Wheeling Nailers Weekly Report
Published on December 20, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Upcoming Games
Friday, December 19 at 8:05 - Johnstown Chiefs at Wheeling Nailers. Kids Free Day! All kids 14 and under get free admission when accompanied by an adult. 2 kids per adult to take advantage of this offer. Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest. Wear your ugliest Holiday Sweater to the game and get a chance to win tickets to a Pittsburgh Penguins game.
Saturday, December 20 at 7:35 - Wheeling Nailers at Johnstown Chiefs.
Sunday, December 21 at 6:05 - Trenton Devils at Wheeling Nailers. Sunday Family FunDay. Skate with the team and Santa after the game! Must bring your own skates and gloves. Wear Steelers colors and get $2 off a game ticket.
Great tickets available for upcoming Wheeling Nailers home games! Call the Wheeling Nailers at 304-234-GOAL or 1-877-NAIL-TIX or log-on for more info at wheelingnailers.com
Holiday Specials
The Nailers have two great Holiday packages for you and your family.
Package #1 - 4 game vouchers good for any game. Autographed stick blade. All stuffed in a game used Hockey Sock all for $50. It's a great package you're sure to enjoy.
Package #2 - Two game tickets to Moon Dog Night on December 27. Guaranteed Moon Dog Bobblehead doll. Wheeling Nailers Christmas Ornament. All stuffed in a game used hockey sock all for $30. Another fantastic arrangement perfect for all Nailers fans.
Call the Nailers at 304-234-GOAL or stop by the team offices on Main Street in downtown Wheeling during regular business hours to get your holiday packages today!
Last Week -
The Wheeling Nailers went 3-0 in beating their opponents by a combined score of 15-4. After a road victory at the Cincinnati Cyclones Friday night the Nailers returned home to win a pair of games over the Reading Royals on Saturday and Sunday. Wheeling had a pair of hat tricks on the weekend from Tobias Holm and Rob Sirianni. Jordan Morrison and Matt Grennier also had multi-goal games. The Nailers have won 3 straight and 6 of their last 7 games. The Nailers have only lost 3 games in regulation this season, the best mark in the ECHL. Wheeling closed to within 2 points of first place Johnstown in the North Division with 3 games in hand and set up a big early season showdown for first place series with the Chiefs this weekend.
Friday, December 12 - Wheeling 6, Cincinnati 2
Tobias Holm recorded the team's 2nd hat trick of the season with all of his goals coming in the first period. Holm added a couple of assists on his 5 point effort. Rob Sirianni returned to the Nailers after a 6 game loan to Binghamton of the AHL and notched 2 goals and 2 assists. Aaron Clarke had a pair of nice assists from the left wing on a couple of Holm's goals. Wheeling scored 6 or more goals for the 4th time this season and for the 1st time since a 6-1 victory over Dayton on October 31. The Nailers are 4-0-1 against the defending league champion Cyclones this season. David Brown returned to the Nailers as well following a 3 week assignment to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on the AHL and recorded 25 saves on 27 shots to stay unbeaten in regulation with the Nailers.
Saturday, December 13 - Wheeling 5, Reading 2
The Nailers raced out to another quick start a they led 3-0 after 1 period and 5-0 before the midway point of the 2nd period and were able to cruise from there for a 5-2 win in their first meeting with the Reading Royals this year. Jordan Morrison and Matt Grennier each notched a pair of goals for the Nailers while Rob Sirianni scored the other. It was the Nailers first encounter with the Royals this year. David Brown saved 23 of 25 shots for his 2nd win of the weekend as he improved to 5-0-2. The Nailers penalty kill held Reading to 0-for-8 on the power play.
Sunday, December 14 - Wheeling 4, Reading 1
The Nailers capped the weekend sweep with another win against the Reading Royals. Rob Sirianni recorded a 3rd period hat trick to lead the attack and cap his monster 6 goal weekend. It was Sirianni's first hat trick as a pro. The game was scoreless through the middle of the 2nd period when Erik Johnson blasted a one-timer from the left dot to get the Nailers on the board. Sirianni scored in the opening minute of the 3rd period on a nice drop from Mitch Ganzak and later finished his hat trick with an empty-netter with 5 seconds remaining having just gotten on the ice in time for one try at the net. Aaron Clarke had a pair of assists to take over the team scoring lead with 28 points. Sirianni's 6 goal weekend put him in a tie for the team lead in goals with Nick Johnson with 14. Curtis Darling returned to Wheeling and saved 25 of 26 shots for the win.
Team Leaders -
Goals - Rob Sirianni (14),, Nick Johnson (14)
Assists - Aaron Clarke (20)
Points -Aaron Clarke (28)
Power Play Goals - Nick Johnson (6)
Plus/Minus - Mitch Ganzak (+19), Rob Sirianni (+19)
PIM - Cedrick Bernier (93)
Goals Against - David Brown (2.24)
Saves Percentage - David Brown (.927)
Wins - Curtis Darling (10)
Team Notes -
The Nailers have more wins in ECHL history than any other organization with 703. Their 700th win all-time came December 5 in a 5-2 victory at Dayton making them the first ever ECHL team to reach the milestone.
