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ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers vs. Wings Game Day Snap Shot, December 1

December 1, 2018 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Wheeling Nailers (7-9-1-0, 15 Pts.) vs. Kalamazoo Wings (6-10-0-1, 13 Pts.)

WHEELING NAILERS

(7-9-1-0, 15 PTS, 5th Central, 11th West)

51 GF, 56 GA

PP: 18.6% (13-for-70), 10th

PK: 84.1% (69-for-82), 14th

NHL Affiliate: Pittsburgh Penguins

AHL Affiliate: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

13-F-Nick Saracino (5 goals, 9 assists, 14 points in 16 games)

22-D-Kevin Spinozzi (5 goals, 9 assists, 14 points in 15 games)

27-F-Zac Lynch (5 goals, 7 assists, 12 points in 17 games)

4-F-Alex Rauter (3 goals, 8 assists, 11 points in 12 games)

5-D-Dan Fick (2 goals, 7 assists, 9 points in 17 games)

17-F-Winston Day Chief (5 goals, 3 assists, 8 points in 15 games)

35-G-Danny Tirone (1-1-0 record, 2.43 GAA, .905 Sv% in 2 games)

KALAMAZOO WINGS

(6-10-0-1, 13 PTS, 6th Central, 12th West)

50 GF, 69 GA

PP: 15.1% (11-for-73), 18th

PK: 84.8% (67-for-79), 10th

NHL Affiliate: Vancouver Canucks

AHL Affiliate: Utica Comets

93-F-Justin Taylor (13 goals, 3 assists, 16 points in 17 games)

12-F-Chris Collins (6 goals, 9 assists, 15 points in 17 games)

24-F-Kyle Thomas (3 goals, 10 assists, 13 points in 17 games)

7-D-Kyle Bushee (1 goal, 8 assists, 9 points in 17 games)

19-F-Reid Gardiner (3 goals, 4 assists, 7 points in 7 games)

17-D-Brandon Anselmini (7 assists, 7 points in 16 games)

35-G-Ivan Kulbakov (2-1-0 record, 4.04 GAA, .896 Sv% in 3 games)

Head-to-Head

Season Series: Wings 1, Nailers 0

2017-18 Season Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 1, Wings 0

All-Time Series: Nailers 27, Wings 26

All-Time Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 15, Wings 12

Pushing the Gas Pedal Hard

The Wheeling Nailers had their best offensive performance of the young season on Friday night, while earning their second straight home win, as they pumped the Indy Fuel, 6-2 at WesBanco Arena. Despite falling behind early, the Nailers pulled even during the opening stanza, as Renars Krastenbergs slapped in a shot from the right circle. Wheeling only mustered five shots on goal in the second period, but three of those attempts turned on the red light for a 4-2 lead. Yushiroh Hirano took turns setting up teammates, sending Nick Saracino down the middle for the go-ahead goal, then teeing up Kevin Spinozzi for a blast in the left circle. Zac Lynch provided the two-goal advantage on a power play in the final minute. The Nailers defended their lead well in the third period, before Spinozzi and Mike Fazio tacked on insurance markers for the 6-2 triumph. Danny Tirone earned the win in goal, making 24 saves on 26 shots.

A Half-Dozen Wings

The Kalamazoo Wings scored six goals for the second consecutive game, as they collected a 6-4 road win against the Reading Royals on Friday night at Santander Arena. Kalamazoo stormed out of the gates with three goals in the first period, as Wade Murphy, Zach Saar, and Reid Gardiner all lit the lamp. The Royals began to turn things around in the middle stanza, but Tyler Ganly's first strike of the season kept the Wings ahead 4-3 when the second buzzer sounded. Steven Swavely knotted things up at the 10:26 mark of the third period for Reading, creating some late game excitement. With 4:22 remaining, Colin Jacobs put Kalamazoo ahead for good, and Justin Taylor added a shorthanded empty netter to put the final icing on the cake. Ivan Kulbakov made 36 saves, picking up his second straight win since coming down from the AHL's Utica Comets.

Number One is Always Special

Danny Tirone had himself a night to remember on Friday, as he stopped 24 of the 26 shots he faced to earn the first win of his professional career. Tirone had to be patient leading up to this sparkling moment, as Friday's game was his first start of the season and second appearance, after taking over in relief of Matt O'Connor. Making the night even more special for Danny were some of his biggest fans in the crowd - his parents and his good friend, Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith. Tirone wasn't the only Nailer celebrating a career first on Friday, as Mike Fazio made his ECHL debut, scoring the last goal of the contest, which was assisted by Brien Diffley, who recorded his first professional point on the play. Kevin Spinozzi notched the first two-goal game of his pro career, while Yushiroh Hirano's two-assist night was his first in a Wheeling uniform.

Gardiner Plants One in Return

There will be one significant lineup change from the team that the Nailers saw when they visited Kalamazoo on Tuesday night, and it is a name that they know extremely well. After a five-game stint with the AHL's Utica Comets, the Wings received forward Reid Gardiner, who wasted little time in making an impact, posting a goal and an assist, while leading his team with five shots on goal in Friday's 6-4 win at Reading. Although he still qualified as a rookie last year, this is Gardiner's third season playing professionally, after spending the first two years of his career with the Penguins organization. Last season, Reid racked up 30 goals, 27 assists, and 57 points in 58 games with the Nailers, leading the squad in goals and finishing second in points. With seven points in seven games, the Humboldt, Saskatchewan native is already fifth in scoring for Kalamazoo.

The Rematch from a Rough One

Saturday night marks the second of eight head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Wings this season, as well as the first of three battles at WesBanco Arena. Kalamazoo won the opening match, 6-4 on Tuesday, despite two goals each by Renars Krastenbergs and Winston Day Chief, as well as a 51-shot effort by Wheeling. Tuesday's game was one of the more spirited tilts of the early season in terms of physicality, as the Nailers and Wings combined for 82 penalty minutes, which included two fighting majors and two misconducts on each side. Wheeling won its lone home contest against Kalamazoo last season, 6-2, and current Wing Reid Gardiner led the way, scoring two goals, including the game winner. The two Central Division rivals have three games on tap in December, with the next one taking place at Wings Event Center on the 14th.

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