ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Wheeling Nailers Weekly Report

Published on November 30, 2015 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Last week, the Wheeling Nailers took the ice for three games, battling one long-time rival twice, while also facing off against a new divisional opponent. The Nailers compiled a 1-2-0 record, falling one point out of first place at 10-8-1 overall. On Wednesday night, Wheeling played host to the Reading Royals, in search of its ninth consecutive home win in the head-to-head series. Zack Torquato broke a scoreless deadlock at the 2:59 mark of the second period, which turned out to be the only goal of the evening. Franky Palazzese earned his second shutout of the year, stopping all 28 shots he faced. Unfortunately, the good fortunes didn't continue into the weekend, as the Nailers ran into the Brampton Beast on Saturday night. Brampton scored three power play goals, two shorthanded markers, and one even strength tally in its first ever win at WesBanco Arena. Jarrett Burton, Torquato, and Adam Krause were the goal scorers for the home team. Then, on Sunday, Krause put the Nailers ahead of the Royals 1-0 after one period on the road, only to see Reading rally back with three in the middle frame to jump on top. Brett Stern brought Wheeling within one in the final minutes, but the tying goal was not to be, as the Royals won, 3-2. Sunday's game ended a five-game winning streak for Palazzese, as well as a five-game point streak for Sahir Gill.

Wednesday night's win gave the Nailers 1,000 points in what has now been 805 games played at WesBanco Arena. Wheeling has accumulated a grand total of 1,025 points on "home ice," adding in 25 points earned in Johnstown and Pittsburgh. The 1-0 victory was Wheeling's first of that score since game three of the 2014 Eastern Conference Quarterfinal against South Carolina, and the first 1-0 win which featured an unassisted goal since March 20, 2008 at Trenton. The home team has won 15 of the last 16 games between the Nailers and Royals, including all four this season. Patrick McGrath and Derek Mathers have thrown down the gloves in all four of those clashes, as they lead their respective clubs in penalty minutes. Saturday's loss to Brampton was Wheeling's first at home in regulation since November 6th against Kalamazoo, ending a 4-0-1 stretch, which began with the Education Day Comeback.

This Week

Fri. 12/4 South Carolina Stingrays @ WHEELING NAILERS, 7:35

Sat. 12/5 South Carolina Stingrays @ WHEELING NAILERS, 7:35

Sun. 12/6 Elmira Jackals @ WHEELING NAILERS, 4:05

This week, the Wheeling Nailers will face their tenth and 11th different opponents in the 2015-16 regular season, as they will open the doors of WesBanco Arena for three games in three days over the weekend. The first visitors are the South Carolina Stingrays, who are in the midst of a ten-game road trip against four different divisions. Friday and Saturday will be the lone meetings between Wheeling and South Carolian, who will face each other in West Virginia for the first time in regular season play since January of 2013. The Nailers swept the Stingrays out of the first round of the 2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs. South Carolina is 3-1-0 on the trip thus far, and is in second place in the South Division, with a record of 10-6-2. Former Nailers Nick D'Agostino, Colin Mulvey, and Bobby Shea are all members of the Stingrays. On Sunday, the Elmira Jackals make their first appearance of the year in the Ohio Valley. After 52 head-to-head clashes over the last four seasons, the Nailers and Jackals will collide on only six occasions in 2015-16. Thanks to a couple of wins over Adirondack and Brampton over the weekend, Elmira sits two games above .500 (10-8-0), and is tied for eighth place in the Eastern Conference with the Orlando Solar Bears. The other two home games against the Jackals don't take place until the last weekend of February.

Upcoming Home Games/Promotions

Fri. 12/4 vs. South Carolina- Flat Screen Friday Presented by The Highlands and Bordas & Bordas, Frosty Friday

Sat. 12/5 vs. South Carolina- Star Wars Night, Appearances by the Characters, T-Shirt Giveaway (First 2,000 Fans), Team Wears Star Wars Jerseys, Presented by OVMC & EORH, Teddy Bear Toss Night

Sun. 12/6 vs. Elmira- Family Funday, McDonald's $5 Kids Tickets, Post Game Skate With the Team (Odd Numbered Players)

Sat. 12/12 vs. Toledo- Old Time Hockey Night, Memorabilia Night, Appearance by Slap Shot's Hanson Brothers, Team Card Set Giveaway (First 2,000 Fans) Sponsored by Play it Again Sports and Cipco Solutions, Post Game Autograph Session (Entire Team)

Sun. 12/27 vs. Kalamazoo- Family Funday, McDonald's $5 Kids Tickets, Post Game Skate With the Team (Even Numbered Players)

Nailers Leaders

Goals: 9, Jarrett Burton

Assists: 11, Riley Brace & Sahir Gill

Points: 19, Riley Brace & Jarrett Burton

Penalty Minutes: 41, Patrick McGrath

Plus/Minus: +10, Mike Gunn

Wins: 7, Franky Palazzese

Goals Against Average: 2.51, Franky Palazzese

Save Percentage: .910, Franky Palazzese

Shutouts: 2, Franky Palazzese

North Division Standings

1. Toledo Walleye 22

2. WHEELING NAILERS 21

3. Kalamazoo Wings 16

4. Brampton Beast 15

Download the Nailers new smartphone app presented by Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration. Available in theiTunes and Google Play Store. Use promo code "Leader" to receive 100 Nailers points.

In addition to Nailers Rewards, the app also includes:

Notifications and Alerts

News Feed containing team news, photos & videos

Interact Feed containing Nailers posts on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

Team Summary

Roster

Team Stats and League Standings

View Schedule & Buy Tickets

Venue Information (Map, Directions, Parking, and Seating Chart) Individual tickets, mini plans, and group tickets are on sale now, with prices starting as low as $10 per seat. For tickets and more information, call the Nailers at (304) 234-GOAL or online at wheelingnailers.com.

---

Last Week

Wed. 11/25 Reading Royals 0 @ WHEELING NAILERS 1

Torquato (unassisted)

Palazzese- 28/28

Sat. 11/28 Brampton Beast 6 @ WHEELING NAILERS 3

J. Burton (Brace, Loney)

Torquato (J. Burton, Gill)

Krause (Leen, Cianfrini)

Foster- 28/34

Sun. 11/29 WHEELING NAILERS 2 @ Reading Royals 3

Krause (Marcantuoni, Stern)

Stern (Marcantuoni, Leen)

Palazzese- 36/39

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from November 30, 2015


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.

OurSports Central