The Nailers have won 3 straight and 6 of their last 7 games.
Wheeling trails Johnstown by 2 points in the standings but has 3 games in hand heading into their showdown for first place series this weekend.
The Nailers are back in 1st in the ECHL in scoring with 4.13 goals per game following their 15 goals explosion in 3 games last weekend.
Wheeling is 12th in the league in defense allowing 3.04 goals per game after allowed just 4 goals in 3 games last weekend.
Wheeling is 6th in the league in shots per game with 32.35. They are 17th in shots allowed with 33.26.
Wheeling has received much improved play from the penalty kill lately holding opponents to just 1/27 in the last 5 games and 1/16 in the 3 games last weekend. Opponents are 7/76 in the last 15 games (91%). Wheeling is 9th in the league overall on the penalty kill at 84.6%.
Wheeling's power play is 4th in the league at 20.0%. Wheeling is 3/23 in their last 5 games and went 2/12 in the 3 games last weekend. They are 8/62 (12%) on the power play in their 12 games since November 15. Wheeling clicked at 15/45 (33%) on the power play in their first 7 games on the year.
The Nailers are 13-0-0 when leading after 2 periods. Wheeling is 8-2-1 when outshooting their opponent.
Player Notes -
Aaron Clarke has taken over the team lead in scoring with 4 assists last weekend and now has 28 points. Tommy Goebel led the team in scoring for most of the year and is now with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL
Rob Sirianni's 6 goal weekend in 3 games put him in a tie for first on the team in goals with Nick Johnson who is now with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL.
Wheeling has 4 of the top 5 plus-minus leaders in the ECHL including Mitch Ganzak and Rob Sirianni who are tied at the top spot at +19.
On the Air -
The first televised game of the season will take place on Friday, December 19th when the Nailers take on the 1st place Johnstown Chiefs at 8:05. Catch all the action on WTOV-9 in Wheeling with Bob Rotruck and Brock Woods calling the action.
All games are broadcast on the Wheeling Nailers Hockey Radio Network including The Mix 97.3fm and streamed live on wheelingnailers.com and video on the B2 networks. The voice of the Nailers, Bob Rotruck, provides all the play-by-play action with former Wheeling Thunderbird great Brock Woods providing color commentary on home games. The broadcasts begin with the USA Steak Buffet Countdown to Faceoff 20 minutes before the game-start including the Main Street Bank Coach's Conversation with Greg Puhalski.
Home games feature the live version of the Riesbeck's Food Market's post-game show from the club at WesBanco Arena featuring a recap of the game and live interviews with Nailers players. Come join us at the club downstairs at WesBanco Arena where you can meet the players and listen to the post-game show live.
Every Thursday night at 6pm it's the Nailers Power Hour live from Generations Pub and Restaurant and carried on the Wheeling Nailers Hockey Radio Network. Be sure to e-mail us your questions for Coach Puhalski and your favorite Nailers players and we will read them on the air. The e-mail address is nailersradio@wheelingnailers.com . Be sure to include your first name and your hometown and listen for us to read your question on the air!
ECHL Stories from December 20, 2008
- Grizzlies Fall 3-2 In Overtime; Unbeaten Streak Now At Five - Utah Grizzlies
- Aces Swept by Victoria - Alaska Aces
- Salmon Kings sweep Aces - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Reign Rally Past RoadRunners 4-3 In A SO - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Thunder drops final head-to-head matchup at Selland Arena - Stockton Thunder
- Dayton Downs Cincinnati 5-4 in Shootout - Dayton Bombers
- Five different goal scorers contribute to victory over Condors - Idaho Steelheads
- Steelheads take series finale from Condors, 5-2 - Bakersfield Condors
- Wheeling Nailers Weekly Report - Wheeling Nailers
- Chiefs dropped by Wheeling - Johnstown Chiefs
- Royals Earn a Point in SOL in Trenton, 5-4 - Reading Royals
- Devils Use Shootout to Defeat Royals, 5-4 - Trenton Devils
- Dayton Takes 5-4 Shootout Win From Cyclones - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Morrison Scores Game-Winner With 1:46 Left For 5-4 Win at Johnstown - Wheeling Nailers
- Blades run streak to four at 5-2 win over Mississippi - Florida Everblades
- Stingrays downed by Jackals, 3-2 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Cruthers scores 18th goal of season but Everblades win 5-2 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Game Preview: Ontario Reign Vs Phoenix Roadrunners - Ontario Reign
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Fresno Falcons - Stockton Thunder
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Rays Host Elmira Tonight at 7:05 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Goepfert Returns to Rays - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Team record fifth shutout of the season propels Victoria to a 4-0 win - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Reign Come From Behind in 4-3 Win - Ontario Reign
- Ontario Edges Las Vegas 4-3 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Thunder Snag Second Straight Win Over Fresno on Rohlfs' Shootout Winner - Stockton Thunder
- Falcons fall in shoot-out - Fresno Falcons
- Salmon Kings, Ford Stifle Aces - Alaska Aces
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