Nailers vs. Walleye Game Day Snap Shot

WHEELING NAILERS(16-12-3-0, 35 PTS, 5th North, 10th East)103 GF, 94 GAPP: 16.7% (23-for-138), T-14thPK: 76.5% (101-for-132), 25th

26-D-Kevin Schulze (6 goals, 21 assists, 27 points in 31 games)17-F-Jordan Kwas (10 goals, 13 assists, 23 points in 31 games)8-F-Nick Sorkin (9 goals, 13 assists, 22 points in 26 games)11-F-Cody Wydo (9 goals, 12 assists, 21 points in 30 games)27-D-Brett Stern (4 goals, 13 assists, 17 points in 31 games)14-F-Tyler Currier (5 goals, 11 assists, 16 points in 32 games)29-G-Sean Maguire (4-4-1 record, 2.97 GAA, .892 Sv% in 9 games)

TOLEDO WALLEYE(26-6-0-1, 53 PTS, 1st Central, 1st West)134 GF, 90 GAPP: 23.4% (34-for-145), 1stPK: 84.0% (89-for-106), 12th

24-F-Tylor Spink (12 goals, 24 assists, 36 points in 33 games)12-F-Tyson Spink (15 goals, 20 assists, 35 points in 33 games)27-F-AJ Jenks (13 goals, 20 assists, 33 points in 32 games)10-F-Shane Berschbach (7 goals, 24 assists, 31 points in 32 games)16-F-Tyler Sikura (13 goals, 13 assists, 26 points in 30 games)11-D-Nolan Zajac (5 goals, 18 assists, 23 points in 33 games)35-G-Jake Paterson (16-5-1 record, 2.45 GAA, .913 Sv% in 22 games)

Head to HeadSeason Series: Nailers 2, Walleye 2Season Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 1, Walleye 1All-Time Series: Walleye 32, Nailers 29All-Time Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 21, Walleye 13

One Streak ContinuedThe Wheeling Nailers will close out their four-game homestand on Wednesday, after extending their home point streak to six on Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately, their five-game home winning streak came to an end, as the Cincinnati Cyclones prevailed, 3-2 in overtime. Wheeling had to battle back from an early deficit in the contest, as Cincinnati built a 2-0 lead in the first period on an even strength goal by Shane Walsh and a power play strike from Jaynen Rissling. The comeback for the Nailers began in the second period, when Garrett Meurs roofed his third goal of the weekend and team-leading 13th of the season into the top-right corner of the cage. In the third period, Gage Quinney got the equalizer, jamming home a shot from the right side of the net. The tilt needed extra hockey to determine a winner, and at the 1:09 mark of overtime, Rissling's second goal of the day put the Cyclones into the win column. Mark Visentin made 29 saves in the win, while Sean Maguire turned away 16 shots, bringing his home record to 4-1-1.

The Last Lead Mattered the MostThe Toledo Walleye also had to put in some extra time on Sunday afternoon, as they and the Fort Wayne Komets were unable to settle a final score in 60 minutes of hockey. Toledo gave itself quite the challenge during regulation, as it fell behind the Komets in each of the three periods. The first period deficit lasted for 5:26, before Zach Nastasiuk brought the Walleye even. In the middle frame, it took 6:08 for Beau Schmitz to provide an answer to Shawn Szydlowski's 21st goal of the campaign. Then, with 7:35 left in the third period, Alden Hirschfeld netted the tally that forced overtime, which came 4:26 after the Komets had established their third lead of the day. Toledo's only lead of the contest was the one that decided the affair, as Nolan Zajac buried a feed in the right circle at the 49-second mark of the extra session for the 4-3 result. Jake Paterson made 21 saves, defeating PJ Musico, who stopped 26 shots.

Opposites in OvertimeThe results from Sunday afternoon have mirrored the seasons that the Nailers and Walleye have experienced when games have gone past regulation with both teams earning a point. Wheeling is now 0-3 during the five-minute bonus period, with all three games having been played at WesBanco Arena, and oddly enough, all featuring 3-2 final scores. The Nailers did win their lone trip to a shootout, when they edged the Kalamazoo Wings, 3-2, back on October 28th for their first victory of the season. Meanwhile, Toledo has been an expert when it comes to extra hockey. The Walleye improved their overtime record to 5-0 with their win on Sunday, and they are now 8-1 in games when three periods aren't enough. Two of the main reasons for Toledo's success in overtime are Tylor and Tyson Spink. One or the other has scored three of the five winning goals, at least one twin has a point on four of the five, and at least one has been on the ice for all five.

Not Much Sharing of the CreaseStarting goaltenders haven't been much of a mystery for Wheeling and Toledo as of late, as both clubs have been riding the hand of an affiliated netminder. Sean Maguire has gotten the nod for the Nailers in four straight games, seven of the last eight, and nine of the last 11 contests, dating back to his season debut on December 11th in Brampton. After starting out with an 0-3-0 mark, Maguire has turned things around in a very positive manner, going 4-1-1 in his last six starts. With Cal Heeter currently playing for the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins, Jake Paterson has gotten the ball for the Walleye, and has run with it. Paterson has made nine straight starts dating back to December 17th, and has posted a 6-2-1 record over that span. Backup goaltender Steve Racine has made one appearance with Toledo, which was in relief of Paterson last Friday at WesBanco Arena.

A Few Days to Lick Their WoundsWednesday night marks the fifth of ten head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Walleye this season, as well as the third of five battles at WesBanco Arena. Last Friday, Wheeling knotted the season series with Toledo at two wins each, thanks to a convincing 6-0 triumph on home ice. The six-goal win tied for the largest by the Nailers against the Walleye since Toledo returned to the ECHL in 2009, and the six-goal outburst also matched the most in a home game against the Walleye during that same time period. The shutout was Wheeling's eighth all-time against the Walleye and seventh in West Virginia. Prior to Friday, the last home win by the Nailers against Toledo also came via shutout, as Brian Foster blanked the Fish in March. Wednesday will begin the first of two home-and-home series for Wheeling this week, as the two sides will clash at Huntington Center on Friday.