Last week, the Wheeling Nailers completed their season-long six-game road trip in dominating fashion, winning four times over a five-day span to finish the trip with a 5-1-0 record. On Tuesday night, the Nailers and Adirondack Thunder played to a scoreless draw in the first two periods, before a four-goal explosion in the third led to a 4-0 triumph for Wheeling. Andrew Ammon, Chris Ciotti, Cody Wydo, and Connor Leen were the goal scorers, while Franky Palazzese made 28 saves for his third shutout of the season. On Wednesday night, the bus traveled to Elmira, where the Nailers surrendered a goal in the opening stanza, before taking the lead on tallies by Riley Brace and Ammon in the second. The Jackals pulled even in the third as part of a 40-shot attack, which saw Casey DeSmith deny 38 of the attempts, sending the contest into overtime. Wydo played the role of hero less than one minute into the extra session, backhanding a shot out of the air. On Friday night, Wheeling’s success continued in Brampton, where it played the first of two tilts against the Beast. Adam Krause scored the quickest goal of the season at the 14-second mark of the first period, but the Nailers fell behind 2-1 in the middle frame. However, the visitors clawed back to tie the score on Jordan Kwas’ power play goal, before Riley Brace scored the go-ahead marker, as well as an insurance tally for a 4-2 final score in favor of Wheeling. On Saturday night, the Nailers fell behind the Beast 3-0, but rallied back with four unanswered goals from Krause, Leen, Ty Loney, and Paul Cianfrini to take the lead. Brampton lit the lamp in the final second of regulation to knot the score, but for the second night in a row, the Nailers had the last say, as Krause’s second of the evening won the game for Wheeling in overtime. Palazzese was the winning netminder in both games at Powerade Centre.
The 5-1-0 road trip brings the Nailers record on the season to 25-21-5, marking the first time they have been four games over .500 since December 19th. Wheeling has posted an 8-1-1 mark over its last two road trips, dating back to late January, improving to 14-10-2 away from WesBanco Arena. Franky Palazzese is 7-1-0 in his last eight appearances, with all seven wins coming on the road. All three of his shutouts have come against East Division clubs. Riley Brace returned from the AHL at the start of the trip, and proceeded to collect ten points in six games. Cody Wydo was the lone Nailer to accumulate at least one point in each game of the journey, as he finished with nine. Andrew Ammon made his Wheeling debut in the opening game of the trip, and went on to rack up two goals and an assist. In addition to earning the win on Wednesday, Casey DeSmith notched the his second assist of the year – both of which came in Elmira, where Nailer goalies picked up a helper in all three games. 17 different skaters found the scoresheet at least once during the six contests. Three of Wheeling’s five wins on the trip came in comeback fashion, bringing the season total up to ten in that category. The Nailers finished the season with an 8-0-1 record in New York and Ontario. Wednesday and Saturday were the club’s third and fourth consecutive victories during the five-minute overtime period, where it has gone 4-2 this season.
This Week
Fri. 2/26 Greenville Swamp Rabbits @ WHEELING NAILERS, 7:35
Sat. 2/27 Elmira Jackals @ WHEELING NAILERS, 7:35
Sun. 2/28 Elmira Jackals @ WHEELING NAILERS, 4:05
This week, the Wheeling Nailers will play their first games at WesBanco Arena in 20 days, as they take the ice for three crucial contests against teams around them in the Eastern Conference Standings. On Friday night, the Nailers will play their lone game of the season against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, who make their first visit to West Virginia with their new team name. Wheeling and Greenville are currently tied for ninth place in the Eastern Conference with 55 points each, although the Nailers have one game in hand. The Swamp Rabbits are coming off of a four-game series against the South Carolina Stingrays, in which they went 1-2-1. Greenville’s leading scorers by position are Scott Fleming with 38 points up from and Rob Kwiet with 21 points on the blueline. Allen York and Mackenzie Skapski are the two netminders – both of whom have NHL experience. On Saturday and Sunday, Wheeling will go to battle against the Elmira Jackals for the fourth and fifth times over a 31-day span. The Nailers and Jackals have split the first four games of their season series, with three of the four being decided after regulation. Elmira currently holds a one-point lead over Wheeling for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but the Nailers have three games in hand. After falling to Wheeling on Wednesday, the Jackals went 1-2 in three games last weekend, splitting a pair with Adirondack, before coming up short on a late goal in Manchester on Sunday. CJ Motte has played four straight games in goal for Elmira.
Upcoming Home Games/Promotions
Fri. 2/26 vs. Greenville- Flat Screen Friday Presented by The Highlands and Bordas & Bordas, Frosty Friday
Sat. 2/27 vs. Elmira- Disney Night Featuring Corey Fogelmanis (Farkle from Girl Meets World), Pink in the Rink, Nailers Uncorked (Wine Tasting Event)
Sun. 2/28 vs. Elmira- Family Funday, McDonald’s $5 Kids Tickets, Post Game Skate with the Team (Odd Numbered Players)
Tue. 3/8 vs. Brampton- Makeup Game From Jan. 24, McDonald’s $5 Kids Tickets
Fri. 3/11 vs. Toledo- Flat Screen Friday Presented by The Highlands and Bordas & Bordas, Frosty Friday
Nailers Leaders
Goals: 17, Riley Brace
Assists: 30, Mathew Maione
Points: 40, Riley Brace
Penalty Minutes: 105, Patrick McGrath
Plus/Minus: +11, Clark Seymour
Wins: 16, Franky Palazzese
Goals Against Average: 2.80, Franky Palazzese
Save Percentage: .906, Franky Palazzese
Shutouts: 2, Franky Palazzese
