Wheeling Nailers Weekly Report
December 7, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Last week, the Wheeling Nailers played three games in three days, with all three contests taking place at WesBanco Arena. The Nailers came away with a different result in all three tilts, winning on Friday, losing in regulation on Saturday, and falling in a shootout on Sunday. That leaves Wheeling with an 11-9-2 overall record, good for seventh place in the Eastern Conference. On Friday night, the Nailers got behind quickly, as the South Carolina Stingrays needed just 18 seconds to open the scoring. However, the home team rallied back, tallying once in each period, as Zack Torquato, Adam Krause, and Brett Stern put Wheeling ahead. Brian Foster preserved what turned out to be a 3-2 win, stopping 38 of 40 shots. On Saturday night, the lone bright spots were Teddy Bear Toss and a crowd of 3,454. Unfortunately, the game itself was one to forget, as Torquato netted the lone goal with 18.2 seconds remaining in a 6-1 setback to the Stingrays. On Sunday afternoon, the Nailers fell behind the Elmira Jackals 2-0 in the opening stanza, but turned things around in the middle frame. Ty Loney and Derek Army scored 1:44 apart in what was a physical battle, featuring five fighting majors for each squad. Despite a 44-24 shots advantage for Wheeling, the contest proceeded to a shootout, where the Jackals scored on two of three attempts for the win.
Friday night's win gave the Nailers their 1,800th point in team history, as they now own an all-time record of 829-677-34-110. That win was also Wheeling's fourth in a row at home against South Carolina, counting both regular season and playoffs. The Nailers had all three goalies see action over the weekend, as Brian Foster got the win on Friday, Franky Palazzese suffered the loss on Saturday, and Casey DeSmith end up with the shootout loss on Sunday in his first professional start. DeSmith came in during the second period of Saturday's game for his debut, marking Wheeling's first in-game goaltending switch in 2015-16. Zack Torquato leads the team with ten goals, four of which have come on the power play. Five different players have netted two game winning goals, including Brett Stern, who notched his second on Friday. Mathew Maione picked up three points in three games, after being acquired in a trade with the Brampton Beast. He also appeared in his 100th professional game on Sunday, after Sahir Gill suited up for his 150th game as a pro on Saturday. Sunday's shootout was the Nailers' first of the year in game 22. It was also marked the eighth straight season in which a game between Wheeling and Elmira required extra time.
This Week
Thu. 12/10 WHEELING NAILERS @ Indy Fuel, 7:05
Fri. 12/11 WHEELING NAILERS @ Toledo Walleye, 7:15
Sat. 12/12 Toledo Walleye @ WHEELING NAILERS, 7:35
This week, the Wheeling Nailers will see two more opponents who have yet to appear on the schedule this season, as they will play two games on the road, before closing out the week at WesBanco Arena in their final home game before the holidays. On Thursday night, the Nailers will make the first of two visits to Indiana Farmers Coliseum to face the second year Fuel. Indy got off to a hot start, going 9-3-1 in its first 13 games. Since then, the Fuel are winless in their last eight games (0-7-1), including three straight home defeats last week. Wheeling and Indy split four games in 2014-15, with both teams going 1-1-0 on home ice. Alex Lavoie leads the Fuel with 17 points, while Garett Bembridge has nine goals. On Friday and Saturday night, the Nailers will renew their rivalry with the Toledo Walleye in a home-and-home series. Toledo reached game seven of the Eastern Conference Final last spring, before being eliminated in triple overtime by the South Carolina Stingrays. The Walleye are 7-0-3 in their last ten games, which has allowed them to leapfrog Wheeling into the North Division lead. Marek Tvrdon and Alden Hirschfeld each have eight goals and 18 points, while Jake Paterson has claimed the netminding duties with Jeff Lerg on loan to the AHL's San Diego Gulls. The Nailers and Walleye will collide with each other seven times this season.
Upcoming Home Games/Promotions
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), Regifting Night (Donate a New Toy and Receive a "Buy One Get One Free" Ticket Offer to the Game)
Thu. 12/31 vs. Brampton- New Year's Eve, Cowbell Giveaway (First 2,500 Fans) Courtesy of OVMC/EORH, McDonald's $5 Kids Tickets
Sat. 1/2 vs. Brampton- Throwback Night, All Tickets $7, Team Wears Special Jerseys
Sun. 1/3 vs. Norfolk- Family Funday, McDonald's $5 Kids Tickets, Post Game Skate With the Team (Odd Numbered Players)
Nailers Leaders
Goals: 10, Zack Torquato
Assists: 14, Sahir Gill
Points: 20, Riley Brace & Jarrett Burton
Penalty Minutes: 53, Patrick McGrath
Plus/Minus: +10, Mike Gunn
Wins: 7, Franky Palazzese
Goals Against Average: 2.84, Franky Palazzese
Save Percentage: .901, Franky Palazzese
Shutouts: 2, Franky Palazzese
North Division Standings
1. Toledo Walleye 26
2. WHEELING NAILERS 24
3. Kalamazoo Wings 18
4. Brampton Beast 17
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.
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Last Week
Fri. 12/4 South Carolina Stingrays 2 @ WHEELING NAILERS 3
Torquato (Gill)
Krause (Torquato, Gill)
Stern (Marcantuoni, Brace)
Foster- 38/40
Sat. 12/5 South Carolina Stingrays 6 @ WHEELING NAILERS 1
Torquato (Maione, J. Burton)
Palazzese- 21/26 (L), DeSmith- 14/15
Sun. 12/6 Elmira Jackals 3 @ WHEELING NAILERS 2 (shootout)
Loney (Maione, Army)
Army (Gill, Maione)
DeSmith- 22/24
SO: Army- N, Loney- N, DeSmith- 1/3
ECHL Stories from December 7, 2015
- ECHL Transactions - December 7 - ECHL
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- Thunder Weekly - Wichita Thunder
- Rimmer Recalled by Bakersfield, Blanchard Retires - Norfolk Admirals
- Wheeling Nailers Weekly Report - Wheeling Nailers
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- Weekly Snapshot - Colorado Eagles
- Jackals make move up East Division standings - ECHL
- Mallards Weekly Update - Quad City Mallards
- Jackals Weekly - Elmira Jackals
- Indy Fuel Weekly - Indy Fuel
- Beast Acquire Ivy League Player of the Year Iles from Atlanta - Brampton Beast
- Goaltender Iles Traded to Brampton - Atlanta Gladiators
- Thunder Rings Bells for the Salvation Army - Wichita Thunder
- Forward Derek DeBlois Returns to South Carolina - South Carolina Stingrays
- Oil Drops: Tulsa Oilers Weekly Report - Tulsa Oilers
- Paint the Ice Party this Sunday, December 13 - Tulsa Oilers
- Komets Gear up for the Holidays; Fuel Visit Friday for Star Wars Night - Fort Wayne Komets
- Defenseman Maxim Lamarche Recalled to Lehigh Valley - Reading Royals
- Grizzlies Home Wednesday, Friday, Saturday with Alaska - Utah Grizzlies
- Monarchs Weekly Preview - Manchester Monarchs
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