Nailers vs. Walleye Game Day Snap Shot
March 17, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Wheeling Nailers (29-28-1-0, 59 PTS) vs. Elmira Jackals (39-13-4-2, 84 PTS)
WHEELING NAILERS
(29-28-1-0, 59 PTS, T-5th North, T-11th East)
172 GF, 174 GA
PP: 16.7% (38-for-227), 15th
PK: 83.6% (204-for-244), 12th
23-F-Riley Brace (17 goals, 39 assists, 56 points in 47 games)
16-F-Derek Army (24 goals, 26 assists, 50 points in 58 games)
15-F-Zack Torquato (14 goals, 36 assists, 50 points in 45 games)
12-F-David Gilbert (15 goals, 19 assists, 34 points in 53 games)
20-F-Jarrett Burton (10 goals, 16 assists, 26 points in 42 games)
98-F-Chaz Johnson (12 goals, 9 assists, 21 points in 52 games)
9-D-David Makowski (6 goals, 8 assists, 14 points in 36 games)
29-G-Franky Palazzese (16-17-0 record, 3.02 GAA, .906 Sv% in 34 games)
TOLEDO WALLEYE
(39-13-4-2, 84 PTS, T-1st North, T-2nd East)
228 GF, 147 GA
PP: 23.3% (49-for-210), 1st
PK: 89.0% (161-for-181), 1st
7-F-Tyler Barnes (21 goals, 35 assists, 56 points in 57 games)
28-F-Kyle Bonis (29 goals, 17 assists, 46 points in 51 games)
10-F-Shane Berschbach (13 goals, 31 assists, 44 points in 51 games)
9-F-Troy Schwab (13 goals, 30 assists, 43 points in 56 games)
23-F-Alden Hirschfeld (9 goals, 29 assists, 38 points in 46 games)
24-D-Shane Sims (7 goals, 18 assists, 25 points in 52 games)
32-D-Cody Lampl (7 goals, 16 assists, 23 points in 48 games)
35-G-Neil Conway (9-4-4 record, 2.00 GAA, .933 Sv% in 18 games)
Head-to-Head
Season Series: Walleye 4, Nailers 1
Season Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 1, Walleye 1
All-Time Series: Nailers 25, Walleye 23
All-Time Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 18, Walleye 9
A Shot at a Winning Homestand
The Wheeling Nailers finish their eighth multiple game homestand of the regular season on Tuesday night, hoping to secure a winning record. Wheeling has split the first two contests of the homestand, as identical 4-1 finals have made their way into the box scores. The Nailers defeated the Kalamazoo Wings on Friday night, snapping a 1-1 tie with three goals in the third period. Despite lighting the lamp 1:33 into Saturday's game, Wheeling was unable to earn its third consecutive win, as the Jackals rallied back with four straight goals, including a shorthanded empty netter during the final minute of the play. Zack Torquato (8) and Derek Army (6) extended their point streaks with assists on Mike Ratchuk's goal on Saturday, while Riley Brace saw his nine-game point streak come to an end.
Jumping Into the Driver's Seat
The Toledo Walleye pulled into a tie for first place in the North Division on Monday night, thanks to a 3-0 victory over the Elmira Jackals at First Arena. Toledo and Fort Wayne have both won 33 games in regulation/overtime, but the Walleye have played in one fewer game than their opponent from the second outdoor game in ECHL history. Toledo took control of Monday's game early, as Cody Lampl and Kyle Bonis scored 3:17 apart for a 2-0 lead at the first intermission. Tyler Barnes added an insurance goal during the second period, which turned out to be plenty of support for Jeff Lerg, who needed just 21 saves to pitch his fourth shutout of the season.
