ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers vs. Solar Bears Game Day Snap Shot

November 14, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Wheeling Nailers (5-3-0-0, 10 PTS) vs. Orlando Solar Bears (5-5-2-0, 12 PTS)

WHEELING NAILERS

(5-3-0-0, 10 PTS, 4th North, T-8th East)

26 GF, 26 GA

PP: 24.0% (6-for-25), 3rd

PK: 88.9% (32-for-36), 5th

23-F-Riley Brace (5 goals, 9 assists, 14 points in 8 games)

18-F-Matia Marcantuoni (3 goals, 3 assists, 6 points in 3 games)

8-D-Zach Yuen (2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points in 7 games)

12-F-David Gilbert (4 goals, 4 points in 8 games)

15-F-Zack Torquato (3 goals, 3 points in 3 games)

19-F-Shane Bakker (3 goals, 3 points in 6 games)

29-G-Franky Palazzese (5-3-0 record, 3.27 GAA, .891 Sv% in 8 games)

ORLANDO SOLAR BEARS

(5-5-2-0, 12 PTS, T-3rd East, T-5th East)

37 GF, 38 GA

PP: 12.2% (6-for-49), 21st

PK: 82.2% (37-for-45), 15th

18-F-Greg Miller (8 goals, 3 assists, 11 points in 12 games)

17-F-Jacob Cepis (1 goal, 9 assists, 10 points in 12 games)

10-F-Mike Ullrich (3 goals, 6 assists, 9 points in 12 games)

23-F-Denver Manderson (2 goals, 6 assists, 8 points in 12 games)

28-F-Ryan Rupert (1 goal, 6 assists, 7 points in 11 games)

14-D-Gleason Fournier (3 goals, 2 assists, 5 points in 7 games)

35-G-Kent Patterson (1-4-2 record, 3.05 GAA, .897 Sv% in 7 games)

Head-to-Head

2013-14 Season Series: Solar Bears 1, Nailers 0

2013-14 Season Series at WesBanco Arena: Solar Bears 1, Nailers 0

All-Time Series: Solar Bears 4, Nailers 0

All-Time Series at WesBanco Arena: Solar Bears 1, Nailers 0

Just Enough Left in the Tank

The Wheeling Nailers played their first set of three games in three days last weekend, finishing with a Sunday afternoon contest against the Indy Fuel, who had Saturday night off. Despite having what was sure to be tired legs, the Nailers battled through the challenge, exploding for three third period goals in a 4-3 triumph at WesBanco Arena. Zack Torquato and Riley Brace highlighted the offensive attack for Wheeling, as Torquato tallied his second and third goals in three games, while Brace notched two goals and an assist, giving him seven points on the weekend and 14 points on the season. Franky Palazzese earned his fifth win of the year in his eighth straight start between the pipes, stopping 35 of the 38 shots sent his way.

On the Road Again... and Again... and Again

The Orlando Solar Bears will play the third of 13 consecutive road games on Friday night, coming off of back-to-back wins against the Evansville IceMen (5-4) on Tuesday and the Cincinnati Cyclones (4-3) on Thursday. Greg Miller has been the most productive Solar Bear as of late, as he carries a four-game point streak into Wheeling. Miller recorded two goals and an assist in Thursday's victory, including the game winning marker at the 7:16 mark of the third period. That effort helped to make a winner out of Maxime Clermont, who made 31 saves for his second victory in as many starts away from Amway Center. Orlando will ultimately visit nine different cities on its current trip, before finally returning home in December.

Double Check Those Name Bars

Fans from both teams will recognize a name or two on the opposite side of the ice on Friday night, as Wheeling and Orlando have frequently been trading partners over the last two seasons. Former Nailer Denver Manderson is currently a member of the Solar Bears, after signing an AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies during the summer. Manderson spent parts of three seasons with Wheeling, totaling 29 goals, 40 assists, and 69 points in 80 games. On the flip side, Zach Yuen and Tyler Murovich are the two Nailers who played for the Solar Bears, while Shane Bakker, David Gilbert, and Ben Shutron were also members of the Orlando organization at one point in their careers.

Tied at the Top

Nailers forward Riley Brace nearly took home his second ECHL Player of the Week honors in four weeks, but finished as a runner-up to Fort Wayne's Mitchell Heard. Last week, Brace led Wheeling with seven points in three games, grabbing multiple points in all three contests. That performance has lifted him into a tie for the league lead in scoring, as he, Ontario's Derek Couture, Elmira's Brayden Irwin, and Colorado's Jonathan Parker all have 14 points thus far. Matia Marcantuoni also had a notable week on the scoresheet, as he netted a hat trick on Friday night, before adding one assist on Saturday and two assists on Sunday for a three-game point streak. Greg Miller (8-3-11) is the leading scorer for the Solar Bears.

Our Annual Meeting

Friday night marks the lone head-to-head meeting of the 2014-15 regular season between the Nailers and Solar Bears, as Wheeling does not visit the Sunshine State for the second consecutive season. This is Orlando's third season in the ECHL, and despite that, the two sides have only collided four times prior to this weekend, with the Solar Bears having won all four tilts. On April 5th of last season, the Solar Bears made their lone prior visit to WesBanco Arena, picking up a 3-1 win, as current Nailer Tyler Murovich snapped a 1-1 tie with 10:43 remaining in the third period. In 2012-13, Wheeling traveled to Orlando for a three-game series, with the Solar Bears winning once in regulation, once in overtime, and once in a shootout.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics



ECHL Stories from November 14, 2014


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