Nailers vs. Grizzlies Game Day Snap Shot

WHEELING NAILERS(10-6-2-0, 22 PTS, 4th North, 7th East)60 GF, 54 GAPP: 18.4% (14-for-76), 11thPK: 80.3% (57-for-71), 22nd

26-D-Kevin Schulze (3 goals, 14 assists, 17 points in 18 games)25-F-Josh Shalla (10 goals, 6 assists, 16 points in 18 games)11-F-Cody Wydo (7 goals, 8 assists, 15 points in 18 games)8-F-Nick Sorkin (5 goals, 10 assists, 15 points in 18 games)17-F-Jordan Kwas (7 goals, 7 assists, 14 points in 18 games)23-F-Garrett Meurs (6 goals, 6 assists, 12 points in 18 games)31-G-Doug Carr (6-5-1 record, 3.39 GAA, .890 Sv% in 12 games)

UTAH GRIZZLIES(7-11-1-1, 16 PTS, 7th Mountain, T-13th West)55 GF, 71 GAPP: 18.3% (13-for-71), 12thPK: 83.8% (57-for-68), 13th

23-F-Jon Puskar (6 goals, 7 assists, 13 points in 15 games)9-F-Mathieu Aubin (5 goals, 8 assists, 13 points in 20 games)8-D-Tim Daly (3 goals, 9 assists, 12 points in 19 games)71-F-Kenton Helgesen (2 goals, 7 assists, 9 points in 17 games)28-F-Ralph Cuddemi (4 goals, 4 assists, 8 points in 17 games)62-F-Erik Higby (6 goals, 1 assist, 7 points in 18 games)68-G-Ryan Faragher (6-6-1 record, 2.81 GAA, .899 Sv% in 13 games)

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

The Game was Won in the ThirdThe Wheeling Nailers got back in the win column on Friday night at WesBanco Arena, and they did so by erasing an early deficit, then taking charge and winning the third period. Wheeling surrendered a couple of goals in the first period, but began to rally back in the middle frame, when Kevin Schulze scored off of the rush to close the gap to one, before setting up Derek Army for the tying goal in the last two minutes. The Nailers took their first lead of the night in the early stages of the third period, thanks to Kyle Flemington's first pro goal in North America. A few minutes later, the score was deadlocked again, but it didn't stay that way for long, as Army tipped in a Brett Stern point shot to put the home team back on top. Cody Wydo's third strike in two games gave Wheeling a two-goal advantage with 1:17 left, and that turned out to be an enormous goal, as a last minute goal the other way gave the game a 5-4 final score in favor of the Nailers. Doug Carr climbed back over .500, earning the win with 34 saves.

Defense Couldn't Help the OffenseThe Utah Grizzlies had their highest offensive output in a game since November 5th, as they put the puck in the back of the net four times on Friday night. However, keeping the biscuit out of their own basket proved to be an issue, leading to a setback at WesBanco Arena. Utah scored twice in a 17-second span in the first period to build a 2-0 lead, as Erik Higsby converted on the power play with a left circle shot, before Colin Martin banged in the rebound of an Evan Stoflet shot. The Nailers responded with three consecutive goals to pull ahead, but the Grizzlies didn't go away easily, as a second strike on the man advantage brought the affair back to even at 3-3, courtesy of Mathieu Aubin. After two more goals by Wheeling, Tim Daly closed the gap to one in the final minute, as Utah fell, 5-4. Ryan McKay made his professional debut between the pipes, coming up with 30 saves.

The Second Quarter BeginsGame 18 of the regular season took place for the Nailers on Friday night, meaning they have reached the 1/4 mark of the 2016-17 regular season. Wheeling owns a 10-6-2 record, which is good for 22 points, meaning it is on pace for 40 wins and 88 points, which would be the highest such totals for the club in over a decade. In terms of win-loss record, the first quarter numbers are very similar to the 2015-16 club, who went all the way to the Kelly Cup Final, as that team started the year with a 10-7-1 record, good for 21 points. The 2014-15 version of the Nailers was also in that neighborhood, compiling an 11-7-0 record for 22 points. 2008-09 saw the best 18-game start in team history, as that unit posted 27 points out of the starting gate. Wheeling, Brampton, and Elmira became the last teams in the North Division to reach the quarter pole on Friday night, while Reading's 21 games played are the most in the grouping to this point. Month-by-month, the Nailers went 2-2-1 in October and 7-4-1 in November.

It's a Four-Goal SwingThree games involving the Nailers this season have seen a team rally from a two-goal deficit to pick up a victory, including Friday night, when Wheeling trailed Utah, 2-0, before going on to win, 5-4. Interestingly enough, all three of those contests have seen the team trailing go ahead by two goals at one point, leading to a theoretical four-goal swing. At one point on Friday, the Nailers scored five of six goals in the game, turning their 2-0 deficit into a 5-3 lead. A similar script was followed on November 5th, when the Toledo Walleye jumped out to a 2-0 lead, before five straight strikes by Wheeling put the fish on the grill. The Nailers have let a two-goal lead slip away once in 2016-17, when the Reading Royals climbed out of a 2-0 hole to win 4-3 on October 20th. Reading's four goals were scored consecutively. Nine of 18 games have seen a comeback win, including Friday, which was Wheeling's fourth of the campaign.

Don't be Strangers for too LongSaturday night marks the second of two meetings between the Nailers and Grizzlies this season, as well as the second of two battles at WesBanco Arena. Wheeling has now had the opportunity to play three games against Utah in its history, and in doing so, has collected at least five goals all three times, winning by scores of 5-2, 7-3, and 5-4. Derek Army is one player in particular who has enjoyed facing the team from the Mountain Division, as he has tallied four goals and six points in the three contests, including a pair of goals on Friday. Doug Carr earned his fifth win in eight starts against the Grizzlies, after facing them seven times while he was a member of the Colorado Eagles in 2014-15. After Saturday, the Nailers will play three more games against the Western Conference in December, as they clash with the Fort Wayne Komets in a home-and-home series, before a visit to Toledo after the holidays. Wheeling will make its first ever visit to the Mountain Time Zone in February for a three-game series against the Idaho Steelheads.