Revolving Door on Defense
Over the course of the last week, Wheeling's blueline has overgone quite the shuffle. Last Tuesday, the Nailers had eight defensemen on their roster, when they knocked off the Evansville IceMen, 5-2. However, by the time Saturday's game against Elmira rolled around, the total had shrunk to five, as Alex Boak, David Makowski, and Bobby Shea all went to the American Hockey League. All three of the those blueliners have since returned to the Nailers, in addition to Harrison Ruopp, meaning that Wheeling currently has nine defensemen on its roster. Over the course of the 2014-15 season, Wheeling has had 42 players take the ice - 24 forwards, 15 defensemen, and three goalies.
Goose Eggs Before Easter Eggs
Lots of eyebrows were raised before the trade deadline, when Toledo traded Anthony Luciani to the Gwinnett Gladiators (later flipped to Greenville), as the team's leading scorer was changing area codes. Despite his absence, the Walleye still lead the Eastern Conference with 228 goals, while the addition of former Nailer Joe Stejskal has bolstered the league's best defense (147 goals against) even more. Monday night's shutout win was Toledo's seventh of the season and fourth in the last 24 days. Jeff Lerg and Neil Conway both have two whitewashes to their credit during that time, while Lerg's season total of four is one better than Conway's three.
Recent History is on Our Side
Tuesday night marks the sixth of seven head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Walleye this season, as well as the third of four battles between the two clubs at WesBanco Arena. While it may not be as drastically one-sided as the series between Wheeling and Reading, home ice has been a huge advantage thus far, as the two teams have combined to go 4-1-0 in their own back yards. Wheeling was victorious 4-1 in its most recent home game against the Walleye on February 6th, while Toledo won all three games at Huntington Center, outscoring the Nailers, 15-4. This will be the fifth time that the two cities clash on St. Patrick's Day, with both squads having won twice. The last occurrence was in 2013, when Wheeling scored its 5,000th goal in team history as part of a 3-2 road win. Current Nailer Zack Torquato scored a goal in that game, while current Toledo associate coach Dan Watson found the back of the net on St. Patrick's Day in 2007 - also a 3-2 win for Wheeling.
Tuesday the 17th is a 7:05 clash with the Toledo Walleye on St. Patrick's Day. Kids tickets will be $5.
The following homestand will take place with four games in five days from March 25th-29th. NASCAR Night on March 28th will be the highlight game of the week, as the Nailers will wear special jerseys as part of CORE Weekend, while a NASCAR race car will be at the game. March 29th will be the final Family Funday and Post Game Skate, while March 27th is a Flat Screen Friday, Frosty Friday, and Player Poster Giveaway.
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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ECHL Stories from March 17, 2015
- K-Wings Strike Gold on Green Ice - Kalamazoo Wings
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- K-Wings Slip Past Fuel 5-3 - Indy Fuel
- PSU Defenseman Sarig Signs with Gwinnett - Atlanta Gladiators
- ECHL Transactions - March 17 - ECHL
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- Countdown to Face-Off: Kalamazoo Wings vs Indy Fuel - Kalamazoo Wings
- K-Wings Sign Former WMU Bronco Justin Kovacs - Kalamazoo Wings
- Thunder Host the Condors for St. Patrick's Day Meeting - Stockton Thunder
- Nailers vs. Walleye Game Day Snap Shot - Wheeling Nailers
- David Rutherford Named Sher-Wood Hockey ECHL Player of the Week - Ontario Reign
- Ontario's Rutherford Named Sher-Wood Hockey ECHL Player of the Week - ECHL
- Condors Sign Two Goaltenders: Lazaruk and Cahill - Bakersfield Condors
- Defenseman Scott Ford Loaned to Milwaukee of AHL - South Carolina Stingrays
- Thunder Weekly - Wichita Thunder
- Goaltender Jeff Jakaitis Earns CCM ECHL Goaltender of the Week - South Carolina Stingrays
- South Carolina's Jakaitis Named CCM ECHL Goaltender of the Week - ECHL
- Driedger Gets Second NHL Call Up, IceMen Sign Vazzano - Evansville IceMen
- ECHL Today - March 17 - ECHL
- K-Wings Weekly - Kalamazoo Wings
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