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ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers vs. Walleye Game Day Snap Shot

February 6, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Wheeling Nailers (20-22-0-0, 40 PTS) vs. Toledo Walleye (28-7-3-2, 61 PTS)

WHEELING NAILERS

(20-22-0-0, 40 PTS, 5th North, 11th East)

125 GF, 133 GA

PP: 18.8% (30-for-160), 10th

PK: 84.5% (147-for-174), 7th

23-F-Riley Brace (11 goals, 29 assists, 40 points in 31 games)

16-F-Derek Army (18 goals, 18 assists, 36 points in 42 games)

15-F-Zack Torquato (10 goals, 23 assists, 33 points in 29 games)

12-F-David Gilbert (12 goals, 15 assists, 27 points in 39 games)

3-D-Morgan Ellis (12 goals, 11 assists, 23 points in 34 games)

98-F-Chaz Johnson (9 goals, 6 assists, 15 points in 37 games)

14-D-Tristin Llewellyn (4 goals, 11 assists, 15 points in 32 games)

29-G-Franky Palazzese (10-14-0 record, 3.46 GAA, .889 Sv% in 25 games)

TOLEDO WALLEYE

(28-7-3-2, 61 PTS, T-1st East, T-2nd East)

165 GF, 104 GA

PP: 23.6% (35-for-148), 2nd

PK: 88.2% (120-for-136), 2nd

7-F-Tyler Barnes (16 goals, 28 assists, 44 points in 39 games)

11-F-Anthony Luciani (18 goals, 22 assists, 40 points in 39 games)

16-F-Justin Mercier (17 goals, 16 assists, 33 points in 38 games)

9-F-Troy Schwab (9 goals, 24 assists, 33 points in 39 games)

19-F-Martin Frk (17 goals, 13 assists, 30 points in 23 games)

28-F-Kyle Bonis (19 goals, 10 assists, 29 points in 36 games)

72-D-Joel Chouinard (5 goals, 15 assists, 20 points in 32 games)

35-G-Neil Conway (5-1-3 record, 1.94 GAA, .934 Sv% in 10 games)

Head-to-Head

Season Series: Walleye 2, Nailers 0

Season Series at WesBanco Arena: Walleye 1, Nailers 0

All-Time Series: Nailers 24, Walleye 21

All-Time Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 17, Walleye 9

Down to the Final Minute Again

The Wheeling Nailers played their 17th game of the season decided by one goal on Wednesday night, as well as their 15th of those 17 decided in regulation, when they visited the Reading Royals at Santander Arena. After a scoreless first period, Reading netted two goals in the second period, with one coming shorthanded and the other at even strength. At the eight-minute mark of the third period, Josh Archibald began a comeback for Wheeling, as he blistered in his first goal as a Nailer. Despite a 28-9 shots advantage during the final two frames, Wheeling was unable to pull even, as the Royals held on for the 2-1 victory - their fifth home win in five tries during the season series.

A Tie at the Top

The Toledo Walleye entered their most recent game last Saturday in sole possession of first place in the North Division, as they visited the Fort Wayne Komets, whom they led by two points. The two teams played to a 0-0 tie in the first period, before Justin Mercier and Tyler Barnes scored 16 seconds apart in the middle frame, putting the Walleye ahead by a pair. However, the game shifted Fort Wayne's way in the third period, as Brett Perlini and Matthew Pistilli knotted the score at the eight-minute mark, before Pistilli snapped the tie with 5:46 to go, bringing the Komets even with Toledo at the top of the division. One night earlier, the Walleye blanked the Cincinnati Cyclones 4-0 on a 22-save shutout by Neil Conway.

Don't Let Them Get Ahead

When a team scores the first goal of a hockey game, they tend to have more success in winning than when they surrender the opening tally, and that stat has certainly stood true for the Walleye in 2014-15. Prior to its January 24th game against Allen, Toledo had gone 22-0-2 when taking a 1-0 lead, but is just 2-2-0 since then, after suffering regulation defeats to the Americans and Fort Wayne Komets on consecutive Saturdays. The opposite side of the equation hasn't seen numbers quite as drastic, as the Walleye have gone 6-5-3 when surrendering the first goal. The Nailers are 14-5-0 when scoring first and 6-17-0 when the opposition dents the twine first.

Fewer Penalties Could be Beneficial

With only 425 penalty minutes on the season, Toledo has spent the least amount of time in the penalty box during the 2014-15 campaign. While power plays tend to be more helpful than not, the Nailers have experienced their hardships on the man advantage as of late, allowing nine shorthanded goals to the opposition over the course of the last 15 games. During those tilts, Wheeling has collected 11 power play goals, maintaining its tenth place standing in the ECHL. The Nailers' penalty kill also ranks in the league's top ten, having killed off 147 of 174 opposition man advantages for an 84.5% success rate. The Walleye are second in the league in both categories with a 23.6% mark on the power play and an 88.2% rate when down a man. Both squads have scored seven shorthanded goals.

Three Weeks in a Row

Friday night marks the third of seven head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Walleye this season, as well as the second of four battles between the two clubs at WesBanco Arena. Toledo has won both of the first two clashes, taking a 4-2 decision in Wheeling on December 10th, before grabbing a 5-2 victory at Huntington Center on January 25th. Although the two North Division rivals haven't seen much of each other in the first part of the season, they will certainly get acquainted in February, as this will be the first of three consecutive weeks with games in the season series. Toledo's Alden Hirschfeld leads all players with four points (all assists) in the two games, while Tristin Llewellyn registered three points in three games against the Walleye, while he was a member of the Gwinnett Gladiators.

The Nailers will play a three-game homestand on February 6th, 7th, and 8th.

Friday the 6th is a 7:35 game against Toledo, featuring Flat Screen Friday, Frosty Friday, and a Morgan Ellis poster giveaway.

Saturday the 7th is Duck Dynasty Night at 8:05 against Cincinnati, with an appearance by Jep Robertson from A&E's highest rated television show. That evening will feature a beard contest and a duck call contest, as well as Nailers camouflage t-shirts available for purchase at the team store.

Sunday the 8th is a 4:05 face-off against Elmira, and after the game, fans can join the Nailers for a post game skate. Kids tickets for that contest will be $5, and the Oglebay Good Zoo will have an exhibit in the concourse.

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.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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