ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Wheeling Nailers Weekly Report

March 16, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Last Week

Fri. 3/13 Kalamazoo Wings 1 @ WHEELING NAILERS 4

Johnson (Gilbert, Shea)

Torquato (Seymour)

Brace (Army)

Army (unassisted)

Palazzese- 40/41

Sat. 3/14 Elmira Jackals 4 @ WHEELING NAILERS 1

Ratchuk (Army, Torquato)

Hartzell- 32/35

Last week, the Wheeling Nailers played the first two contests of their current three-game homestand, starting off with a victory in the opener, before coming up short the following evening. On Friday night, Wheeling played a key divisional game against the Kalamazoo Wings, as the two squads continued to battle for two of the final four playoff spots in the North Division. After a scoreless first period, both teams lit the lamp in the middle frame, sending the tilt into the third period all square at one. That's when the Nailers stormed ahead, receiving goals from Zack Torquato, Riley Brace, and Derek Army for a 4-1 advantage. Franky Palazzese preserved that score with a 40-save effort for his 16th win of the year. On Saturday night, Mike Ratchuk needed only 93 seconds to put Wheeling on the board, but unfortunately, that was the last celebration for the home team. The Elmira Jackals netted each of the final four goals, as they earned their first win in six visits to WesBanco Arena in 2014-15, while ending the Nailers' eight-game home winning streak in the historical series.

Friday night's victory was one for the record books, as Clark Donatelli passed Doug Sauter for the most head coaching wins in team history, earning his 125th win on his first attempt at breaking the record. Riley Brace had a season-high nine-game point streak come to an end on Saturday, while Zack Torquato carries an eight-game point streak into the week. Derek Army matched a season-high with goals in four consecutive games, before that run was also stopped on Saturday. Wheeling has scored 11 empty net goals in 58 games thus far this season, after scoring nine such goals all during all of 2013-14. The Nailers guaranteed themselves of a seventh straight winning season on home ice, and are also two wins away from securing 20 victories at home for the fifth straight campaign.

This Week

Tue. 3/17 Toledo Walleye @ WHEELING NAILERS, 7:05

Fri. 3/20 WHEELING NAILERS @ Elmira Jackals, 7:05

Sat. 3/21 WHEELING NAILERS @ Elmira Jackals, 7:05

This week, the Wheeling Nailers will take the ice for three more games, finishing off a homestand, while visiting a certain road city for the first time since prior to the first snowfall of the winter. On Tuesday night, the Nailers will look to continue their success at home against the Toledo Walleye, as home teams have won four of the five meetings in the season series. Thanks to a shutout win on Monday, Toledo is tied for first place in the North Division, having accumulated 84 points in 58 games - already a 35-point increase from last season. On Friday and Saturday night, Wheeling will face the Elmira Jackals, but will do so in New York for the first time since November 23rd. The Nailers played five straight home games against Elmira, winning four of them, to take a 6-2 lead in the season series. The Jackals currently occupy fifth place in the East Division with 66 points, trailing Orlando by three points for the fourth and final playoff spot. The Solar Bears also have two games in hand. Nine of the 13 games this week for the teams ranked 3rd-6th in the North Division will take place on the road.

Upcoming Home Games/Promotions

Tue. 3/17 vs. Toledo- St. Patrick's Day, $5 Kids Tickets

Wed. 3/25 vs. Toledo- WesBanco Winning Wednesday, $5 Kids Tickets

Fri. 3/27 vs. Fort Wayne- CORE Weekend, Flat Screen Friday, Frosty Friday, Player Poster Giveaway (2,000)

Sat. 3/28 vs. Reading- CORE Weekend, NASCAR Night, Travis Braden Appearance, Special Jerseys, McDonald's Friends & Family Tickets

Sun. 3/29 vs. Cincinnati- Pucks & Paws, Family Funday, Post Game Skate With the Team, Oglebay Good Zoo Day, $5 Kids Tickets

Nailers Leaders

Goals: 24, Derek Army

Assists: 39, Riley Brace

Points: 56, Riley Brace

Penalty Minutes: 165, Patrick McGrath

Plus/Minus: +17, Riley Brace

Wins: 16, Franky Palazzese

Goals Against Average: 2.72, Eric Hartzell

Save Percentage: .912, Eric Hartzell

Shutouts: 1, Eric Hartzell & Franky Palazzese

North Division Standings

1. Toledo Walleye 84 (at WHL, vs. MO, vs. KAL. vs. FLA)

2. Fort Wayne Komets 84 (at IND, at KAL, vs. MO, vs. MO)

3. Kalamazoo Wings 63 (vs. IND, vs. FW, at TOL)

4. Cincinnati Cyclones 60 (at GRN, at GRN, at SC)

5. WHEELING NAILERS 59 (vs. TOL, at ELM, at ELM)

6. Indy Fuel 59 (at KAL, vs. FW, at SC, at GRN)

7. Evansville IceMen 36 (vs. FLA, vs. FLA)

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

The following homestand will take place with four games in five days from March 25th-29th . NASCAR Night on March 28th will be the highlight game of the week, as the Nailers will wear special jerseys as part of CORE Weekend, while a NASCAR race car will be at the game. March 29th will be the final Family Funday and Post Game Skate, while March 27th is a Flat Screen Friday, Frosty Friday, and Player Poster Giveaway.

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.

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