Cincinnati 3-0 on Wednesday in the first two games of its current trip. Since their last visit to Wheeling on November 26th, the Road Warriors are 6-1-1 in their last eight games. Jason Missiaen has been the goaltender of record in the last four tilts, going 3-0-1.

Rookies Rolling Up the Ranks

In Sunday's victory over the Royals, all three of Wheeling's goals were scored by first year players, as David Makowski, Jarrett Burton, and Derek Army lit the lamp. Army and Burton have been two of the hotter Nailers as of late, combining for 19 points in the first six games of December. Army's marker ended up being the game winner, as he broke a 2-2 deadlock in the third, giving him five goals and five assists during a six-game point streak. Burton has found the scoresheet in five of the six games, totaling two goals and seven assists. Wheeling's active roster consists of just five rookies - Army, Burton, Makowski, Troy Barss, and Franky Palazzese, while six other first year guys have been in the lineup at some point.

A Tall Task in the Back

When teams enter the Greenville defensive zone, they are typically met by a forest of tough and tall defensemen, which have limited the opposition to just 67 goals in 26 games - the third lowest total in the Eastern Conference. Seven of the Road Warriors' eight current blueliners are at least 6'1", led by Samuel Noreau, who checks in at 6'5". However, the height doesn't stop there, as both netminders rise high above the crossbar. Jason Missiaen is the tallest goaltender in professional hockey at 6'8", and Jeff Malcolm isn't tiny either, at 6'2". Two of Greenville's defensemen have +/- rankings in double digits, with Spencer Humphries' +12 coming up one short of forward Vinny Saponari's team-leading +13.

Quite the Comeback

Friday night marks the second of five head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Road Warriors this season, with all five battles taking place at WesBanco Arena. On November 26th, Wheeling got the upper hand in a 4-2 decision, as Zack Torquato and Sahir Gill both tallied three-point nights. After starting their historical series with six straight setbacks, the Nailers have won nine of their last 12 regular season clashes against Greenville, including five in a row at WesBanco Arena. The two sides have also met up twice in four years during the postseason, with each team winning one series. Once the weekend is complete, both teams will have played ten regular season home games against each other.

The December 19th game is a Frosty & Flat Screen Friday, presented by The Highlands & The Law Firm of Bordas and Bordas. There will also be a Max MacKay Poster Giveaway, courtesy of RSQP Print and Design. The 20th is a season ticket redemption night, team picture giveaway (holiday edition), and there will be an Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest. Both games are slated for 7:35 starts against the Greenville Road Warriors.

Holiday packs are also available. For $49, fans can purchase the Elf Package, receiving four ticket vouchers, a t-shirt, and an autographed puck. For $99, fans can purchase the Reindeer Package, receiving ten ticket vouchers. For $129, fans can purchase the Santa Package, receiving four ticket vouchers, a replica jersey, and a Reebok hat.

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



ECHL Stories from December 19, 2014


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