Nailers vs. Beast Game Day Snap Shot

WHEELING NAILERS(6-3-1-0, 13 PTS, T-3rd North, T-6th East)35 GF, 23 GAPP: 22.0% (9-for-41), T-8thPK: 83.3% (30-for-36), T-17th

25-F-Josh Shalla (7 goals, 5 assists, 12 points in 10 games)8-F-Nick Sorkin (4 goals, 6 assists, 10 points in 10 games)26-D-Kevin Schulze (2 goals, 7 assists, 9 points in 10 games)17-F-Jordan Kwas (4 goals, 4 assists, 8 points in 10 games)23-F-Garrett Meurs (3 goals, 4 assists, 7 points in 10 games)11-F-Cody Wydo (2 goals, 5 assists, 7 points in 10 games)31-G-Doug Carr (4-3-1 record, 2.59 GAA, .914 Sv% in 8 games)

BRAMPTON BEAST(5-2-1-2, 13 PTS, T-3rd North, T-6th East)39 GF, 40 GAPP: 11.6% (5-for-43), 20thPK: 83.9% (47-for-56), 16th

61-F-David Pacan (5 goals, 7 assists, 12 points in 10 games)13-F-Brandon Marino (3 goals, 9 assists, 12 points in 10 games)38-F-Yannick Veilleux (3 goals, 8 assists, 11 points in 10 games)97-F-David Vallorani (4 goals, 6 assists, 10 points in 10 games)11-F-Luke Pither (3 goals, 6 assists, 9 points in 10 games)18-D-Mike Vernace (2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points in 10 games)29-G-Bryan Pitton (2-0-2 record, 3.55 GAA, .880 Sv% in 4 games)

Head to HeadSeason Series: Nailers 1, Beast 1Season Series at WesBanco Arena: Beast 1, Nailers 0All-Time Series: Nailers 11, Beast 4All-Time Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 3, Beast 3

Different Country, Same Winning ResultThe Wheeling Nailers continued their hot play as of late on Sunday afternoon, when they made their first trip of the season north of the border for a game against the Brampton Beast. Wheeling got off to a strong start, as Kevin Schulze and Derek Army put the visitors ahead 2-0. The Beast pushed back against the Nailers, drawing to within a goal during the final minute of the first period, before ultimately tying the contest in the third period. However, the third period has belonged to Wheeling, and that was the case on Sunday, as the Nailers put Brampton away with three consecutive goals. The first two came off of the stick of Adam Krause, who has three tallies in two games since joining the squad from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Cody Wydo put the final nail into the coffin with an empty netter. JP Anderson won his second straight start, turning aside 27 of the 29 shots he faced.

A Rare Regulation SetbackThe Brampton Beast lost in regulation for just the second time in 2016-17, when the Nailers got the best of them, 5-2 at Powerade Centre on Sunday afternoon. Brampton was playing in its third game in three days, after sweeping a two-game set in Elmira on Friday and Saturday. After falling behind 2-0, the Beast trimmed their deficit to one during the final minute of the opening stanza, when former Nailer Luke Pither set up Chris Auger for a redirection on the left side of the crease. At that time, Pither was involved in the scoring of all four goals in the season series. Brampton knotted the score in the third period, thanks to Connor Crisp, who dug out the rebound of Mike Vernace's shot, and slipped it into the cage. Wheeling took control of the game from there, and Zachary Fucale was unable to stop the bleeding, as he suffered his second regulation loss, allowing four goals on 33 shots.

Not Afraid to Wear Big ShoesWhen it comes to his physical size, Kevin Schulze is one of the smaller players on the Wheeling roster at 5-foot-9, 165 pounds. However, the rookie out of the University of Wisconsin has come to town ready to take on large responsibilities. One area which he has succeeded in early on has been offensive production. On Sunday afternoon, Schulze netted the opening goal for the Nailers in Brampton, then proceeded to tack on two assists, feeding Derek Army in the first period, and helping Michael Webster set up Adam Krause for the eventual game winner in the third. The three-point day was already Kevin's second of the year, as he also amassed a goal and two helpers on October 29th against Kalamazoo. Both of Wheeling's strikes from the blueline have come from Schulze thus far this season, while Webster, Brett Stern, Ryan Segalla, Ethan Prow, Danny Fick, and Sam Windle have combined for 18 assists.

Typically Playing the Role of ProfessorsEducation Day at WesBanco Arena is usually great news for the Nailers, who have great success when the puck hits the ice before the clock strikes noon. Last year, Wheeling had one of its most memorable contests of the season on school day, as a packed house of 5,511 fans saw the home team rally from a 5-2 deficit with five goals in the final five minutes of regulation for a 7-5 triumph over the stunned Cincinnati Cyclones. The Nailers also came back in 2014, as they rallied from being down 2-0 to knock off the Elmira Jackals, 3-2 in a shootout. Home teams have had the upper hand lately in morning games involving Wheeling, having won each of the last six. Five of those victories belong to the Nailers, while one other went the way of the Kalamazoo Wings on their home ice in 2013. While this will serve as Wheeling's lone drastically early start of the year, Brampton will get to play another early game in Orlando, when the puck drops at 11 on Thanksgiving. The Beast will end up playing six morning games in 2016-17.

Almost Following Each Other to TownTuesday morning marks the third of 11 head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Beast this season, as well as the second of six battles at WesBanco Arena. The historical success for road teams continued on Sunday, as Wheeling collected its eighth win in nine visits to Powerade Centre, improving the mark for visiting clubs to 11-4. The Nailers have now earned three out of four possible points against the Beast, whom they and the Reading Royals are tied with for third place in the North Division Standings. Brampton's last trip to Wheeling came on opening night, when Luke Pither snapped a 2-2 tie in overtime, lifting the Beast to their second overtime win in as many years in West Virginia. Road squads have posted a perfect 4-0 record when extra hockey is needed, with both sides winning twice. After nearly a month break, the Nailers will visit Ontario for a two-game set in December, which will nearly bring the set to its midway mark. Brampton's next voyage to Wheeling will take place on January 28th.