ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers vs. Road Warriors Game Day Snap Shot

Published on March 1, 2015 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Wheeling Nailers (25-25-1-0, 51 PTS) vs. Greenville Road Warriors (30-22-1-2, 63 PTS)

WHEELING NAILERS

(25-25-1-0, 51 PTS, 6th North, 12th East)

150 GF, 158 GA

PP: 17.6% (36-for-205), 12th

PK: 84.0% (179-for-213), 12th

23-F-Riley Brace (15 goals, 33 assists, 48 points in 40 games)

16-F-Derek Army (20 goals, 22 assists, 42 points in 51 games)

15-F-Zack Torquato (11 goals, 30 assists, 41 points in 38 games)

12-F-David Gilbert (13 goals, 18 assists, 31 points in 48 games)

20-F-Jarrett Burton (8 goals, 13 assists, 21 points in 35 games)

98-F-Chaz Johnson (10 goals, 8 assists, 18 points in 46 games)

9-D-David Makowski (5 goals, 7 assists, 12 points in 30 games)

29-G-Franky Palazzese (13-15-0 record, 3.24 GAA, .898 Sv% in 29 games)

GREENVILLE ROAD WARRIORS

(30-22-1-2, 63 PTS, 4th East, 6th East)

165 GF, 167 GA

PP: 13.8% (27-for-196), 26th

PK: 81.0% (153-for-189), 23rd

27-F-Vinny Saponari (16 goals, 36 assists, 52 points in 51 games)

29-F-Josh Nicholls (18 goals, 16 assists, 34 points in 39 games)

10-F-Kyle Jean (13 goals, 20 assists, 33 points in 44 games)

16-F-Chris McCarthy (13 goals, 18 assists, 31 points in 46 games)

7-D-Ryan Hegarty (9 goals, 19 assists, 28 points in 52 games)

18-F-Michael St. Croix (7 goals, 18 assists, 25 points in 42 games)

5-D-Spencer Humphries (2 goals, 20 assists, 22 points in 48 games)

35-G-Braely Torris (2-2-0 record, 3.36 GAA, .896 Sv% in 5 games)

Head-to-Head

Season Series: Road Warriors 3, Nailers 1

Season Series at WesBanco Arena: Road Warriors 3, Nailers 1

All-Time Series: Road Warriors 12, Nailers 9

All-Time Series at WesBanco Arena: Road Warriors 6, Nailers 5

Three Straight With a Point

The Wheeling Nailers earned at least one point for the third consecutive game on Saturday night, but in doing so, suffered their first overtime loss of the season, as they fell 4-3 to the Greenville Road Warriors at WesBanco Arena. Both teams held one-goal leads during the contest, with Greenville taking 1-0 and 3-2 advantages, while two goals in a span of 1:29 put the Nailers ahead 2-1 during the second period. Jean-Sebastien Dea and Derek Army were responsible for those two tallies, while Jarrett Burton added a goal in the third period. Army's marker was his team-leading 20th of the season, while all three goal scorers tacked on assists for multiple point evenings. Wheeling has scored the tying goal in four of its five trips past regulation this season.

Overtime Warriors

The Greenville Road Warriors earned their second win in as many nights on the road, utilizing bonus hockey in back-to-back contests. Emerson Clark, Domenic Alberga, and Vinny Saponari all dented the twine in regulation, before defenseman Mike Banwell stepped up with his first goal of the season, lifting the Road Warriors to the triumph at 2:31 of overtime. Greenville has had great success in games that have gone past regulation in 2014-15, posting a 4-1 record during the five-minute overtime, as well as a 6-2 mark in shootouts. Saturday night's victory lifted the Road Warriors into fourth place in the East Division, as the Elmira Jackals were idle.

Perfection Wasn't in the Cards

During the first 50 games of the regular season, the Nailers posted a 25-25-0 record, while going 4-0 in games that went past regulation. Unfortunately, on Saturday night, that streak came to a conclusion, courtesy of Mike Banwell's goal at 2:31 of overtime for Greenville. Although Wheeling has only gone to bonus hockey on five occasions, three of those tilts have come in its last three home games, as the Nailers defeated Reading in overtime on February 13th and Elmira in a shootout on February 27th, prior to Saturday's setback. Despite the end result, Wheeling was able to earn a point on Saturday, giving the team its second three-game point streak of the campaign, as well as its first four-game point streak on home ice.

A New Team to Chase

When the seven teams in the North Division awoke on Sunday morning, they saw a result in the standings that hasn't happened since the early part of the 2014-15 campaign. Thanks to a pair of victories in Fort Wayne, the Indy Fuel have leapfrogged the Kalamazoo Wings into the fourth and final playoff spot in the division. Indy currently trails Cincinnati by one point for third place, while leading Kalamazoo by one point and Wheeling by three points. With two make-up games still to come, the Nailers have games in hand on all three of the clubs they are chasing, in addition to having four head-to-head meetings remaining. Kalamazoo concludes a three-game weekend with Toledo on Sunday, Cincinnati is off, before beginning a four-game Floridian trip, and Indy is off until a Friday visit to Evansville.

Last One Against the Southern Squads

Sunday afternoon marks the fifth and final meeting of the regular season between the Nailers and Road Warriors, as all five battles between the two clubs have taken place at WesBanco Arena. With Saturday night's win, Greenville clinched its first season series victory over Wheeling since 2010-11, having won three of the first four clashes, including each of the last three. The historical series has been especially streaky in the Ohio Valley, where the Road Warriors won each of their first five visits, before the Nailers answered with five in a row of their own, leading to Greenville's current three-game streak. Both sides have now won a regular season overtime game in the other club's building.

Sunday, March 1st wraps up the weekend at 4:05 against the Road Warriors on a Family Funday with $5 kids tickets, Oglebay Good Zoo Day, and a post game skate with the team. That day will also be the annual Pucks & Paws Day, when fans are invited to bring their dogs and cats to the game.

Tuesday, March 3rd will be the make-up game for the postponed contest from February 16th against the Jackals. Face-off is scheduled for 7:05, and fans will be able to purchase a hot dog and soda combo for $5.

Later on in March, the Nailers will have the Stanley Cup at WesBanco Arena on March 14th, while hosting NASCAR Night on March 28th .

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

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ECHL Stories from March 1, 2015


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