ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers vs. Royals Game Day Snap Shot

Published on December 14, 2014 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Wheeling Nailers (11-10-0-0, 22 PTS) vs. Reading Royals (12-8-1-1, 26 PTS)

WHEELING NAILERS

(11-10-0-0, 22 PTS, T-3rd North, T-9th East)

66 GF, 68 GA

PP: 22.1% (17-for-77), 5th

PK: 81.9% (77-for-94), T-14th

23-F-Riley Brace (9 goals, 18 assists, 27 points in 19 games)

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

16-F-Derek Army (8 goals, 6 assists, 14 points in 21 games)

12-F-David Gilbert (6 goals, 7 assists, 13 points in 21 games)

3-D-Morgan Ellis (2 goals, 7 assists, 9 points in 13 games)

98-F-Chaz Johnson (2 goals, 6 assists, 8 points in 20 games)

9-D-David Makowski (1 goal, 6 assists, 7 points in 19 games)

30-G-Eric Hartzell (4-4-0 record, 2.61 GAA, .910 Sv% in 8 games)

READING ROYALS

(12-8-1-1, 26 PTS, T-4th East, T-6th East)

74 GF, 73 GA

PP: 18.3% (20-for-109), 13th

PK: 81.6% (62-for-76), 17th

17-F-Adam Hughesman (8 goals, 15 assists, 23 points in 22 games)

28-F-Cam Reid (7 goals, 12 assists, 19 points in 22 games)

16-F-Ryan Cruthers (4 goals, 14 assists, 18 points in 21 games)

27-F-David Marshall (8 goals, 9 assists, 17 points in 20 games)

14-F-Pat Mullane (8 goals, 9 assists, 17 points in 22 games)

13-F-Olivier Labelle (6 goals, 9 assists, 15 points in 22 games)

2-D-Mike Marcou (3 goals, 10 assists, 13 points in 21 games)

30-G-Connor Knapp (5-4-0 record, 3.50 GAA, .888 Sv% in 11 games)

Head-to-Head

Season Series: Royals 3, Nailers 2

Season Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 2, Royals 0

All-Time Series: Royals 78, Nailers 58

All-Time Series at WesBanco Arena: Royals 35, Nailers 31

Royals Squeaked Out Another

The Wheeling Nailers and Reading Royals will collide for the third consecutive day, as their three-game mini series concludes at WesBanco Arena. The previous two games took place in Reading, where the Royals secured a pair of one-goal victories. After lots of scoring in a 5-4 game on Friday, defense was the story on Saturday, as only three pucks found the backs of the nets. Derek Army opened the scoring for Wheeling in the first period, but Andrew Johnston tied the game for Reading in the second, before Ryan Cruthers cashed in with the deciding goal at the 4:01 mark of the third, for the 2-1 final score. Martin Ouellette made 40 saves for the Royals, while Eric Hartzell turned away 21 for the Nailers.

Shots Continue to Defy Logic

The old adage states that you can't score if you don't shoot. However, in a bizarre twist, the first five games of the season series between Wheeling and Reading have worked in the opposite fashion. All five tilts have been won by the team with the fewest shots on goal, as the Nailers peppered the net with 78 shots in the two games at Santander Arena, but came away empty in the win column. This has been one of the unique trends in the 2014-15 campaign for Wheeling, who is 3-6-0 when outshooting the opposition and 8-4-0 when being outshot by its opponent. The Royals' numbers are closer to even, as they are 5-4-2 with a higher shot total and 5-4-0 when ending up on the short end of the shot differential.

Rookie Rolling in Goal

For the better part of the start of the season, the Royals went with an alternating goaltending scenario, as Connor Knapp and Martin Ouellette exchanged decisions in ten consecutive contests. However, over the course of the last week, the rookie Ouellette is beginning to make his case for the starting gig, having won each of his last three starts, allowing just five goals in the process. The 22-year old pitched a 24-save shutout last Sunday against South Carolina, then followed that up with 34 saves on Friday and 40 stops on Saturday against the Nailers. However, Wheeling will see the experienced Knapp on Sunday, who enters play on a personal two-game skid.

An Army of Goals

Wheeling also has a rookie who has been playing stellar hockey as of late, as Derek Army lit the lamp for his eighth goal of the season on Saturday night. Although he was held without a tally on Friday, Army has recorded at least one point in each of his last five games, accumulating four goals, three assists, and seven points in the process. Derek currently ranks second on the team with his eight markers, and his 14 points place him in a tie for 16th in the league among rookie scorers. Dating back to last season, the Providence College graduate has collected 11 goals, seven assists, and 18 points in 25 professional games.

Our Turn for a Home Game

Sunday afternoon marks the sixth of 12 head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Royals this season, as well as the third of six battles between the two sides at WesBanco Arena. Home ice advantage has been the key to the first five games, as Wheeling has won both of its contests at WesBanco Arena, while Reading has gotten the upper hand in the three visits to Santander Arena. Each of the last three contests have been decided by one goal, leading to an even total of 15 goals for each side in the five games overall. While the Royals hold a 78-58 advantage in the historical series, the numbers have been significantly closer in Wheeling, where Reading leads, 35-31.

The December 14th contest against the Reading Royals is a Family Funday, with $5 kids tickets available, a post game skate with the team, and a visit by the Good Zoo at Oglebay. On December 19th & 20th, Wheeling will host the Greenville Road Warriors. The 19th 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 Rich and Shirley's Quick Print of Wheeling. The 20th is a season ticket redemption night and team picture giveaway (holiday edition).

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

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