Nailers at Wings Game Day Snap Shot

WHEELING NAILERS(17-14-3-0, 37 PTS, 5th North, 10th East)112 GF, 105 GAPP: 17.3% (26-for-150), 12thPK: 75.5% (111-for-147), 27th

26-D-Kevin Schulze (6 goals, 23 assists, 29 points in 33 games)17-F-Jordan Kwas (11 goals, 14 assists, 25 points in 34 games)23-F-Garrett Meurs (13 goals, 11 assists, 24 points in 33 games)8-F-Nick Sorkin (9 goals, 14 assists, 23 points in 29 games)11-F-Cody Wydo (9 goals, 13 assists, 22 points in 33 games)9-F-Christian Hilbrich (6 goals, 14 assists, 20 points in 34 games)29-G-Sean Maguire (5-5-1 record, 2.88 GAA, .903 Sv% in 12 games)

KALAMAZOO WINGS(16-17-1-3, 36 PTS, 5th Central, 9th West)99 GF, 125 GAPP: 11.7% (19-for-162), 25thPK: 81.9% (113-for-138), 19th

93-F-Justin Taylor (16 goals, 13 assists, 29 points in 36 games)21-F-Lane Scheidl (11 goals, 12 assists, 23 points in 37 games)16-F-Tyler Shattock (7 goals, 15 assists, 22 points in 36 games)9-F-Tanner Sorenson (10 goals, 10 assists, 20 points in 37 games)15-D-Eric Kattelus (5 goals, 14 assists, 19 points in 33 games)26-F-Tyler Biggs (5 goals, 11 assists, 16 points in 30 games)49-G-Joel Martin (11-9-3 record, 3.12 GAA, .902 Sv% in 24 games)

Head to HeadSeason Series: Nailers 3, Wings 1Season Series at Wings Event Center: Nailers 1, Wings 0All-Time Series: Nailers 22, Wings 22All-Time Series at Wings Event Center: Nailers 10, Wings 10

The Force Ran Into a WallThe Wheeling Nailers poured 43 shots onto the Kalamazoo net in Saturday night's game at WesBanco Arena, but only one was able to turn on the red light. Trailing 5-0 in the second period, Brett Stern let a wrist shot fly from the right point, which found the back of the net. The goal was Stern's second in as many nights, and was assisted by Jordan Kwas and Christian Hilbrich. It was also a power play strike, as the Nailers brought their home power play clip to 22.1%. One other bright spot in the 5-1 setback was the performance of Sean Maguire, who came off of the bench to stop all 13 shots he faced in 22:58 of action between the pipes. Doug Carr made his first start for Wheeling since December 30th, and surrendered five goals on 24 shots, as his season record evened at 8-8-1.

Ready from the Word "Go"The Kalamazoo Wings came to Wheeling after a frustrating 5-4 overtime loss to Brampton on Friday, in which it blew an early 3-0 lead. Kalamazoo was evidently fired up from the start of the tilt, as it took just 37 seconds for Lane Scheidl to find a loose puck on the right side of the slot, slamming it into the cage. Tanner Sorenson upped the advantage from the visitors, squeezing in a slap shot from the blueline. The second straight night with a three-goal lead came courtesy of Kyle Blaney, who shoveled in the biscuit from the top of the crease. Unlike the previous outing, the Wings continued to add insurance, collecting a pair of power play markers, opening up a five-goal margin. Josh Pitt flicked in a wrist shot from the right circle for number four, and former Nailer Kyle Bushee followed with a glider from the blueline for his team's last tally of the night. Keegan Asmundson was tremendous in net for Kalamazoo, as he steered away 42 of the 43 shots he faced.

Sellout Number ThreeWhile the final score of Saturday's game certainly left a sour taste in the mouth, one positive number to take away from the evening was the attendance of 5,040 - the second largest crowd of the 2016-17 season at WesBanco Arena. Last season, the Nailers recorded three sellouts during the regular season and one in the playoffs, and now this year, that number is at three with 16 home games remaining in the regular season. Over the course of the last two years, Wheeling has posted a 3-3-1 record in front of sellout crowds, winning its season opener in 2015-16 and both Education Day matches. Star Wars Night had its largest attendance draw since the promotion became a regular occurrence on the schedule, but the Nailers have just one win in their last five attempts on that particular evening. Wheeling will get the opportunity to seek revenge, when Kalamazoo hosts its Star Wars Night on February 3rd.

Staying in Foreign TerritoryThe wheels on the buses went 'round and 'round on Saturday night and Sunday morning, as Wheeling and Kalamazoo both made the trip from one arena to the other in preparation for Sunday's re-match. Due to the distance between the two cities, the Nailers spent a rare night away from their own beds. In fact, since Thanksgiving, Wheeling has only gone on one road trip that isn't considered a "day trip," and that was when they visited the Brampton Beast for games on December 9th and 11th. The opposite scenario will begin to ring true for the Nailers, as they look toward the second half of the season. The current trip will be the first of four straight tilts away from WesBanco Arena which will require an overnight stay, as Wheeling will visit Norfolk and Reading on back-to-back nights, before a return trip to Kalamazoo at the end of the month. A three-game venture to Boise, Idaho is also less than a month away. The Nailers are hoping the extra time away from home will produce more positive results, as they look to put the brakes on a seven-game winless skid on enemy ice. The Wings enter Sunday two games under .500 at home, with a mark of 5-7-3.

Let's Do it AgainSunday afternoon marks the fifth of ten head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Wings this season, as well as the second of five battles at Wings Event Center. Kalamazoo got onto the scoreboard for the first time in the season series on Saturday, thanks to its 5-1 triumph at WesBanco Arena. That ended a three-game winning streak by Wheeling, who had won twice at home and once on the road during the opening weeks of the campaign. Only one of the first four clashes has seen a one-goal margin, as the other three games have ended with differentials of three, four, and seven. Since the Wings joined the ECHL in 2009, the all-time set between they and the Nailers has been split right down the middle, with each team coming out victorious on 22 occasions. Furthermore, the series is tied in both buildings, with a 12-12 mark in Wheeling and a 10-10 record in Kalamazoo. Nick Sorkin, Cody Wydo, and Tyler Shattock are the active leaders in the current season series, as all three players have four points.