Wheeling Nailers Weekly Report, Feb. 13

Last Week

Wed. 2/8 WHEELING NAILERS 1 @ Idaho Steelheads 4Currier (Quinney, Boyle)Maguire- 36/40

Fri. 2/10 WHEELING NAILERS 3 @ Idaho Steelheads 0Meurs (Stern, McMullan)Currier (Schulze)Meurs (unassisted)Carr- 26/26

Sat. 2/11 WHEELING NAILERS 1 @ Idaho Steelheads 5Quinney (Currier)Carr- 33/38

Last week, the Wheeling Nailers explored the State of Idaho for the first time in team history, as they played a three-game series at CenturyLink Arena. The set began on Wednesday night, and the Nailers found themselves trailing early on Joe Basaraba's goal in the opening minute. Tyler Currier responded later in the period for Wheeling, before Idaho regained its advantage with a last minute strike. The Steelheads added two more goals in the second period, taking game one, 4-1. On Friday night, the Nailers had a fantastic start, as they stormed out of the gates with three goals in the first period. Garrett Meurs swung in a wraparound for the first one, Currier slammed in a shorthanded goal off of a Kevin Schulze rush for goal number two, then Meurs clobbered home his second of the period with less than ten seconds left. As it turned out, that was all of the scoring, as Doug Carr stopped all 26 shots he faced in the 3-0 shutout win. On Saturday night, the teams played to a scoreless deadlock until Gage Quinney broke open the scoring for Wheeling in the second period. Unfortunately, that was the lone celebration, as Anthony Luciani and the Steelheads took over from there. Luciani picked up a hat trick as part of a four-point night, as Idaho scored five unanswered goals for a 5-1 triumph.

With Friday's win, Wheeling has now been victorious in 19 different states and one province during regular season play in its 25-year history. Doug Carr backstopped his first shutout in a Nailers uniform on Friday, giving each Wheeling netminder in 2016-17 at least one blanking of the opposition. The Nailers played with a shortened lineup in all three games last week, and are now 5-2-0 when fewer than 16 skaters suit up for a game. Tyler Currier recorded at least one point in all three games in Idaho, including his second shorthanded goal with Wheeling and third of the year on Friday. Currier has five goals and three assists in his last ten games. Danny Fick appeared in his 100th professional game on Saturday - all of which have been played for the Nailers. There were more shorthanded goals (2) scored than power play goals (1) combined between the two teams in Boise.

This Week

Wed. 2/15 Brampton Beast @ WHEELING NAILERS, 7:05Fri. 2/17 Brampton Beast @ WHEELING NAILERS, 7:35Sat. 2/18 Kalamazoo Wings @ WHEELING NAILERS, 7:05

This week, the Wheeling Nailers will play their only three home games in a 13-game stretch, and they are loaded with importance. The week will begin with a two-game set against the Brampton Beast on Wednesday and Friday. The Nailers enter the week trailing Brampton by four points in the North Division Playoff Race. Reading and Adirondack are tied with Brampton for second place, and will play against each other on Tuesday night at Glens Falls Civic Center. The Beast have been on a roll lately, having won six straight games, including a three-in-three sweep over the weekend. Brampton bounced Toledo 3-1 at home and 5-4 on the road, before heading on to Indy, where it took down the Fuel, 7-4. Wheeling has split its first six games against the Beast thus far this season. On Saturday, the Nailers will welcome the Kalamazoo Wings to WesBanco Arena, whom they have defeated on five of seven occasions in 2016-17. Kalamazoo is still on the outside of the Central Division Playoff Picture, but the door is wide open, as Tulsa sits three points ahead, while having played in five more games. The Wings are coming off of a seesaw weekend, which featured a 4-0 loss to Quad City, a 4-3 win over Indy, and a 5-3 setback against Fort Wayne. Seven different players accounted for the goals. Wheeling is two wins away from guaranteeing itself a winning record on home ice for the ninth year in a row and 22nd time in 25 seasons.

Upcoming Home Games/PromotionsWed. 2/15- McDonald's $6 Kids Tickets, WesBanco Winning WednesdayFri. 2/17- Flat Screen Friday Presented by the Highlands, Frosty FridaySat. 2/18- A Valley Divided - Steelers vs. Browns Night, Special Guest Appearances by Merril Hoge & Earnest Byner, Wear Your Favorite Football Team's Attire to the GameFri. 3/10- Flat Screen Friday Presented by the Highlands, Frosty FridaySat. 3/11- Duck Dynasty Night Starring John Godwin & Justin Martin, Camouflage Hat Giveaway (First 2,500 Fans)

Nailers LeadersGoals: 17, Garrett Meurs & Jordan KwasAssists: 31, Kevin SchulzePoints: 38, Kevin SchulzePenalty Minutes: 83, Garrett MeursPlus/Minus: +21, Christian HilbrichWins: 12, Doug CarrGoals Against Average: 2.75, Sean MaguireSave Percentage: .906, Sean MaguireShutouts: 2, Sean Maguire

North Division Standings1. Manchester Monarchs 29-12-4-4, 66 pts.2. Reading Royals 28-17-1-2, 59 pts.3. Brampton Beast 27-15-2-3, 59 pts.4. Adirondack Thunder 26-14-4-3, 59 pts.5. WHEELING NAILERS 25-17-5-0, 55 pts.6. Elmira Jackals 9-33-6-1, 25 pts.