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ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Wheeling Nailers Weekly Report

March 14, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Last week, the Wheeling Nailers had a four-game homestand, and they performed exceptionally well, earning seven out of eight possible points in front of 11,691 fans. The week began on Tuesday night with the last game of the year against the Brampton Beast. Brampton has suffered through a difficult season, and the Nailers made life even tougher, limiting the Beast to just 14 shots on goal. Riley Brace and Adam Krause gave the home team all of the offense it needed in a 3-0 blanking. Brampton was also held to only one shot on five power plays, including a five-minute major. On Friday night, a second divisional opponent invaded WesBanco Arena, as the Nailers locked up with the Toledo Walleye. Cody Wydo put Wheeling ahead in the middle frame, but Toledo pulled even with less than six minutes left in regulation. The Nailers also took a lead in the shootout, scoring on their first two attempts, but once again, the Walleye responded, converting on three straight chances for the comeback win. On Saturday night, Wheeling came out flying against the Kalamazoo Wings, outshooting them 22-5 in the first period, while taking a 2-0 lead on goals by Wydo and Chris Ciotti. The Wings battled back within one, but the next two goals went to the Nailers, as Connor Leen and Wydo lit the lamp. In the middle of those tallies, Brian Foster came up with two monstrous saves, denying a breakaway and a penalty shot by Justin Taylor. The final score ended up being 4-2 for the good guys. On Sunday afternoon, Wheeling finished the homestand in style against the Norfolk Admirals. The visitors struck first on a power play goal, but the Nailers were quick to respond with a Derek Army power play strike. The score stayed deadlocked until the last two minutes of the second period, when Brace and Wydo scored 44 seconds apart for a 3-1 Wheeling lead, which turned out to be the end result.

The Nailers have earned at least one point in the standings in six straight games for the first time this season, and are now a season-high eight games over .500 at 31-23-6. Wheeling has also climbed two games over .500 on home ice. The Nailers are 15-4-1 in their last 21 tilts for a .762 points percentage. Over its last five games, Wheeling has led for 186:41, been tied for 117:26, and trailed for 0:53. Friday's shootout setback was the first time all year that the Nailers failed to get a victory when leading after two periods. Wheeling matched a season-high on Saturday with 22 shots on goal during the first period. The only two power play goals scored (1 for, 1 against) during the homestand both found the back of the net on Sunday. On Sunday, JP Anderson became the fourth goaltender to start and win a game for the Nailers this season, and all four won their most recent decisions. Riley Brace's winning goal on Sunday was his fifth of the season, tying Derek Army for the team lead. Cody Wydo had points in all four games, and multiple points in three, extending his overall point streak to six, while giving him at least one point in 14 of his last 15 contests. Anton Zlobin appeared in his 100th pro game on Friday, Jordan Kwas appeared in his 100th pro game on Sunday, Derek Army notched his 100th pro point on Sunday, and Riley Brace collected his 150th pro point on Sunday. Saturday's game featured the first penalty shot taken for or against the Nailers this season, with Brian Foster thwarting Justin Taylor.

This Week

Thu. 3/17 WHEELING NAILERS @ Cincinnati Cyclones, 7:35

Fri. 3/18 WHEELING NAILERS @ Cincinnati Cyclones, 7:35

Sat. 3/19 WHEELING NAILERS @ Kalamazoo Wings, 7:00

This week, the Wheeling Nailers will head back on the road, where they will play six of their next seven games. Three of those contests will take place this week in two different cities. The first stop on Wheeling's journey will be US Bank Arena, where the Nailers will face the Cincinnati Cyclones on Thursday and Friday to complete their four-game season series. Wheeling has won both clashes thus far, coming back for a 7-5 triumph at home on November 10th, before a more conventional 3-1 road victory on February 3rd. Despite suffering back-to-back losses to Quad City and Indy over the weekend, Cincinnati is beginning to secure its positioning in the Western Conference Playoff Race, as the Cyclones lead ninth ranked Tulsa by nine points. From there, the Nailers will make their first visit of the year to Wings Event Center, where they will do battle with the Kalamazoo Wings for the second straight week. Wheeling climbed within one game of Kalamazoo on Saturday, as the Wings went 3-1-1 in five tilts at WesBanco Arena in 2015-16. Kalamazoo currently sits seven points back of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, after a 1-2-0 weekend against Norfolk, Wheeling, and Toledo.

Upcoming Home Games/Promotions

Tue. 3/22 vs. Toledo- McDonald's $5 Kids Tickets, Two for Tuesday (Buy One, Get One Free)

Fri. 4/1 vs. Reading- Duck Dynasty Night Starring Si Robertson, Biker Night Presented by Valley Harley Davidson

Sat. 4/2 vs. Manchester- Appearance by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Guns 'N Hoses Game

Fri. 4/8 vs. Reading- Fan Appreciation Night, Regular Season Home Finale, Hat Giveaway Courtesy of Main Street Bank (First 1,500 Fans)

Nailers Leaders

Goals: 22, Riley Brace

Assists: 37, Mathew Maione

Points: 56, Riley Brace

Penalty Minutes: 110, Patrick McGrath

Plus/Minus: +15, Clark Seymour

Wins: 19, Franky Palazzese

Goals Against Average: 2.86, Franky Palazzese

Save Percentage: .904, Franky Palazzese

Shutouts: 4, Franky Palazzese

March to the Playoffs

1. Toledo Walleye- 83 (12 GR). at IND, vs. BRM, vs. EVN

2. Manchester Monarchs- 82 (9 GR). at ELM, at ELM

3. South Carolina Stingrays- 79 (11 GR). vs. FLA, vs. FLA, vs. GRN

4. Florida Everblades- 78 (12 GR). at SC, at SC, at ATL

5. Adirondack Thunder- 74 (11 GR). at ORL, at ORL, at ORL

6. Reading Royals- 70 (10 GR). at NOR, at NOR

7. WHEELING NAILERS- 68 (12 GR). at CIN, at CIN, at KAL

8. Elmira Jackals- 68 (10 GR). vs. NOR, vs. MAN, vs. MAN

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9. Atlanta Gladiators- 65 (11 GR). at GRN, vs. GRN, vs. FLA

10. Orlando Solar Bears- 64 (13 GR). vs. ADK, vs. ADK, vs. ADK

11. Kalamazoo Wings- 61 (12 GR). vs. BRM, vs. WHL

12. Greenville Swamp Rabbits- 61 (12 GR). vs. ATL, at ATL, at SC

13. Norfolk Admirals- 55 (11 GR). at ELM, vs. REA, vs. REA

14-Elim. Brampton Beast- 43 (13 GR). at KAL, at TOL, at IND

Last Week

Tue. 3/8 Brampton Beast 0 @ WHEELING NAILERS 3

Brace (Maione)

Krause (Wydo, Brace)

Krause (Brace, Wydo)

Palazzese- 14/14

Fri. 3/11 Toledo Walleye 2 @ WHEELING NAILERS 1 (shootout)

Wydo (Cianfrini, Krause)

Foster- 24/25

SO: Zlobin- G, Brace- G, Wydo- N, Army- N, Foster- 1/4

Sat. 3/12 Kalamazoo Wings 2 @ WHEELING NAILERS 4

Wydo (Army, Stern)

Ciotti (Brace, Seymour)

Leen (Zlobin, McCarron)

Wydo (Cianfrini)

Foster- 18/20

Sun. 3/13 Norfolk Admirals 1 @ WHEELING NAILERS 3

Army (Wydo, Brace)

Brace (Army, Stern)

Wydo (Army, Brace)

Anderson- 22/23

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