ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Wheeling Nailers Weekly Report

Published on March 21, 2016 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Last week, the Wheeling Nailers continued their March to the Playoffs with another successful road trip, as they acquired five out of six possible points, running their point streak to nine consecutive contests. The first game of the week took place on Thursday night against the Cincinnati Cyclones at US Bank Arena. After a scoreless first period, James Melindy broke the tie in the early stages of the middle frame. Cincinnati drew even later in the stanza, and the tilt stayed deadlocked 1-1 all the way through regulation and into overtime. In the extra session, Mathew Maione rose up as the hero, finishing off a pass by Cody Wydo for a 2-1 Nailers triumph. On Friday night, Wheeling and Cincinnati needed bonus hockey once again, after playing to a 2-2 tie through sixty minutes. The Nailers were forced to rally from a two-goal deficit, and did so thanks to Clark Seymour, who banged in a pair of power play markers. Unfortunately, the end result went the other way, as Branden Gracel scored in overtime for the Cyclones. On Saturday night, the bus drove its way up to Wings Event Center for the first time in 2015-16, where Wheeling met up with the Kalamazoo Wings. For the second week in a row, the Nailers had a dominant first period, posting 20 shots on goal, while taking a 2-0 lead on goals by Riley Brace and Andrew Cerretani. Kalamazoo pulled even in the second, but Wheeling proved to be too much, as Jordan Kwas snapped the brief tie, and insurance was added by Connor Leen and John McCarron for a 5-2 final score. Brian Foster played the two games against his former team in Cincinnati, going 1-0-1 to run his personal point streak to five games (3-0-2). JP Anderson won for the second time in as many starts on Saturday.

The Nailers are now a season-high ten games over .500 with nine games remaining, guaranteeing an eighth consecutive winning campaign and 19th in 24 years overall. Wheeling has racked up at least one point in each of its last nine games (7-0-2), in addition to each of its last nine road contests (8-0-1). The Nailers have won 18 games away from home, which matches their totals from the 2010-11 and 2013-14 teams as the highest amount in the last decade. Defense has been one of the keys to the club's recent success, as opposing teams have eclipsed 26 shots on goal just once in the last seven tilts, while being held to three goals or fewer in each of the last eight games. The power play experienced a surge on Friday and Saturday, going 5-for-12, including the first three-goal performance of the year in Kalamazoo. Cody Wydo saw his seven-game point streak end on Friday, but got right back onto the scoresheet on Saturday, giving him points in 16 of his last 18 matches. Saturday was Paul Cianfrini's 208th game in a Wheeling uniform, tying him for fifth most in team history. Mathew Maione became the fifth different player to score an overtime goal in 2015-16, and the first defenseman to score in the bonus period since Dustin Stevenson in the 2013-14 season. Maione and Jordan Kwas were the two players who recorded at least one point in all three games on the trip.

This Week

Tue. 3/22 Toledo Walleye @ WHEELING NAILERS, 7:05

Wed. 3/23 WHEELING NAILERS @ Fort Wayne Komets, 7:30

Fri. 3/25 WHEELING NAILERS @ Kalamazoo Wings, 7:00

Sat. 3/26 WHEELING NAILERS @ Kalamazoo Wings, 7:00

This week, the Wheeling Nailers will play their final stretch of four games in five days during the regular season, as less than ten tilts remain on the docket. On Tuesday night, the Nailers will host the Toledo Walleye for the second time in 11 days, following a tight 2-1 shootout win for Toledo on March 11th. Cody Wydo opened the scoring that night for Wheeling, before the Walleye got the equalizer from Dominic Zombo, and ultimately went on to win with three tallies in the shootout. Toledo has won four of the first five meetings against the Nailers, including two shootout decisions. Over the weekend, the Walleye became the first Eastern Conference squad to clinch a playoff spot. On Wednesday night, Wheeling will play its lone game of the year against the Fort Wayne Komets at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. Last season, the Nailers won three of four battles against Fort Wayne, despite a 102-point campaign by the Komets. Fort Wayne is having another successful year in 2015-16, as it leads the Midwest Division with 78 points. On Friday and Saturday nights, Wheeling will invade Wings Event Center for the second straight week to finish its season series against the Kalamazoo Wings. The two North Division rivals have each won three times thus far, meaning the set will be on the line this weekend in Southwest Michigan. The Wings, who sit nine points out of a playoff spot, will be playing four games in five nights, similar to the Nailers, as they will start the week on the road against Adirondack and Reading.

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

Nailers Leaders

Goals: 23, Riley Brace

Assists: 39, Mathew Maione

Points: 58, Riley Brace

Penalty Minutes: 110, Patrick McGrath

Plus/Minus: +15, Clark Seymour

Wins: 19, Franky Palazzese

Goals Against Average: 2.68, Brian Foster

Save Percentage: .908, Brian Foster

Shutouts: 4, Franky Palazzese

March to the Playoffs

1. Toledo Walleye- 87 (9 GR). at WHL, at FW, vs. CIN, at BRM

2. South Carolina Stingrays- 84 (8 GR). at ATL, at ATL

3. Manchester Monarchs- 83 (7 GR). vs. BRM, at REA, at ADK

4. Florida Everblades- 82 (9 GR). vs. GRN, vs. GRN

5. Adirondack Thunder- 76 (8 GR). vs. KAL, vs. MAN

6. WHEELING NAILERS- 73 (9 GR). vs. TOL, at FW, at KAL, at KAL

7. Reading Royals- 73 (8 GR). vs. KAL, vs. MAN

8. Elmira Jackals- 72 (7 GR). vs. BRM, vs. BRM

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9. Orlando Solar Bears- 68 (10 GR). vs. GRN, at NOR, at NOR

10. Atlanta Gladiators- 67 (8 GR). vs. SC, vs. SC

11. Greenville Swamp Rabbits- 65 (9 GR). at ORL, at FLA, at FLA

12. Kalamazoo Wings- 63 (9 GR). at ADK, at REA, vs. WHL, vs. WHL

13. Norfolk Admirals- 59 (8 GR). vs. ORL, vs. ORL

14-Elim. Brampton Beast- 45 (10 GR). at MAN, at ELM, at ELM, vs. TOL

Last Week

Thu. 3/17 WHEELING NAILERS 2 @ Cincinnati Cyclones 1 (overtime)

Melindy (Kwas)

Maione (Wydo)

Foster- 21/22

Fri. 3/18 WHEELING NAILERS 2 @ Cincinnati Cyclones 3 (overtime)

Seymour (Kwas, Cerretani)

Seymour (Brace, Maione)

Foster- 30/33

Sat. 3/19 WHEELING NAILERS 5 @ Kalamazoo Wings 2

Brace (Wydo)

Cerretani (O'Donoghue, Kwas)

Kwas (O'Donoghue, Seymour)

Leen (unassisted)

McCarron (Wydo, Maione)

Anderson- 22/24

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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