ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers vs. Royals Game Day Snap Shot

January 9, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Wheeling Nailers (14-16-0-0, 28 PTS) vs. Reading Royals (20-10-1-1, 42 PTS)

WHEELING NAILERS

(14-16-0-0, 28 PTS, 4th North, 10th East)

86 GF, 97 GA

PP: 19.4% (21-for-108), 7th

PK: 84.0% (110-for-131), 11th

16-F-Derek Army (10 goals, 13 assists, 23 points in 30 games)

12-F-David Gilbert (9 goals, 10 assists, 19 points in 30 games)

15-F-Zack Torquato (7 goals, 11 assists, 18 points in 18 games)

98-F-Chaz Johnson (6 goals, 6 assists, 12 points in 29 games)

20-F-Jarrett Burton (4 goals, 7 assists, 11 points in 18 games)

3-D-Morgan Ellis (4 goals, 7 assists, 11 points in 22 games)

29-G-Franky Palazzese (7-10-0 record, 3.47 GAA, .884 Sv% in 18 games)

READING ROYALS

(20-10-1-1, 42 PTS, 3rd East, 5th East)

108 GF, 97 GA

PP: 15.6% (23-for-147), 20th

PK: 82.6% (90-for-109), 14th

17-F-Adam Hughesman (11 goals, 19 assists, 30 points in 32 games)

14-F-Pat Mullane (11 goals, 19 assists, 30 points in 32 games)

28-F-Cam Reid (12 goals, 16 assists, 28 points in 32 games)

27-F-David Marshall (10 goals, 16 assists, 26 points in 30 games)

13-F-Olivier Labelle (11 goals, 14 assists, 25 points in 32 games)

2-D-Mike Marcou (3 goals, 15 assists, 18 points in 31 games)

1-G-Martin Ouellette (10-5-2 record, 2.70 GAA, .913 Sv% in 17 games)

Head-to-Head

Season Series: Royals 4, Nailers 3

Season Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 3, Royals 0

All-Time Series: Royals 79, Nailers 59

All-Time Series at WesBanco Arena: Royals 35, Nailers 32

Finally Back After 19 Days

The Wheeling Nailers will play their first home game in 19 days on Friday night, when they play the first of three consecutive contests at WesBanco Arena this weekend. Following the holidays, the Nailers played six straight games on the road, compiling a 2-4-0 record, picking up victories at Gwinnett and Fort Wayne. Unfortunately, the trip did not end on a positive note, as Wheeling fell 5-2 in Reading on Wednesday night. After the Royals scored the opening goal, Jarrett Burton evened the score in the second period, only to see Reading respond with three straight tallies, opening up a 4-1 advantage. David Gilbert also lit the lamp for the Nailers, while Patrick McGrath dished out a pair of assists. Eric Hartzell tied a season-high with 40 saves.

Royals Keep on Rolling

The Reading Royals collected their 11th victory in their last 13 games, with Wednesday night's 5-2 triumph over the Nailers, as five different players found the back of the net. Adam Hughesman had the best evening for Reading, racking up one goal and three assists, capping off the win with an empty net tally. Hughesman, David Marshall, and Cam Reid all registered +3 ratings, as the Royals' top offensive line. Reid opened the scoring for the home team in the first period, before Olivier Labelle helped Reading regain the lead with a power play goal in the middle frame. Defenseman Jordan Heywood ended up with his second game winning goal of the campaign, redirecting a centering pass by Reid in the third. Connor Knapp made 26 saves, squaring his season record against Wheeling at 2-2.

Discipline with a Decisive Edge

One key for many successful hockey teams is the ability to stay out of the penalty box, and the Royals have been one of the best teams in the ECHL at achieving that. On Wednesday night, Reading received six power play opportunities, while only having to kill off one man advantage for the Nailers. On the season, the Royals have the greatest positive difference between power plays and penalty kills, going a man up 38 more times than they have been a man down. Unfortunately, the Nailers find themselves on the opposite end of that statistic, having been shorthanded 23 more times than the opposition. Only Stockton (28) and Elmira (27) have greater differences on the down side.

More Shots Finally Led to More Goals

The first six games between Wheeling and Reading were all won by the team with the fewer shots on goal, until the Royals finally put an end to that streak on Wednesday night. Reading recorded 45 shots on goal, including 21 during the second period, converting on five of those attempts for the 5-2 win. Those totals were both season highs against the Nailers, who oddly enough, entered Wednesday's game with a 2-0 mark, when allowing at least 40 shots. Shots on goal haven't exactly told the story for Wheeling during the 2014-15 campaign, as the team has gone 10-8-0 when being outshot, while only mustering a 4-8-0 record when ending up on the high side of the shots margin.

Another One for the Local Squad

Friday night marks the eighth of 12 head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Royals this season, as well as the fourth of six battles between the two clubs at WesBanco Arena. So far, the season series has been completely dominated by the home teams, who have won each of the seven previous contests. Reading has won all four of its home games at Santander Arena, while Wheeling has defeated the Royals in all three of their visits to WesBanco Arena. The last two victories by the Nailers have been identical 3-2 final scores, including the team's most recent home triumph on December 14th. Reading has gone 10-3-1 on the road this season, with all three regulation losses occurring in the Ohio Valley.

The Nailers will have a three-game homestand from January 9th-11th.

Reading comes to town on the 9th for Faith & Family Night, which will also be a Flat Screen Friday, courtesy of The Highlands, as well as the Law Firm of Bordas and Bordas. In addition, a player poster will be given to the first 2,000 fans in attendance, thanks to RSQP Print & Design.

Elmira is the opposition on the 10th, as the Nailers will be holding a Princess Party from 6-7. Only 100 tickets are available for the party. Following the party, the princesses will be available for pictures throughout the evening. That game will also be the annual Girl Scout Night. The first 1,000 kids (14 & under) in attendance will receive a backpack, courtesy of H.E. Neumann.

Finally, Indy pays a visit on the 11th for a Family Funday with $5 kids tickets, a post game skate with the team, and another Oglebay Good Zoo Day.

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 January 9, 2015


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