Nailers at Steelheads Game Day Snap Shot

WHEELING NAILERS(24-16-5-0, 53 PTS, T-4th North, T-6th East)158 GF, 137 GAPP: 20.6% (43-for-209), 7thPK: 75.5% (142-for-188), 26th

26-D-Kevin Schulze (7 goals, 30 assists, 37 points in 41 games)11-F-Cody Wydo (16 goals, 16 assists, 32 points in 44 games)9-F-Christian Hilbrich (13 goals, 18 assists, 31 points in 45 games)23-F-Garrett Meurs (15 goals, 15 assists, 30 points in 44 games)7-F-Gage Quinney (8 goals, 21 assists, 29 points in 25 games)14-F-Tyler Currier (10 goals, 17 assists, 27 points in 46 games)31-G-Doug Carr (11-9-1 record, 3.49 GAA, .883 Sv% in 22 games)

IDAHO STEELHEADS(25-16-5-2, 57 PTS, 3rd Mountain, 4th West)163 GF, 158 GAPP: 22.9% (41-for-179), 6thPK: 83.4% (161-for-193), 13th

11-F-Anthony Luciani (19 goals, 26 assists, 45 points in 47 games)21-F-Jefferson Dahl (14 goals, 31 assists, 45 points in 46 games)28-F-Will Merchant (16 goals, 19 assists, 35 points in 47 games)17-F-Joe Basaraba (15 goals, 20 assists, 35 points in 48 games)26-F-Rob Linsmayer (9 goals, 24 assists, 33 points in 43 games)6-D-Joe Faust (12 goals, 19 assists, 31 points in 46 games)1-G-Branden Komm (11-10-3 record, 2.88 GAA, .912 Sv% in 25 games)

Head to HeadSeason Series: Steelheads 1, Nailers 0Season Series at CenturyLink Arena: Steelheads 1, Nailers 0All-Time Series: Steelheads 1, Nailers 0All-Time Series at CenturyLink Arena: Steelheads 1, Nailers 0

We Get to Try it AgainThe Wheeling Nailers opened their three-game road trip in Boise, Idaho on Wednesday night, but unfortunately, they do not have a victory puck against the Steelheads to add to the collection yet. For the second straight contest, a goal was scored during the first minute of play, but unlike Saturday, the tally went to the opposing team, as Idaho jumped out to the quick lead. The Nailers responded with 3:27 remaining in the opening stanza, pulling even on a strike by Tyler Currier, which was set up by Gage Quinney and Tim Boyle. Four of Currier's five goals in a Wheeling uniform have come during the last three weeks, and two have started the race back to the bench. The tilt turned back in the direction of the Steelheads, who scored a shorthanded goal in the final minute of the first period, then an even strength and power play marker in the second period, for what turned out to be a 4-1 decision. Sean Maguire had a busy evening, as he came up with 36 saves on 40 shots, including 27 in the first two frames.

Six Games Were EnoughThe Idaho Steelheads put an end to their six-game winless skid on Wednesday night, earning their first victory since January 22nd. The Steelheads got the exact start they were looking for, when Joe Basaraba sped down the right side of the ice, and slipped in the game's opening tally with just 47 seconds expired off of the clock. Wheeling answered with an equalizer, but with 59.8 seconds left in the stanza, Idaho went back on top, achieving the feat of scoring in both the first and last minutes of a period. The last minute marker came courtesy of Brian Nugent, who found daylight along the ice, while his club was playing shorthanded. The Steelheads added insurance in the second period, first from Will Merchant, who deposited the rebound of Rob Linsmayer's left side dart. Then, Anthony Luciani capped off the scoring in the 4-1 Idaho win, as he lit the lamp on a two-man advantage. Landon Bow made 25 saves between the pipes.

Another New One in the GroupFor the second straight game, a player will make his Nailers debut, when the team takes the ice on Friday night, as forward Johnny Daniels wears uniform number 15. Daniels is a second year pro, who has spent the majority of his time in the SPHL, compiling 66 points in 80 career games with Louisiana, Evansville, Peoria, and Hunstville. He has also appeared in three games with the ECHL's Atlanta Gladiators. On Wednesday night, Mike Driscoll made his Wheeling debut, becoming the 32nd player to appear in a game in 2016-17. The Nailers have run into a situation where they have needed to add more players onto the roster, due to injuries and suspensions. Jordan Kwas will miss the remainder of the road trip, as well as Wednesday's home game against Brampton due to his four-game suspension. On the injury front, Adam Krause has been out of the lineup for 17 games, Andrew Ammon has missed five straight games, Nick Sorkin and Michael Webster have been out for the last four games, and Keevin Cutting has missed one game.

They Play Big When They're ShortThe game winning goal on Wednesday night was Brian Nugent's shorthanded marker with a hair under one minute remaining in the first period. Shorthanded goals have been coming in bunches for the Steelheads, who have been able to find the net four times in the last five games, while playing with a teammate in the penalty box. That number accounts for half of Idaho's shorthanded tallies this season, as it has recorded eight, which ranks tied for sixth in the ECHL. Games involving the Nailers don't tend to see a lot of shorthanded goals scored, but there have been some lately. Wheeling scored its last shorthanded goal on January 28th in a 4-0 win over Brampton, but surrendered a shorty the following afternoon in Kalamazoo. The Nailers have a -2 differential shorthanded this season, scoring three times and allowing five. There has been at least one power play goal scored in 40 of 45 games involving Wheeling in 2016-17.

Back at it After a Day OffFriday night marks the second of six head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Steelheads this season, as well as the second of three battles at CenturyLink Arena. After being in the same league for 13 seasons and not playing each other, Wheeling and Idaho finally took the ice on Wednesday night, and the opening contest went the way of the Steelheads, 4-1. That was the first loss of the year for the Nailers against a Mountain Division team this season, after they had swept a two-game series from Utah in December. Meanwhile, Idaho continues to produce strong numbers against Eastern Conference, as Wednesday's win ran its record to 7-2-1 against Adirondack, Norfolk, Reading, and Wheeling. Saturday will be the final game for the Nailers outside of the Eastern Time Zone during the 2016-17 regular season.