Wheeling Nailers Weekly Report, Dec. 19

Last Week

Wed. 12/14 Orlando Solar Bears 5 @ WHEELING NAILERS 2Wydo (Krause, Schulze)Hilbrich (Wydo)Maguire- 25/30 (L), Carr- 8/8

Fri. 12/16 Fort Wayne Komets 5 @ WHEELING NAILERS 6Stern (Ammon, Webster)Krause (Shalla, Meurs)Meurs (Krause, Schulze)Ammon (Schulze, Krause)Krause (Hilbrich, Wydo)Krause (unassisted)Carr- 19/24

Sat. 12/17 WHEELING NAILERS 3 @ Fort Wayne Komets 4Meurs (Kwas)Ammon (Currier)Wydo (Hilbrich)Maguire- 24/28

Last week, the Wheeling Nailers came up short in two of their three games, but the lone victory was certainly one to remember. The week began on Wednesday night against the Orlando Solar Bears, who had been on a tear since making a coaching change. Orlando took an early lead, before Cody Wydo squared the score for the Nailers during the opening minute of the second period. The game didn't stay tied for long, as the Solar Bears netted the next four goals to take a 5-1 lead, before Christian Hilbrich closed the final gap to three at 5-2. On Friday night, Wheeling got off to a rough start, falling behind the Fort Wayne Komets, 4-0. The home team slowly clawed back, starting with tallies by Brett Stern and Adam Krause in the middle frame. Garrett Meurs and Andrew Ammon continued the rally in the third period, before Fort Wayne regained its lead at 5-4. With less than three minutes remaining, Krause scored his second and third goals of the night, completing his hat trick and the comeback win for the Nailers, who were victorious, 6-5. The tying and winning goals were scored 18 seconds apart. On Saturday night, Wheeling nearly pulled off a second straight large comeback, as it trailed 3-0 at Fort Wayne after 20 minutes. Garrett Meurs and Andrew Ammon lit the lamp in the second period, but the Nailers still trailed, 4-2. Cody Wydo trimmed the margin to one, but a tying goal never materialized, as the Komets escaped with the 4-3 triumph.

With the weekend split against Fort Wayne, the Nailers ran their season record to 9-3-0 against Western Conference opponents. Friday's comeback win was Wheeling's first of the season when trailing after two periods, and it was also the first loss for the Komets when leading after two. The Nailers now have three wins when trailing by multiple goals at any point during a game. Wheeling has rallied from a deficit of at least three goals on three different occasions against Fort Wayne, since the teams first did battle in 2012. Adam Krause notched his first career hat trick and five-point game on Friday night, becoming the second Nailer to accomplish both of those feats in the same game this season. Garrett Meurs had two goals against his former team, denting the twine once in each building. The Nailers have won three of their last four games on home ice, and are three games over .500 at WesBanco Arena, compared to one game under .500 on the road. Tyler Currier picked up an assist in his Wheeling debut on Saturday, after being acquired in a trade with the Indy Fuel. Andrew Ammon scored in both games over the weekend, becoming the ninth different player to light the lamp in back-to-back contests this season. The Nailers are 12-10-2 at the one-third mark of the season, putting them on pace to earn 78 points this season.

This Week

Tue. 12/20 Manchester Monarchs @ WHEELING NAILERS, 7:05Thu. 12/22 Cincinnati Cyclones @ WHEELING NAILERS, 7:05

This week, the Wheeling Nailers will play their last two games before the holiday break, as two more teams make their first visits of the season to WesBanco Arena. On Tuesday night, Wheeling will play its only game of the year against North Division foe Manchester, who visits West Virginia for the second time ever. Last season, the Nailers and Monarchs split a two-game set, with both teams winning in their own back yard. Manchester enters the week in first place in the division with a 17-7-2 record, after sweeping a six-game homestand at SNHU Arena. While home ice has produced over half of their victories this season, the Monarchs have also performed well outside of the Granite State, compiling a 5-2-1 mark in opposition territory. Joe Diamond (11 goals) and Daniel Ciampini (24 points) are the team's leading scorers, while Sam Brittain has gone 12-3-1 between the pipes. On Thursday night, the Nailers will face the Cincinnati Cyclones, who are currently in a three-way tie for the fourth and final playoff spot in the South Division. Wheeling and Cincinnati have played once thus far this season, with the Cyclones edging the Nailers, 2-1, thanks to a late goal from Dominic Zombo and 39 saves by Michael Houser. Cincinnati has gone 2-0-2 in its last four games, as it lost back-to-back overtime decisions to Quad City, before sweeping two games against Indy. Thursday will be the first road game for the Cyclones since December 2nd.

Upcoming Home Games/PromotionsTue. 12/20- McDonald's $6 Kids TicketsThu. 12/22- Ugly Sweater Holiday Party - Wear Your Ugly Sweater to the Game, McDonald's $6 Kids Tickets, Appearance by SantaSat. 12/31- New Year's Eve Presented by Wheeling Island Hotel, Casino, Racetrack, Throwback Night, Nailers Wear Thunderbirds Jerseys, All Tickets are $10, Bam Bam Sticks Giveaway (all), Wine TastingFri. 1/6- Flat Screen Friday Presented by The Highlands, Frosty FridaySun. 1/8- Family Funday, McDonald's $6 Kids Tickets, Post Game Skate With the Team (Odd-Numbered Players)

Nailers LeadersGoals: 9, Garrett Meurs & Cody WydoAssists: 17, Kevin SchulzePoints: 21, Kevin SchulzePenalty Minutes: 37, Garrett MeursPlus/Minus: +12, Kevin SchulzeWins: 8, Doug CarrGoals Against Average: 3.27, Doug CarrSave Percentage: .891, Doug CarrShutouts: 1, JP Anderson

North Division Standings1. Manchester Monarchs 17-7-1-1, 36 pts.2. Adirondack Thunder 14-6-2-3, 35 pts.3. Brampton Beast 14-8-1-2, 31 pts.4. Reading Royals 14-10-1-1, 30 pts.5. WHEELING NAILERS 12-10-2-0, 26 pts.6. Elmira Jackals 6-14-4-0, 16 pts.