ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Wheeling Nailers Weekly Report

March 4, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Last Week

Fri. 2/28 WHEELING NAILERS 6 @ Elmira Jackals 4

Zlobin (Cianfrini, Torquato)

Stevenson (Johnson, Rowney)

Torquato (Zlobin)

Sylvester (Stevenson, Rowney)

Merth (Cianfrini, Fernandez)

Sylvester (Rowney, Cianfrini)

Hartzell- 27/31

Sat. 3/1 Reading Royals 4 @ WHEELING NAILERS 1

MacKay (Rowney, Torquato)

Millan- 24/28

Sun. 3/2 Cincinnati Cyclones 7 @ WHEELING NAILERS 5

Ratchuk (Sylvester, Rowney)

Ratchuk (Torquato, Sylvester)

Minella (Rowney, Sylvester)

Minella (Stevenson, Rowney)

Stevenson (Rowney, Johnson)

Hartzell- 24/30

Last week, the Wheeling Nailers were in action for three games in three days, with two of those contests featuring a plethora of goals. Despite posting a 1-2-0 record, the Nailers lit the lamp 12 times, giving them 19 goals over the course of their last four games. Carter Rowney was involved in the scoring of eight of the 12 tallies, as he dished out eight helpers, while extending his point streak to five games. Speaking of five, Wheeling set a new season high, netting five goals during the second period of Friday night's tilt in Elmira. The Nailers have scored at least one power play goal in eight of the last ten games, raising their league ranking to a tie for tenth.

On Friday night, the Nailers registered their largest comeback win of the season (10th overall, 4th when trailing by multiple goals), when they erased a 4-0 deficit, scoring six unanswered goals to defeat the Elmira Jackals, 6-4 at First Arena. Anton Zlobin, Dustin Stevenson, Zack Torquato, Cody Sylvester, and Peter Merth dented the twine during the middle frame, after Shane Bakker dropped the gloves with Harry Young, in an attempt to rally his squad. Sylvester added an empty net tally during the final minute, as Wheeling closed out its tenth win of the season against Elmira - its second most wins in a season against a single opponent. On Saturday night, Max MacKay put the Nailers ahead of the Reading Royals with a power play goal at 9:32 of the first, but unfortunately, that was the final celebration of the evening for the home team. Reading netted two goals in the first and two in the third, spoiling Wheeling's return to WesBanco Arena with a 4-1 final score. On Sunday afternoon, the game had a similar feel to Friday, except this time, the Nailers trailed the Cincinnati Cyclones 6-0 before the game was 21 minutes old. For the second time during the weekend, Wheeling rallied with five straight goals, as Mike Ratchuk and Christiaan Minella scored twice, while Dustin Stevenson notched his second goal in three games, following a 211-game regular season stretch without one. Minella's two tallies came in his second game back in the lineup, following a 47-game absence. Unfortunately, the Nailers were unable to complete the comeback, as the Byron Froese's empty net goal finished off a hat trick and a 7-5 Cincinnati win.

This Week

Fri. 3/7 WHEELING NAILERS @ Reading Royals, 7:05

Sat. 3/8 WHEELING NAILERS @ Elmira Jackals, 7:05

This week, the Wheeling Nailers will make their way back onto the road for two more divisional clashes with the Reading Royals and Elmira Jackals. On Friday night, the Nailers will look to bounce back from a 4-1 defeat against Reading that took place on March 1st. Wheeling is 2-1-0 in its last three trips to Santander Arena, following an 0-2-1 start. The Royals have clinched the season series, winning eight of the first 12 meetings, while taking a six-point lead in the Atlantic Division. On Saturday night, the Nailers will play their eighth and final game of the season in Elmira, where they have gone 5-1-1 for their best record in a single season at First Arena. Overall, Wheeling has defeated the Jackals in ten of the first 13 games, creating a 13-point separation between the two squads in the standings. The Nailers have won each of the last three meetings in Elmira, with all three having taken place since February 22nd.

Upcoming Home Games/Promotions

Wed. 3/12 vs. Toledo - WesBanco Winning Wednesday; $5 Kids Tickets

Fri. 3/14 vs. Reading - OVMC/CORE Weekend; St. Patrick's Day Jerseys; Frosty Friday; Player Poster Giveaway

Sat. 3/15 vs. Cincinnati - Gold Ball Cap Giveaway to First 2,500 Fans; OVMC/CORE Weekend, St. Patrick's Day Jerseys

Fri. 3/28 vs. Toledo - Frosty Friday; Player Poster Giveaway; Wheeling Island Nailer Night; Season Ticket Redemption Night #2

Sun. 3/30 vs. Elmira - Guns & Hoses; Pups & Pucks; Family Funday; Post Game Skate With the Team; $5 Kids Tickets

Nailers Leaders

Goals: 17, Cody Sylvester

Assists: 31, Zack Torquato

Points: 44, Zack Torquato

Penalty Minutes: 158, Patrick McGrath

Plus/Minus: +13, Carter Rowney

Wins: 17, Mike Condon

Goals Against Average: 2.47, Mike Condon

Save Percentage: .921, Mike Condon

Shutouts: 2, Mike Condon

Eastern Conference Standings

1. South Carolina Stingrays 73

2. Orlando Solar Bears 70

3. Kalamazoo Wings 69

4. Reading Royals 68

5. Greenville Road Warriors 67

6. Cincinnati Cyclones 67

7. Fort Wayne Komets 63

8. WHEELING NAILERS 62

9. Florida Everblades 62

10. Evansville IceMen 60

11. Elmira Jackals 49

12. Gwinnett Gladiators 46

13. Toledo Walleye 36

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics



ECHL Stories from March 4, 2014


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