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ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers vs. Walleye Game Day Snap Shot

March 25, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Wheeling Nailers (30-29-1-1, 62 PTS) vs. Toledo Walleye (43-13-4-2, 92 PTS)

WHEELING NAILERS

(30-29-1-1, 62 PTS, 4th North, 10th East)

179 GF, 182 GA

PP: 16.7% (40-for-239), 16th

PK: 83.3% (215-for-258), 12th

23-F-Riley Brace (18 goals, 40 assists, 58 points in 50 games)

16-F-Derek Army (25 goals, 29 assists, 54 points in 61 games)

15-F-Zack Torquato (15 goals, 39 assists, 54 points in 48 games)

12-F-David Gilbert (15 goals, 19 assists, 34 points in 56 games)

20-F-Jarrett Burton (10 goals, 16 assists, 26 points in 45 games)

98-F-Chaz Johnson (14 goals, 9 assists, 23 points in 55 games)

22-D-Clark Seymour (1 goal, 11 assists, 12 points in 49 games)

30-G-Eric Hartzell (13-11-1 record, 2.72 GAA, .912 Sv% in 25 games)

TOLEDO WALLEYE

(43-13-4-2, 92 PTS, 1st North, 2nd East)

243 GF, 155 GA

PP: 24.5% (54-for-220), 1st

PK: 88.7% (172-for-194), 1st

7-F-Tyler Barnes (26 goals, 38 assists, 64 points in 61 games)

10-F-Shane Berschbach (15 goals, 36 assists, 51 points in 55 games)

9-F-Troy Schwab (15 goals, 34 assists, 49 points in 60 games)

28-F-Kyle Bonis (29 goals, 17 assists, 46 points in 55 games)

23-F-Alden Hirschfeld (9 goals, 31 assists, 40 points in 49 games)

24-D-Shane Sims (7 goals, 20 assists, 27 points in 56 games)

32-D-Cody Lampl (8 goals, 16 assists, 24 points in 52 games)

1-G-Jeff Lerg (27-7-2 record, 2.29 GAA, .921 Sv% in 37 games)

Head-to-Head

Season Series: Walleye 5, Nailers 1

Season Series at WesBanco Arena: Walleye 2, Nailers 1

All-Time Series: Nailers 25, Walleye 24

All-Time Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 18, Walleye 10

Coming Home With a Split

The Wheeling Nailers took a quick two-game road trip last weekend, splitting the pair against the Elmira Jackals. Wheeling won the opening tilt, 2-1 in a shootout, as Chaz Johnson and Zach Tolkinen exchanged tallies in regulation, before David Gilbert and Mike Ratchuk converted in the shootout. Franky Palazzese stopped all four shootout attempts he faced, after a 36-save effort during the game. Palazzese turned in a 28-save game on Saturday, and Johnson lit the lamp for the second night in a row, but those were the lone positives for the Nailers, who fell short, 2-1. The two-game mini series featured six fighting majors, as the dislike between the two former division rivals was certainly on display. Wheeling has won 12 games away from WesBanco Arena, with five remaining on the docket.

Five Wins in One Week

The Toledo Walleye are coming off of a week that not many teams can say they have duplicated in the 27-year history of the ECHL, as the Walleye won five games in seven days. Toledo started the week with road wins in Elmira and Wheeling, before returning to Huntington Center, where it knocked off Missouri, Kalamazoo, and Florida. Sunday's showdown against the Everblades featured the top two teams in the ECHL, so it was only fitting that the contest got decided on the final shot. Shane Berschbach of the Walleye and Matt Marquardt of Florida both scored in regulation, leading to a shootout. The two sides each accumulated two goals in the first four rounds, before AJ Jenks gave Toledo a "skate-off" victory with his marker in round five. Jeff Lerg made 22 saves for the Walleye, who are unbeaten in regulation in their last eight games.

Facing Off With Murderers' Row

The fact that all four games for the Nailers this week are at home is a very positive nugget of information, as Wheeling has posted an 18-10-2 record at WesBanco Arena in 2014-15. However, these four games will be anything but a walk in the park, as the Nailers will welcome in three of the top four teams in the Eastern Conference, in addition to a team they are battling with for one of the final playoff spots in the North Division. After facing 92-point Toledo on Wednesday, Wheeling will drop the puck with 90-point Fort Wayne on Friday, and 88-point Reading on Saturday, before taking on 61-point Cincinnati on Sunday. While the Cyclones have a game against Evansville this week, they will have to deal with 85-point South Carolina on Wednesday. Third place Kalamazoo also has a big challenge ahead, as the Wings travel to Colorado for three games, where they will face the Eagles, who are tied for the league lead with 22 home wins.

History is Within Reach

2013-14 was a season that hockey fans in Toledo would love to forget about, as they watched their Walleye suffer the worst season in the city's history, accumulating just 49 points. Turn the page ahead one year, and the 2014-15 Walleye have completely turned things around, as they enter Wednesday night with 92 points - the second highest total in the ECHL. The turnaround has been so impressive that Toledo finds itself only eight points away from breaking the league record for the largest increase in points from one year to the next. In order to achieve the best season in the history of Toledo hockey, the Walleye will need to rack up 13 points in their final ten games, as the 1995-96 and 2002-03 Storm both totaled 104 points. The current total of 92 is already the best mark since the team became the Walleye at the start of the 2009-10 campaign.

Two Would be Better than One

Wednesday night marks the seventh and final head-to-head meeting between the Nailers and Walleye this season, as well as the fourth battle between the two clubs at WesBanco Arena. Thanks to wins in five of the first six clashes, Toledo has already claimed the season series, as it came out on top in all three of its home games, in addition to having won in two of its three visits to West Virginia. The most recent triumph for the Walleye came eight days ago, when they rallied from a 4-2 deficit with two goals in the third period, forcing a shootout, which they ultimately won with a 4-for-4 shooting performance. Toledo's Kyle Bonis has led the way with five goals and seven points against the Nailers, while Wheeling has three players (Brace, Army, Torquato) with six points against the Walleye. The Nailers will look to prevent the Walleye from tying the all-time series, which is currently led by Wheeling, 25-24.

Wednesday, March 25th is a WesBanco Winning Wednesday at 7:05, as the Nailers host the Toledo Walleye. If the Nailers win, all fans in attendance will be able to redeem their ticket for a free ticket on Fan Appreciation Night - April 10th. Kids tickets are $5.

Friday, March 27th is a 7:35 contest against the Fort Wayne Komets, as CORE Weekend begins. The first 2,000 fans will receive a Shane Bakker poster, one lucky fan will win a flat screen TV, and all fans 21-and-over are invited to responsibly enjoy Frosty Friday.

Saturday, March 28th continues CORE Weekend with NASCAR Night at 7:35 against the Reading Royals. The Nailers will be wearing special race car driver style uniforms, featuring their twitter handles on the nameplates. West Virginia University's Travis Braden will be signing autographs, and there will be two race cars on display.

Sunday, March 29th wraps up the week at 4:05 against the Cincinnati Cyclones. That day will be a Family Funday with $5 kids tickets, a post game skate with the team, and an Oglebay Good Zoo Day.

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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