Nailers Wrap Up Road Trip At Reading And Elmira
Published on February 26, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Friday, February 26th 7:05pm (Sovereign Center, Reading, PA)-Wheeling Nailers at Reading Royals
Saturday February 27th 7:35pm (First Arena, Elmira, NY)-Wheeling Nailers at Elmira Jackals
North Division Standings
1. Cincinnati Cyclones (36-17-3) - 75
2. Kalamazoo Wings (28-17-7)-63
3. Toledo Walleye (28-23-4)-60
4. Wheeling Nailers (27-26-4)-58
American Conference Standings (Top 8 qualify for Kelly Cup Playoffs in April)
South Carolina Stingrays 79
Cincinnati Cyclones 75
Elmira Jackals 65
Florida Everblades 65
Charlotte Checkers 64
Kalamazoo Wings 63
Toledo Walleye 60
Wheeling Nailers 58
Gwinnett Gladiators 56
Reading Royals 54
Trenton Devils 53
Johnstown Chiefs 36
Preview -
The Wheeling Nailers wrap up their longest road trip of the season with games 6 and 7 if their 3 week stretch this weekend at the Reading Royals and Elmira Jackals. Wheeling is hanging onto the 8th and last playoff spot in the American Conference with just 15 games remaining in the regular season. They have a chance to catch 7th place Toledo with a win at Reading tonight.
The Royals are looking to close the gap and climb back to the playoff race. Reading stands in 10th place in the conference but only 4 points back of Wheeling for the 8 spot. The Royals have been unable to close the gap in the standings as they have struggled to a 3-9-0 mark in their last 12 games. Wheeling began their 7 game road trip in Reading on Valentine's Day with a 5-3 setback.
The Elmira Jackals are one of the hottest teams in the league with an 8-1-0 mark in February and have moved all the way up to 3rd in the conference while also taking a comfortable 11 point lead atop the East Division. They also feature the twin brothers Tyler and Justin Donati who rate 1st and 2nd in the ECHL in scoring with 85 and 81 points apiece.
Last Time Out -
The Nailers fell in a hard-fought 3-2 decision at Cincinnati Wednesday night in their 3rd game in the Queen City in the past week. Billy Ryan scored his first goal in four games since returning to the Nailers from off-season surgery. Andrew Lord tallied his 13th of the year. Michael-Lee Teslak played very well and made a handful of dazzling saves in giving the Nailers the opportunity to win.
Before that, Wheeling had lost a Sunday evening encounter at the Trenton Devils 7-4. Last Friday and Saturday the Nailers split a pair of games at Cincinnati with a 2-1 win in a shootout on Saturday night that followed a 3-1 loss in the Friday game.
Notes -
Cliff Loya is playing his 230th and 231st games in a Wheeling jersey this weekend. Saturday night he is slated to tie the all-time record of Stephan Brannare (231 games, 1997-99, 00-01, 03-06). Right now it appears Loya would break the all-time Nailers record next Friday, March 5th against the Charlotte Checkers in what would be his 232nd career game with Wheeling.
Goalie Adam Berkhoel is on the injured reserve with a lower body injury. He is expected to miss about one week. Michael-Lee Teslak will be the team's lone "regular" goalie in the interim while equipment manager Billy Higgins serves as the team's Emergency Backup Goalie again.
Casey Pierro-Zabotel left Wednesday's game after taking a high-stick around his eye. He required some stitches as well as minor surgery on the area and will miss this weekend's games.
Wheeling is currently sitting 8th in the Conference with 58 points and with a win tonight has a chance to tie Toledo for 7th with 60 points. The top 8 teams qualify for the Kelly Cup playoffs in April.
Thomas Beauregard has 33 goals and is tied for 2nd in the league with Ryan Kinasewich of the Utah Grizzlies.
Beauregard is also 3rd in the league with 11 power play goals.
Andrew Lord has 19 major penalties which is 3rd in the league.
Aaron Clarke leads the league with 4 shorthanded goals.
Ryan Schnell and Chris Morehouse of Cincinnati are tied for 2nd among ECHL rookies with 128 penalty minutes and 14 major penalties.
Mitch Ganzak leads the ECHL defensemen in assists with 31 and in shootout goals with 3 goals in 5 attempts.
This is the 2nd matchup between the Wheeling Nailers and the Reading Royals on Wheeling's 7 game road stretch.
Wheeling is 1-1-0 at Reading in the Sovereign Center and have yet to play the Royals at WesBanco Arena this season.
The Nailers record at Elmira in First arena is 2-2-0 and are 4-5-0 overall against the Jackals.
After tonight there are only 14 games left in the regular season.
