ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Wheeling Seeks Third Straight Win

Published on March 11, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


WHEELING, W.Va. - Three familiar faces are expected to rejoin the Wheeling Nailers tonight in Reading, Pa., where the Nailers will face off against the Reading Royals at 7 p.m. The three returning players include forward Tommy Goebel, defenseman Reid Cashman and goaltender David Brown.

Goebel and Cashman were returned to Wheeling on loan while Brown was reassigned by Pittsburgh from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to Wheeling.

The 24-year-old Goebel, played in 25 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season, where he recorded 12 points (4G, 8A). A native of Parma, Ohio, Goebel played in 23 games with Wheeling, where he scored 30 points (10G, 20A) with the Nailers.

Cashman posted 18 points (5G, 13A) and 29 penalty minutes with Wheeling in 21 games this season while compiling 29 penalty minutes. Cashman, 25, has played in 18 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season, scoring six points (2G, 4A) and a plus/minus of plus-1.

An eighth round 2004 NHL draft pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Brown has seen action in four games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season. He is 1-2 with the Penguins and has a goals-against average of 3.94. Brown has a 10-3-1-1 record with the Nailers this season with a 2.89 goals-against average and a save percentage of .914.

Wheeling takes on Johnstown again this weekend. The Nailers play at Johnstown at 7 p.m. Saturday night and then host the Chiefs at WesBanco Arena on Sunday at 4:05 p.m.

For complete game notes, click here.

2008-09 Records

Wheeling: 31-22-2-5, 69 points (Tied for 2nd place, North Division)

Reading: 20-36-2-2, 44 points (7th place, North Division)

Last Time Out

Wheeling: The Nailers won their second straight game and their sixth in their last eight games on Saturday when they defeated the Johnstown Chiefs, 5-2. Veteran forward Kelly Miller scored a goal and one assist while Andrew Lord recorded two assists. Curtis Darling stopped 48 of Johnstown's 50 shots.

Reading: The Royals lost to the Cincinnati Cyclones on March 7, 5-0. It was the Royals' first loss in three games.

Nailers v. Royals, Head-to-Head in 2008-09

Wheeling is 4-3-0-0 against Reading this season. However, Reading has won the last two games, 5-2 on Feb. 21, and 3-1 on Jan. 30. The Nailers are 14-11-1-2 against the Royals over the last five seasons.

Head Coaches

Wheeling: Greg Puhalski (2nd season)

Reading: Larry Courville (1st season, interim)

NHL Affiliate

Wheeling: Pittsburgh Penguins

Reading: Toronto Maple Leafs/Los Angeles Kings

AHL Affiliate

Wheeling: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Reading: Toronto Marlies/Manchester Monarchs

Top Scorers

Wheeling: Winger Bryan Ewing leads the Nailers with 39 goals and 37 assists (76 points) in 55 games. Center Jordan Morrison is the team's second leading scorer with 21 goals and 44 assists (65 points) in 51 games.

Reading: Center Tyler Doig leads the Royals with 11 goals and 32 assists (43 points) in 50 games. Forward Ben Gordon is second on the team in points with 39 (15G, 24A) in 51 games.

Bo Knows Goals

Nailers forward Bo Cheesman has scored a goal in two of the Nailers' last three games. Cheesman scored his first goal of the season with the Nailers on Jan. 31 against Mississippi, just a few days after being acquired from the Alaska Aces for future considerations.

Streaks

Wheeling rookie Bryan Ewing has an 8-game point streak (6G, 6A) and a 2-game goal streak (3G). Billy Ryan, another Wheeling rookie, has a 4-game point streak (1G, 6A) and a 4-game assist streak (6A).

Darling Honored

Nailer Curtis Darling was named the Reebok ECHL Goaltender of the Week for the week of March 2-8. It was his second weekly award this season. Darling was impressive last week in both of the Nailers' wins over Johnstown. The 25-year-old went 2-0-0 and stopped 87 of 90 shots he faced with a goals-against average of 1.50 and a save percentage of .967.

Caputi, D'Aversa Reassigned

Winger Luca Caputi and defenseman Jon D'Aversa were reassigned by Pittsburgh from Wheeling to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Monday. Both Caputi and D'Aversa scored two goals and two assists apiece over their three games with the Nailers.

Reading-Cincinnati Trade

Reading acquired forwards Ben Gordon and Ben McLeod as well as defenseman Tom Sawatske and future considerations from the Cincinnati Cyclones on Sunday for forward Mac Faulkner and Gerard Miller. Gordon has scored 15 goals with 24 assists (39 points) in 51 games this season while McLeod has scored eight goals with 19 assists (27 points) in 55 games.

Nailers Currently With AHL Teams

Aaron Clarke (Albany); Nick Johnson (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton); Cliff Loya (Portland); Rob Sirianni (Philadelphia).

Notes

Wheeling's Bryan Ewing is second in the ECHL in points (76) and leads the league with six shorthanded goals. ... Nailers goaltender Curtis Darling is third in the league in saves (1,266) and fourth in minutes played (2,488). ... Nailers forward Jordan Morrison is second in the league in assists (44). ... Wheeling is the second highest scoring team in the league with an average of 3.75 goals scored per game. ... The Nailers have the No. 2 power play in the league at 21.6 percent while Reading's power play is ranked No. 13 at 16.2 percent. ... Wheeling is 14th in the league on the penalty kill (81.7 percent) while Reading is 22nd at 78.6 percent. ... Royals rookie Michael Ouzas has won his last two starts against Wheeling and is 2-1-0 overall against the Nailers. ... Reading rookie Dan Rudisuela has four goals and seven points in his last four games.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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ECHL Stories from March 11, 2009


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