Nailers at Beast Game Day Snap Shot

WHEELING NAILERS(11-6-2-0, 24 PTS, 4th North, 6th East)64 GF, 55 GAPP: 18.1% (15-for-83), 11thPK: 80.8% (63-for-78), 21st

26-D-Kevin Schulze (4 goals, 14 assists, 18 points in 19 games)25-F-Josh Shalla (10 goals, 7 assists, 17 points in 19 games)11-F-Cody Wydo (7 goals, 8 assists, 15 points in 19 games)17-F-Jordan Kwas (7 goals, 7 assists, 14 points in 19 games)23-F-Garrett Meurs (6 goals, 7 assists, 13 points in 19 games)16-F-Derek Army (7 goals, 4 assists, 11 points in 18 games)31-G-Doug Carr (7-5-1 record, 3.20 GAA, .895 Sv% in 13 games)

BRAMPTON BEAST(10-7-1-2, 23 PTS, 5th North, T-7th East)77 GF, 81 GAPP: 13.5% (10-for-74), T-19thPK: 83.1% (74-for-89), 14th

97-F-David Vallorani (13 goals, 11 assists, 24 points in 20 games)61-F-David Pacan (12 goals, 12 assists, 24 points in 20 games)13-F-Brandon Marino (6 goals, 15 assists, 21 points in 20 games)17-F-Brandon MacLean (7 goals, 10 assists, 17 points in 19 games)11-F-Luke Pither (3 goals, 14 assists, 17 points in 17 games)18-D-Mike Vernace (2 goals, 7 assists, 9 points in 20 games)31-G-Zachary Fucale (7-3-0 record, 3.08 GAA, .890 Sv% in 12 games)

Head to HeadSeason Series: Nailers 2, Beast 1Season Series at Powerade Centre: Nailers 1, Beast 0All-Time Series: Nailers 12, Beast 4All-Time Series at Powerade Centre: Nailers 8, Beast 1

The North Takes Down the MountainThe Wheeling Nailers earned a pair of victories on home ice last weekend, as they swept a quick series with the Mountain Division's Utah Grizzlies, winning 5-4 and 4-1. After Wheeling was forced to rally from a two-goal deficit for the win in Friday's game, the home team took control from the start on Saturday. In fact, the Nailers needed less than a minute to open the scoring, as Brett Stern clobbered in a slap shot at the 42-second mark of the first period - the club's fastest goal of the season. Kevin Schulze added to the advantage 2:34 later, as Wheeling quickly claimed a 2-0 lead. A fast start was also in store during the middle frame, as Ross McMullan found the back of the net at the 38-second mark, chasing Utah starter Ryan Faragher from the crease. Nick Sorkin tacked on one more insurance tally for the 4-1 final score. Doug Carr was the winning netminder in both games, making 34 and 27 saves respectively.

Early Birds Catch the WormsThe Brampton Beast played a morning contest for the fourth consecutive week, when they took on the Indy Fuel at Powerade Centre on Wednesday morning. After dropping their first two against Wheeling and Orlando, the Beast have figured out the idea of hockey before noon, as they were victorious for the second week in a row. Wednesday's tilt took some work, as David Pacan scored the opening goal, but the Fuel responded with each of the next three, building a 3-1 advantage. With 5:48 left in the first stanza, David Vallorani trimmed the gap to one, giving the Beast lots of life for the second period. That's when the home team took charge, turning on the red light three times to jump ahead 5-3. Luc-Olivier Blain netted the tying goal, followed by Vallorani with the go-ahead strike, and Brandon Marino with some insurance. Scott Jacklin's empty netter in the third solidified the 6-3 win, which was backstopped by Zachary Fucale's 32 saves.

Double Duty for the DefenseNine goals were scored by the Nailers during their two-game series against the Grizzlies, and the team's defensemen were involved in over half of them. Three of the four markers on Saturday were recorded by the blueliners, while another two came off of a defender's stick on Friday. Two defensemen netted their first goals in Wheeling uniforms, starting with Kyle Flemington, who snapped a 2-2 tie in the early stages of Friday's third period. On Saturday, it was Ross McMullan's turn to score a milestone goal, as he dented the twine for the first time in his pro career. McMullan also assisted on Kevin Schulze's tally earlier in the game for his first professional point. Schulze was the lone player from the back end to tally two goals during the weekend, as he is now the club leader with 18 points in the first 19 games of the year. Eight of the nine goals over the weekend featured at least one point by a defenseman, with the sole exception being Saturday's final strike, which saw Doug Carr pick up his first helper from the crease. Every Wheeling forward and defenseman has at least one point in 2016-17.

What's the Exchange Rate for GoalsGames involving the Beast this season have seen goals fly into the net at an incredible pace in 2016-17, as Brampton has found the cage 77 times, while surrendering 81 to the opposition. The 158 total goals are the second most in the ECHL, trailing only the Atlanta Gladiators, who have watched 172 pucks turn on the red light. Atlanta has done that while playing in three more games than the Beast, who will skate in their 21st contest of the campaign on Friday night. Brampton's 3.85 goals for per game ranks third in the league, while its 4.05 goals against per game is the most. The Nailers are toward the middle of the pack in both categories, ranking 11th in goals for (3.37) and eighth in goals against (2.89). There are typically a good amount of opportunities created on both sides as well, as both squads average over 30 shots on goal per game both for and against.

A Weekend on Canadian SoilFriday night marks the fourth of 11 head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Beast this season, as well as the second of five battles at Powerade Centre. After dropping the season opening game, 3-2 in overtime at WesBanco Arena, Wheeling responded by sweeping a home-and-home series against Brampton in the middle of November. The first contest resulted in a 5-2 final score in Ontario, while the back end of the set was a 6-5 triumph on Education Day in West Virginia. Five netminders have appeared in the three games, with Doug Carr and JP Anderson receiving starts for the Nailers, and Andrew D'Agostini, Zachary Fucale, and Bryan Pitton getting the nods for the Beast. Brampton's trio consists of the tenth, 11th, and 12th different goaltenders that Wheeling has faced in the 16-game all-time series. Kevin Schulze posted seven points in the November set, and leads both teams in scoring in the season series. Former Nailer Luke Pither paces the Beast with five points. This is the second of three series between the two North Division teams.