Nailers at Beast Game Day Snap Shot

WHEELING NAILERS(3-0-1-0, 7 PTS, 1st North, 2nd East)17 GF, 14 GAPP: 33.3% (8-for-24), T-2ndPK: 68.4% (13-for-19), 26th

23-F-Garrett Meurs (4 goals, 3 assists, 7 points in 4 games)24-F-Reid Gardiner (3 goals, 3 assists, 6 points in 4 games)21-F-Cam Brown (1 goal, 5 assists, 6 points in 4 games)8-F-Nick Sorkin (2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points in 4 games)16-F-Derek Army (1 goal, 4 assists, 5 points in 4 games)26-D-Kevin Schulze (4 assists, 4 points in 4 games)31-G-Sean Maguire (1-0-0 record, 4.00 GAA, .915 Sv% in 1 game)

BRAMPTON BEAST(0-4-1-0, 1 PT, 6th North, T-12th East)16 GF, 24 GAPP: 19.4% (6-for-31), 10thPK: 81.8% (27-for-33), T-19th

13-F-Brandon Marino (4 goals, 2 assists, 6 points in 5 games)17-F-Brandon MacLean (2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points in 5 games)55-D-Willie Corrin (1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points in 5 games)48-F-Chris Leveille (1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points in 5 games)12-D-Reggie Traccitto (1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points in 5 games)18-D-Cody Donaghey (1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points in 3 games)40-G-Michael McNiven (0-2-1 record, 4.59 GAA, .864 Sv% in 3 games)

Head to Head2016-17 Season Series: Beast 6, Nailers 52016-17 Season Series at Powerade Centre: Beast 4, Nailers 1All-Time Series: Nailers 15, Beast 9All-Time Series at Powerade Centre: Nailers 8, Beast 5

Put Another Point on the BoardThe Wheeling Nailers didn't get the exact result that they desired on Sunday afternoon against the Reading Royals, but they were able to earn a point for the fourth straight game, maintaining their first place position in the North Division, which they have held for 13 of the season's first 14 days. Defense and goaltending were the story, as Colin Stevens and John Muse kept the squads deadlocked 1-1 during regulations. Both goals were scored in the opening period, as Matt Willows put the Royals ahead, before Reid Gardiner answered on the power play for his third goal in a Wheeling uniform. The two sides combined to take 68 shots on goal, with the 68th and final attempt being the difference maker, as Reading's Nolan Zajac broke the tie at the 1:12 mark of overtime for a 2-1 decision.

Wings Flew South with PointsThe Brampton Beast ran into a tough opponent last weekend, as they played a pair of games against the Kalamazoo Wings - one of four Western Conference clubs who has yet to lose in regulation. The Wings started by taking care of business on home ice against a shorthanded Brampton lineup, which dressed only 14 skaters. Willie Corrin and Corey Durocher found the back of the net for the Beast, who took it on the chin, 5-2. Kalamazoo put five more goals on the board the following day, as the two teams traveled to Powerade Centre for the re-match. That afternoon, Brandon MacLean helped Brampton's offense with a couple of goals, and he was joined on the attack by Stefan Fournier and Kevin Dufour. However, two early tallies by the Wings in the third period were too much to overcome, as the Beast fell, 5-4. Michael McNiven got the start in goal on Saturday, followed by Marcus Hogberg on Sunday. Hogberg was the busier of the two, coming away with 35 saves.

More Size and Experience are Always PlusesEarlier this week, the Nailers pulled the trigger on a trade with the Atlanta Gladiators, acquiring defenseman Dalton Reum in exchange for forward Alexandre Carrier. Reum is an experienced blueliner, who checks in at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds. With the exception of reigning All-ECHL 2nd Team member and ECHL All-Rookie Team member Kevin Schulze, each member of Wheeling's defense is at least six feet tall and 190 pounds. Dalton has appeared in 189 professional games, meaning that he will have to wait until the 2018-19 season to earn veteran status, although he is playing in his fifth pro season. The size of the defense is comparable to the group that started the 2016-17 season, however the experience is significantly larger in 2017-18. Last season, the eight blueliners started the year with 167 pro games in North America, while this year's current group of eight entered the season with 1,444 professional contests.

One Will Play, One Will NotA quick glance at the opposing roster for the weekend shows a pair of former Wheeling players now suiting up with the Brampton Beast. Forward Stefan Fournier played in 13 games with the Nailers during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, but will not be in the lineup, due to a five-game suspension for leaving the penalty box in Brampton's most recent tilt. However, veteran defenseman Paul Cianfrini is expected to be in the lineup, as he plays for the team from his home province. Cianfrini played in Wheeling for parts of four seasons, before going to Hungary to start the 2016-17 season, which he eventually completed with the Norfolk Admirals. Those are two of the new names for Brampton, whose 23-man roster consists of 14 players from last year's team that advanced to the North Division Final. Notable returners include top scorers Brandon Marino and Brandon MacLean, as well as blueline anchors Jordan Henry and Willie Corrin.

Cut the Games Almost in HalfFriday night marks the first of six head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Beast this season, as well as the first of three battles at Powerade Centre. Last season, Brampton was Wheeling's most frequent opponent on the schedule, as the two sides clashed 11 times. For the first time in three years, the Beast emerged victorious in the season series, winning the rubber game at home on April 5th. Home ice advantage played a large part in the 2016-17 set, as the Nailers won four of six matches at WesBanco Arena, while Brampton was 4-1-0 in Ontario. This year's set will essentially be broken into three pairs - a two-game series in Brampton to start in October, a two-game series in Wheeling before the holidays, and one match in each building during the final three weeks of the season. Nick Sorkin, Cody Wydo, Derek Army, and Kevin Schulze have all averaged at least a point per game against the Beast in their careers.