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ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Wheeling Nailers Weekly Report

December 14, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Last week, the Wheeling Nailers regained sole possession of first place in the North Division, after earning five out of six possible points in games against the Indy Fuel and Toledo Walleye. Wheeling is currently 13-9-3, good for 29 points in 25 contests. On Thursday night, Matt Tabrum scored a memorable goal, lighting the lamp on his first career shot, during his first ever shift, just 1:04 into the game at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Indy came back to tie the score later in the first period, but with a little more than ten minutes remaining in regulation, Derek Army snapped the deadlock, giving the Nailers a 2-1 win. On Friday night, Wheeling and Toledo battled to a scoreless draw in the opening stanza, before the Walleye struck first during the second period. Riley Brace registered the tying tally in the third period, which ultimately forced overtime, followed by a shootout. Unfortunately, the Nailers' shootout struggles continued, as their shooters came up empty on all three attempts, allowing AJ Jenks to be the hero for T-Town. Franky Palazzese and Jeff Lerg put on an incredible exhibition of goaltending, denying 69 of 71 combined shots. On Saturday night, Wheeling got its revenge on Toledo, scoring four straight goals to erase an early 1-0 deficit. The Nailers then tacked on two shorthanded goals, to go along with a 6-for-7 effort on the penalty kill. John McCarron (2), Cody Wydo, Zack Torquato, Harrison Ruopp, and Riley Brace were the goal scorers, while Brian Foster made 21 saves for his third straight victory.

The Nailers have defeated ten of the 13 opponents they have faced thus far this season, with Indy and Toledo becoming the two most recent casualties. Thursday night was the fourth time in 12 starts that Brian Foster has played in a game with a 2-1 final score. He is 2-1-1 in such results. Matt Tabrum became the sixth Wheeling player to score his first career goal, when he did so in Thursday's clash at Indy. Although the Nailers have yet to win a game that has gone past regulation, they have netted the tying marker in all three tilts, to force the extra hockey. Wheeling scored two shorthanded goals on Saturday, marking the second time this season the club has achieved that feat (10/24). Harrison Ruopp appeared in his 100th professional game on Saturday, and celebrated the occasion by tallying his second career goal.

This Week

Fri. 12/18 WHEELING NAILERS @ Quad City Mallards, 8:05

Sat. 12/19 WHEELING NAILERS @ Quad City Mallards, 8:05

This week, the Wheeling Nailers will make their first ever visit to Moline, Illinois, where they will close out their season series against the Quad City Mallards, with a couple of clashes at iWireless Center. The Mallards came to Wheeling on Halloween, when the Nailers snapped in a pair of first period goals in a 2-1 home triumph. Since the last meeting, Quad City has been one of the top teams in the Western Conference, ranking second behind the Missouri Mavericks with a 14-7-3 record, good for 31 points. The majority of the Mallards' success has come in Northwest Illinois, where they have posted a phenomenal 10-1-1 record in front of their hometown fans. The lone regulation loss came in Quad City's home opener - a 1-0 setback to Tulsa on October 23rd. The Mallards are coming off of a two-game weekend split at Rapid City, including a Friday loss, which snapped their five-game winning streak overall. Matt Neal and Olivier Archambault are tied for the team lead with 20 points, while Mike Monfredo has chipped in with 16 assists and 19 points from the blueline. Steve Michalek (8-3-3) and Brody Hoffman (6-5-0) both have winning records between the pipes.

Upcoming Home Games/Promotions

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)

Fri. 1/8 vs. Orlando- Flat Screen Friday Presented by The Highlands and Bordas & Bordas, Frosty Friday

Nailers Leaders

Goals: 11, Zack Torquato

Assists: 15, Sahir Gill

Points: 24, Riley Brace

Penalty Minutes: 57, Patrick McGrath

Plus/Minus: +10, Mike Gunn

Wins: 7, Franky Palazzese

Goals Against Average: 2.67, Franky Palazzese

Save Percentage: .911, Brian Foster

Shutouts: 2, Franky Palazzese

North Division Standings

1. WHEELING NAILERS 29

2. Toledo Walleye 28

3. Kalamazoo Wings 22

4. Brampton Beast 18

Last Week

Thu. 12/10 WHEELING NAILERS 2 @ Indy Fuel 1

Tabrum (Torquato, Brace)

Army (Wydo)

Foster- 30/31

Fri. 12/11 WHEELING NAILERS 1 @ Toledo Walleye 2 (shootout)

Brace (Maione, Loney)

Palazzese- 36/37

SO: Maione- N, Torquato- N, Army- N, Palazzese- 1/2

Sat. 12/12 Toledo Walleye 2 @ WHEELING NAILERS 6

McCarron (Loney, Cianfrini)

Torquato (unassisted)

Wydo (Cianfrini, Army)

Ruopp (Brace, J. Burton)

Brace (Gill)

McCarron (Ruopp)

Foster- 21/23

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics



ECHL Stories from December 14, 2015


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