Wheeling Nailers Weekly Report, Mar. 13

Last Week

Fri. 3/10 Quad City Mallards 3 @ WHEELING NAILERS 0Maguire- 27/30

Sat. 3/11 Quad City Mallards 4 @ WHEELING NAILERS 6Wydo (Sorkin, Quinney)Daniels (Currier, Meurs)Daniels (Wydo, Sorkin)Daniels (Wydo, Webster)Currier (Stern, Kwas)Currier (Schulze, Hilbrich)Carr- 22/26

Sun. 3/12 Toledo Walleye 6 @ WHEELING NAILERS 3Currier (Kwas, Krieg)Schulze (Quinney, Wydo)Quinney (Hilbrich, Schulze)Maguire- 18/24

Last week, the Wheeling Nailers played their lone three home contests in a 13-game stretch, and while there was a thrilling victory, Wheeling came away with a 1-2-0 record. On Friday night, the Nailers struggled to get things going against the Quad City Mallards, and were blanked 3-0 on a 22-save shutout by Adam Vay. Quad City scored during the last minute of the first period, then twice in the middle stages of the second. On Saturday night, Wheeling fell behind, but a last minute goal by Cody Wydo gave the home team some jump, as it entered the first intermission. In the second period, Johnny Daniels put forth one of the more memorable performances in team history, as he scored a natural hat trick in 57 seconds, lifting the Nailers to a 4-1 lead. The Mallards didn't go away quietly, trimming the margin to one on two occasions. However, Tyler Currier made sure that the win went to Wheeling, as he lit the lamp twice in the third period, including the eventual game winner in a 6-4 triumph. On Sunday afternoon, two goals were scored during the opening minute of a period, including Toledo's at the 28-second mark of the first. The Nailers erased 2-0 and 3-2 deficits on goals by Currier, Kevin Schulze, and Gage Quinney, but the Walleye pulled ahead for good in the third, and prevailed, 6-3.

With 12 games remaining in the regular season, the Nailers are eight points out of the fourth and final playoff spot in the North Division. Friday night was the first shutout by an opposing goaltender at WesBanco Arena since February 6, 2016. Johnny Daniels scored the second fastest hat trick in Wheeling history on Saturday, coming 27 seconds short of Darren Schwartz's ECHL record, set with the Thunderbirds during the 1992-93 campaign. Daniels' hat trick was the fifth for the Nailers this season, and all five have been scored by different players. Cody Wydo and Tyler Currier both reached the 100-point mark in their careers on Saturday. Kevin Schulze's goal on Sunday gave him his 50th point of the season, making him the first rookie defenseman in team history to reach that milestone. Gage Quinney netted Wheeling's 200th goal of the season on Sunday. It is the fourth year in a row and eighth time in the last nine seasons that the Nailers have scored at least 200 goals. Wheeling secured a winning record against the Central Division, thanks to Saturday's triumph.

This Week

Wed. 3/15 WHEELING NAILERS @ Elmira Jackals, 7:05Fri. 3/17 WHEELING NAILERS @ Adirondack Thunder, 7:00Sat. 3/18 WHEELING NAILERS @ Adirondack Thunder, 7:00Sun. 3/19 WHEELING NAILERS @ Elmira Jackals, 4:05

This week, the Wheeling Nailers will embark on their most important road trip of the 2016-17 season, as they will play four games in five days in the Empire State. On Wednesday and Sunday, the Nailers will visit First Arena for the last times ever, where they will lock up with the Elmira Jackals. Bragging rights for the rest of time will be on the line, as both teams enter the week with 46 head-to-head victories. This has been a difficult season for the Jackals, who are 14-39-8, and are in the ECHL's basement, trailing Indy and Wichita by two points. However, Elmira has been playing better as of late, winning five of its last ten games. Wheeling defeated Elmira 5-2 on New Year's Eve at WesBanco Arena in the lone prior meeting. On Friday and Saturday, the Nailers will play their lone tilts of the campaign against the Adirondack Thunder at Glens Falls Civic Center. Adirondack is the team that Wheeling is chasing for fourth place in the North Division, as the Thunder own a record of 31-19-10. Last season, the road team won all three head-to-head clashes, with the Thunder taking a 4-1 decision in Wheeling, and the Nailers knocking off Adirondack 5-2 and 4-0 in New York. This will be the last road trip with multiple games in the regular season.

Upcoming Home Games/PromotionsWed. 3/22- WesBanco Winning Wednesday, McDonald's $6 Kids TicketsFri. 3/24- Mascot Night, Flat Screen Friday Presented by The Highlands, Frosty FridaySat. 3/25- Nailers Fight Cancer Night Benefiting Team Ryan Charitable Foundation, Special Jerseys w/ Auction, Ladies Night, Wine Tasting, Team Card Set Giveaway (first 2,500 fans), Full Team Autograph SessionFri. 3/31- Flat Screen Friday Presented by The Highlands, Frosty FridaySun. 4/2- Family Funday, McDonald's $6 Kids Tickets, Post Game Skate with the Team, Pups & Pucks Night

Nailers LeadersGoals: 26, Cody WydoAssists: 41, Kevin SchulzePoints: 51, Kevin SchulzePenalty Minutes: 111, Garrett MeursPlus/Minus: +21, Christian HilbrichWins: 15, Doug CarrGoals Against Average: 3.23, Sean MaguireSave Percentage: .895, Sean MaguireShutouts: 2, Sean Maguire

March to the Playoffs1. Reading Royals- 76 points, 11 games remaining. This Week: 3/17 at NOR, 3/18 at NOR2. Brampton Beast- 75 points, 12 games remaining. This Week: 3/15 at TOL, 3/18 at ELM, 3/19 vs. FW3. Manchester Monarchs- 73 points, 11 games remaining. This Week: 3/17 vs. ATL, 3/18 vs. ATL4. Adirondack Thunder- 72 points, 12 games remaining. This Week: 3/17 vs. WHL, 3/18 vs. WHL, 3/19 vs. ATL5. WHEELING NAILERS- 64 points, 12 games remaining. This Week: 3/15 at ELM, 3/17 at ADK, 3/18 at ADK, 3/19 at ELM