Friday-Wheeling Nailers (27-26-4)=58
Reading Royals (25-23-4) = 54
Saturday-Wheeling Nailers (27-26-4) = 58
Elmira Jackals (30-18-5) = 65
Head Coach:
Wheeling - Greg Puhalski (3rd season with Wheeling, 16th in professional hockey)
Reading - Larry Courville (1st season as professional head coach)
Elmira-Steve Martinson (3rd season with Elmira, 15th in professional hockey)
Affiliation:
Wheeling - Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)
Reading - Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), Boston Bruins (NHL), Toronto Marlies (AHL), Providence Bruins (AHL)
Elmira-Ottawa Senators (NHL), Binghamton Senators (AHL)
Top Nailers
Thomas Beauregard (33-23-56), T.J. Fox (20-25-47), Jordan Fox (15-25-40),
Aaron Clarke (17-21-38), Mitch Ganzak (7-31-38)
Top Royals
Ryan Cruthers (15-34-49), Bryan Ewing (14-19-33), Andrew Sarauer (12-19-31),
Top Jackals
Tyler Donati (31-54-85), Justin Donati (31-50-81), Olivier Proulx (20-34-54)
Top Goalies
Wheeling- Michael-Lee Teslak (11-14-3,.878, 3.52 / with WHL, 6-9-1,.869, 3.94)
Reading -Josh Johnson (3-1-0, 0.897, 3.09)
Elmira- Julien Ellis (14-8-1, 0.883, 3.45)
Upcoming Home Games:
Wheeling's next home games are March 5th through 7th on a 3-in-3 weekend including a WTRF Friday Family Four Pack night on March 5th and an O.V. McBear Bobblehead giveaway night on March 6th and finishing with a Sunday Family FunDay and post-game open skate with the Nailers as part of every Sunday home game. Wheeling opens the weekend with a Friday night game against the Charlotte Checkers and then will play a two game series against the Trenton Devils on Saturday and Sunday.
Call the Nailers at 304-234-GOAL or toll-free at 1-877-NAIL-TIX. Get your tickets online at the team's website at wheelingnailers.com
More Great Upcoming Promotions!
Tuesday, March 9th - Meet the Nailers! The team will be appearing at Perkins on National Road in Wheeling from 6-8 p.m.
Saturday, March 20th - Affiliation Night celebrating the Penguins organization. Wheeling to wear the Baby Blue Penguins replica jerseys for the last time to be auctioned on eBay.
Sunday, March 21st - Pups and Pucks. Bring your dog to the game and cheer on the Nailers with man's best friend!
Friday, March 26th - Team Poster Giveaway Night for the first 2500 fans and Team Autograph Night after the game with the entire Nailers team appearing.
Friday, April 2nd - Nailers Baby Blue Ball-Cap Giveaway for the first 2500 fans courtesy of Main Street Bank.
Saturday, April 3rd - Fan Appreciation Night and Ticket Extravaganza. Lots of gifts and prizes on the last game of the regular season.
Extended Office Hours: The Wheeling Nailers have extended office hours during the week by popular demand and to accommodate our fans' busy schedules. Monday through Friday the Wheeling Nailers offices will be open until 6:00 pm. The Nailers are located at 1315 Main Street in downtown Wheeling for all your ticket and souvenir purchasing needs.
Experience Counts:
Greg Puhalski is entering his 16th year at the bench and 3rdfor the Nailers. He is second among all ECHL coaches with 601 coming into this season trailing only Steve Martinson who had 650 wins entering this year. Puhalski has over 200 ECHL wins dating back to the beginning of his coaching career with the Toledo Storm from 1994-98.
Right-Hand Man:
Greg Puhalski has an assistant coach on the staff this year. Doug Doull joins the Nailers and the Penguins organization after doing some coaching in Canadian University hockey for a couple seasons following his 8 year playing career in the AHL and NHL. Doull fought some of the NHL's toughest customers in his time with the Boston Bruins in 2003-04. He played 37 games in the NHL mostly with Boston (and 2 with Washington) and racked up 151 PIM's. His AHL career included stays with Hershey, San Antonio, Utah, Providence, St. John's, Saint John and with other AAA level teams in the old IHL in the late 90's with Michigan (now Kalamazoo), Detroit Vipers and Manitoba.
It's a Girl!!
Wheeling head coach Greg Puhalski and wife Ally had their first child earlier this season. Zara Katherine Puhalski was born at 7:05 p.m. on October 29th.
Nailers broadcaster Bob Rotruck and Nailers Accountant Linda Timberlake also share that birthday and both say they heartily approve of the date chosen by the newest member of Nailers Nation!
Congratulations Greg and Ally. And welcome to Nailers Nation Zara!!
ECHL Stories from February 26, 2010
- Devils Take Fifth Straight, Jolt Jackals, 3-1 - Trenton Devils
- Royals Earn Come Back Shootout Win Over Wheeling, 5-4 - Reading Royals
- Aces dealt 4-1 loss in Boise - Alaska Aces
- Steelheads top Aces - Idaho Steelheads
- Walleye swim past Chiefs - Johnstown Chiefs
- Game Preview: Condors Vs. Victoria - Bakersfield Condors
- Jackals handled by Devils, 3-1 - Elmira Jackals
- Nailers earn valuable standings point in 5-4 shootout loss - Wheeling Nailers
- Kalamazoo Home Unbeaten Streak Reaches 11 Games - Kalamazoo Wings
- Charlotte Netminder Makes Several Key Saves To De-Rail Red-Hot Cincinnati - Charlotte Checkers
- Gladiators Comeback Falls Short Against Wings - Atlanta Gladiators
- Cyclones Lose To Charlotte, 2-1 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Reign Blanket Giveaway - Saturday, February 27 - Ontario Reign
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Nailers Wrap Up Road Trip At Reading And Elmira - Wheeling Nailers
- Matt Marquardt Assigned To Reading - Reading Royals
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Las Vegas Wranglers - Stockton Thunder
- Countdown To Face-Off - Kalamazoo Wings
- Jackals Game Preview: Trenton At Elmira - Elmira Jackals
- Taylor Recalled By Syracuse - Atlanta Gladiators
- Jackals Announce Roster Changes - Elmira Jackals
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Steelheads Announce New Season-Ticket Package - Idaho Steelheads
- Game On - Elmira Jackals
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.
