ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers vs. Wings Game Day Snap Shot

March 13, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Wheeling Nailers (28-27-1-0, 57 PTS) vs. Kalamazoo Wings (28-24-2-3, 61 PTS)

WHEELING NAILERS

(28-27-1-0, 57 PTS, 5th North, 11th East)

167 GF, 169 GA

PP: 17.2% (38-for-221), 13th

PK: 83.5% (197-for-236), 12th

23-F-Riley Brace (16 goals, 39 assists, 55 points in 45 games)

15-F-Zack Torquato (13 goals, 35 assists, 48 points in 43 games)

16-F-Derek Army (23 goals, 24 assists, 47 points in 56 games)

12-F-David Gilbert (15 goals, 18 assists, 33 points in 51 games)

20-F-Jarrett Burton (10 goals, 16 assists, 26 points in 40 games)

98-F-Chaz Johnson (11 goals, 9 assists, 20 points in 50 games)

9-D-David Makowski (6 goals, 8 assists, 14 points in 35 games)

29-G-Franky Palazzese (15-17-0 record, 3.09 GAA, .903 Sv% in 33 games)

KALAMAZOO WINGS

(28-24-2-3, 61 PTS, 3rd North, 9th East)

178 GF, 183 GA

PP: 16.7% (35-for-210), 17th

PK: 85.0% (198-for-233), 6th

84-F-Matt Caria (21 goals, 21 assists, 42 points in 50 games)

16-F-Gergo Nagy (12 goals, 29 assists, 41 points in 41 games)

15-F-Eric Kattelus (6 goals, 29 assists, 35 points in 34 games)

23-F-Ludwig Blomstrand (23 goals, 11 assists, 34 points in 41 games)

7-F-Dane Fox (23 goals, 11 assists, 34 points in 55 games)

9-F-Michael Neal (15 goals, 15 assists, 30 points in 45 games)

8-D-Sam Ftorek (3 goals, 24 assists, 27 points in 57 games)

49-G-Joel Martin (23-16-4 record, 2.90 GAA, .908 Sv% in 46 games)

Head-to-Head

Season Series: Nailers 2, Wings 1

Season Series at WesBanco Arena: First Meeting

All-Time Series: Nailers 15, Wings 15

All-Time Series at WesBanco Arena: Wings 8, Nailers 7

Nailers 2, Hoosier State 1

The Wheeling Nailers return home to WesBanco Arena on Friday night, following a three-game road trip to the State of Indiana, which saw them post a 2-1-0 record. Wheeling won the opening game of the trip 4-3 in Indy on Saturday, before dropping a 2-1 decision to Evansville the following day. On Tuesday, the Nailers exacted their revenge, erasing a 1-0 deficit with four unanswered goals in the second period. Derek Army started the scoring outburst with his team-leading 23rd tally of the season, which was succeeded by one goal from Zack Torquato and two from David Gilbert, as the visitors held a 4-1 lead after forty minutes. Tyler Fernandez capped off the 5-2 win with an empty net marker, while Eric Hartzell earned his 13th victory of the season with a 38-save performance.

No Game Leads to a Pool of Goals

The Kalamazoo Wings had their game on Saturday night postponed due to ice conditions, following a Polar Plunge which took place at Wings Stadium to benefit Special Olympics Michigan. The day off turned out to be very beneficial for the Wings, who proceeded to light the lamp 13 times in their next two home games. Kalamazoo stormed out to a 5-0 lead over the Indy Fuel on Sunday, before holding on for a 5-3 victory. Then, on Wednesday night, the Wings received a hat trick from Matt Caria, in addition to a five-point game (1G, 4A) from Gergo Nagy, as they doubled up the Fort Wayne Komets, 8-4. Kalamazoo enters Friday having won four of its last five games, when it will conclude a stretch of 11 straight games against North Division squads.

Donatelli Takes Aim at the Record

With the 5-2 victory on Tuesday night, Nailers Head Coach Clark Donatelli earned his 124th career win behind the team's bench. That number pulls him into a tie for first place on Wheeling's all-time list along with Doug Sauter, who posted 124 victories during his time with the Thunderbirds from 1992-95. Donatelli took over during the 2011-12 season for Stan Drulia, who took a job as the assistant coach with the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals. Clark made his head coaching debut on December 7th of that season, as Wheeling defeated the Trenton Titans 3-1 at Sun National Bank Center. On Friday night, the Nailers will face the all-time winningest coach in Kalamazoo Wings history, as Nick Bootland has 268 career victories under his belt.

No Change in the Nets

For the fourth straight game this season, the Nailers and Wings will see identical netminders called into action, as Franky Palazzese and Joel Martin are expected to get the starting nods from their respective head coaches. Thus far, Palazzese has gotten the upper hand in the season series, defeating Martin on two of three occasions. Prior to Tuesday's win in Evansville, Palazzese had made four consecutive starts for Wheeling, posting a 2-2-0 record, while stopping 121 of the 129 shots he faced. In the opposite crease, Martin will be making his 22nd straight start for Kalamazoo - a streak which began on January 30th against Wheeling. During that stretch, the veteran netminder has gone 10-9-2 with one no-decision.

The Only One in Our Back Yard

Friday night marks the fourth of five head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Wings this season, as well as the only battle between the two clubs at WesBanco Arena. This will be Kalamazoo's first visit to the Ohio Valley since January 31st and February 1st of last season, when the two sides split a weekend series. After dropping last year's season series 2-1, Wheeling will have an opportunity to clinch the 2014-15 set on Friday, as it enters play with a 2-1-0 record against the Wings. The most recent clash took place on February 22nd at Wings Stadium, when the Nailers fell behind early, but scored four straight goals for a 4-1 triumph. Josh Archibald led the way that day with a hat trick and an assist, while Franky Palazzese made 37 saves between the pipes.

The Nailers next homestand will take place from March 13th-17th.

Friday the 13th will be a 7:35 face-off in a key North Divsion tilt against the Kalamazoo Wings. One lucky fan will leave with a new TV on Flat Screen Friday, while 2,000 fans will get a free player poster. That night will also be a Frosty Friday.

On Saturday the 14th, the Stanley Cup comes to WesBanco Arena, as Wheeling faces Elmira at 7:35. Three other NHL trophies will be on display on Memorabilia Night, which will also feature a trading card set giveaway and post game autograph session. The Pittsburgh Pirate Parrot will be at the game as well.

Tuesday the 17th is a 7:05 clash with the Toledo Walleye on St. Patrick's Day. Kids tickets will be $5.

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.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics



ECHL Stories from March 13, 2015


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