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Wheeling Nailers Weekly Report

April 4, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release

Last Week

Fri. 4/1 Reading Royals 4 @ WHEELING NAILERS 1

Stern (Loney)

Palazzese- 37/41

Sat. 4/2 Manchester Monarchs 1 @ WHEELING NAILERS 2

Brace (Maione, McCarron)

McCarron (Wydo, Brace)

Palazzese- 29/30

Sun. 4/3 WHEELING NAILERS 1 @ Toledo Walleye 2 (overtime)

Zlobin (O'Donoghue, Maione)

Palazzese- 29/31

Last week, the Wheeling Nailers took another step toward their 14th playoff appearance in team history, as they accumulated three out of six possible points, and are two points ahead of the eighth and ninth place clubs with five days remaining in the regular season. On Friday night, Wheeling had its most frustrating game of the weekend, as the Reading Royals jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead at WesBanco Arena. Brett Stern rallied the home team within a goal, but that was the only time the Nailers were able to solve Adam Morrison. Reading tacked on two more markers for a 4-1 final score, lifting it ahead of Wheeling in the conference standings. On Saturday night, the Nailers made sure to get the start they were looking for, as Riley Brace needed just 2:47 to put his squad on top. John McCarron added a goal later in the opening stanza, and Franky Palazzese was on his game in goal, stopping 29 of 30 shots for a 2-1 triumph. On Sunday afternoon, Wheeling was involved in another tight, low scoring tilt, as it traveled to Toledo for the last time in the regular season. The two sides exchanged goals 3:09 apart in the first period, with Anton Zlobin answering a strike by Kyle Bonis. Palazzese and Jeff Lerg kept the contest deadlocked 1-1 through regulation, but at the 18-second mark of overtime, the Spink twins connected, giving the Walleye the extra point.

8,605 fans took in the two home games during the weekend, including the third sellout of the season on Friday night, as the Nailers flew past 96,000 in attendance. Saturday's victory guaranteed that Wheeling will finish with a winning record both at home and on the road for the fourth time in the last six years. Sunday afternoon was the 1,700th regular season game in team history. In Friday night's contest, the Nailers faced their third penalty shot of the season, and a third different goaltender came up with a save, as Franky Palazzese denied Kevin Goumas. Speaking of Palazzese, he earned his 20th win of the campaign on Saturday, making him the second netminder in team history to accomplish that feat in multiple seasons (Andy Franck - 33 in 05-06, 27 in 06-07). Paul Cianfrini appeared in his 215th game with Wheeling on Sunday, tying Tim Roberts for fourth in club history. Riley Brace suited up in his 200th professional contest on Friday - the same night that saw Kevin Schulze make his pro debut. The Nailers defeated their 15th different opponent on Saturday, meaning Orlando and Fort Wayne were the only two teams to escape without a defeat.

This Week

Fri. 4/8 Reading Royals @ WHEELING NAILERS, 7:35

Sat. 4/9 WHEELING NAILERS @ Reading Royals, 7:00

This week, the Wheeling Nailers will close out their 24th regular season in team history with two key games against the Reading Royals. Reading currently leads Wheeling by three points in the Eastern Conference Standings, meaning the Nailers would need to sweep the weekend set to have any hope of passing their long time rivals. The three-point margin was created last week, when the Royals went 3-0-1 in four contests against Elmira, Wheeling, and Norfolk, which included two comeback wins against the Admirals. The Nailers are in search of their second straight season series win against Reading, and in order to secure that, they would need to win one of the two battles, as they enter the week with a 5-4 advantage. After a run which saw home teams go 16-1 in the all-time series, the road squads have begun to turn things around, as the Royals have come out victorious in their last two trips to WesBanco Arena, while Wheeling swept a pair of games at Santander Arena in early March. Most of the ECHL schedule for the week features two-game series, and the Nailers and Royals in particular will be keeping a close eye on sets between Adirondack & Manchester, Kalamazoo & Toledo, Elmira & Brampton, and Orlando & Florida. However, before it reaches those points, there will be two big games to watch on Tuesday and Wednesday, as Elmira travels to Adirondack and Kalamazoo goes to Brampton. Wheeling begins the week with a magic number of four, while Reading's sits at one.

Upcoming Home Games/Promotions

Wed. 4/6- Team Awards & Playoff Rally at Undo's in Elm Grove from 7-8:30

Fri. 4/8 vs. Reading- Fan Appreciation Night Presented by Main Street Bank, Pack the House Night, One Lucky Fan Shoots for a Car From Whitesides, Flat Screen Friday Presented by The Highlands and Bordas & Bordas, Frosty Friday, Blades for Grades

Nailers Leaders

Goals: 26, Riley Brace

Assists: 42, Mathew Maione

Points: 63, Riley Brace

Penalty Minutes: 123, James Melindy

Plus/Minus: +11, Clark Seymour

Wins: 20, Franky Palazzese

Goals Against Average: 2.70, Brian Foster

Save Percentage: .908, Brian Foster

Shutouts: 4, Franky Palazzese

March to the Playoffs

X= Clinched Playoffs, Y= Clinched Division, E= Eliminated

1-Y. Toledo Walleye- 97. vs. KAL, at KAL

2-X. South Carolina Stingrays- 92. at ATL, at NOR, at NOR

3-X. Manchester Monarchs- 85. vs. ADK, at ADK

4-X. Florida Everblades- 88. at ORL, at ORL, vs. ORL, vs. ORL

5. Reading Royals- 82. at WHL, vs. WHL

6. Adirondack Thunder- 80. vs. ELM, at MAN, vs. MAN

7. WHEELING NAILERS- 79. vs. REA, at REA

8. Kalamazoo Wings- 77. at BRM, at TOL, vs. TOL

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9. Elmira Jackals- 77. at ADK, at BRM, vs. BRM

10. Orlando Solar Bears- 73. vs. FLA, vs. FLA, at FLA, at FLA

11. Atlanta Gladiators- 73. vs. SC, at GRN, vs. GRN

12-E. Greenville Swamp Rabbits- 66. at NOR, vs. ATL, at ATL

13-E. Norfolk Admirals- 63. vs. GRN, vs. SC, vs. SC

14-E. Brampton Beast- 53. vs. KAL, vs. ELM, at ELM