Nailers at Beast Game Day Snap Shot

WHEELING NAILERS(4-0-1-0, 9 PTS, 1st North, 2nd East)23 GF, 19 GAPP: 35.7% (10-for-28), 1stPK: 66.7% (16-for-24), 27th

23-F-Garrett Meurs (5 goals, 3 assists, 8 points in 5 games)21-F-Cam Brown (1 goal, 7 assists, 8 points in 5 games)24-F-Reid Gardiner (4 goals, 3 assists, 7 points in 5 games)8-F-Nick Sorkin (2 goals, 5 assists, 7 points in 5 games)16-F-Derek Army (1 goal, 6 assists, 7 points in 5 games)26-D-Kevin Schulze (4 assists, 4 points in 5 games)31-G-Sean Maguire (2-0-0 record, 4.50 GAA, .901 Sv% in 2 games)

BRAMPTON BEAST(0-5-1-0, 1 PT, 6th North, T-12th East)21 GF, 30 GAPP: 22.2% (8-for-36), 5thPK: 78.4% (29-for-37), 22nd

13-F-Brandon Marino (5 goals, 2 assists, 7 points in 6 games)55-D-Willie Corrin (1 goal, 6 assists, 7 points in 6 games)17-F-Brandon MacLean (2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points in 6 games)48-F-Chris Leveille (2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points in 6 games)21-F-Kevin Dufour (2 goals, 2 assists, 4 points in 6 games)89-F-Luc-Olivier Blain (1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points in 6 games)40-G-Michael McNiven (0-2-1 record, 4.19 GAA, .868 Sv% in 4 games)

Head to HeadSeason Series: Nailers 1, Beast 0Season Series at Powerade Centre: Nailers 1, Beast 0All-Time Series: Nailers 16, Beast 9All-Time Series at Powerade Centre: Nailers 9, Beast 5

We Like to Fill the NetsThe Wheeling Nailers have been lethal offensively to begin the 2017-18 season, as they have scored 22 goals in their four victories. On Friday night, Wheeling lit the lamp six times in a thrilling 6-5 triumph over the Brampton Beast at Powerade Centre. The two sides combined for five goals in the opening stanza, with the Nailers taking a 3-2 lead into the first intermission. Garrett Meurs got things started with his team-leading fifth of the year, followed by Jake Bolton and Jeremy Beirnes, who both notched their firsts in Wheeling uniforms. The second period was all Nailers, as Kenny Ryan potted a pair of tallies and Reid Gardiner added one more in the final minute for a 6-2 advantage. Brampton mounted a rally in the third period, but a 39-save effort from Sean Maguire preserved a 6-5 decision in Wheeling's favor. The Nailers have earned points in five straight games to start a season for the third time in their history, and the first time since 2011-12.

Goal Rates High Against BramptonThe Brampton Beast have had an ugly start to the 2017-18 campaign, going 0-5-1 in their first six contests. A quick look at the scores will tell readers that the biggest issue for the Beast is the amount of goals that they have surrendered. Brampton has allowed six goals once, five goals four times, and four goals once, with the lone point coming in a 5-4 overtime setback against the Manchester Monarchs on October 17th. In Friday night's 6-5 defeat against the Nailers, the Beast got goals in the first period from Luc-Olivier Blain and Chris Leveille, before Kevin Dufour, Brandon Marino, and Matt Petgrave found the back of the net in the third period. Marcus Hogberg struggled between the pipes, allowing six goals on 31 shots in two periods, before Michael McNiven mopped up the mess in the third period. Wheeling has faced both opposing goaltenders in three of its four wins, chasing the starter twice, while the third left with an equipment issue.

Had Them from the StartDespite a few anxious moments during the third period of Friday's 6-5 win, the Nailers were either tied or in the lead from start to finish. Garrett Meurs netted the opening goal at the 9:48 mark of the first period, marking the first time in five games that Wheeling opened the scoring. Brampton only pulled even once (1-1), while the Nailers held one, two, three, and four-goal leads at various points throughout the contest. Wheeling has led by at least two goals in three of its four victories, while having erased at least one deficit in four of its five matches. Friday's win was also the first game of the year in which the score was not tied after the second period. The Nailers will enjoy their 16th day in first place in the North Division on Sunday, which is the 17th day of the season.

Certainties are Death, Taxes, and Power Play GoalsOpposing teams are still realizing that taking minor penalties against Wheeling is a terrible idea. On Friday night, Jake Bolton blasted in a one-timer just 39 seconds into the Nailers' first power play of the contest, giving the visitors a 2-1 lead. Then, with time winding down on another man advantage in period two, Kenny Ryan wired in a slap shot from the left circle, as Wheeling extended its advantage. The Nailers finished the evening with a 2-for-4 performance, bringing the season total up to 10-for-28, which calculates to 35.7%. Wheeling is the first team in the ECHL to reach double digits in power play goals, and the success rate is 8.4% higher than the next two clubs. The Nailers have scored at least one power play goal in each of their five games thus far. One other streak which as reached five games is Reid Gardiner's point streak. Gardiner has scored a goal in three straight games, while appearing on the scoresheet in all five contests to start the season.

First Divisional WinSunday afternoon marks the second of six head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Beast this season, as well as the second of three battles at Powerade Centre. Wheeling has historically enjoyed its first trip of the year to Canada, as 2017-18 is the fourth season in a row in which the Nailers won in their first visit to Ontario. The victory was also Wheeling's first of the campaign against the North Division, as the squad has started out 1-0-1 with 34 games remaining. After Sunday, the Nailers will play five straight games outside of the North Division, before welcoming the Adirondack Thunder to town for the first Education Day game of the year on November 14th. Despite the higher amount of games against divisional foes, Wheeling and Brampton won't play each other nearly as much as they did last season. In fact, they will have to wait until December 22nd and 23rd for their next clashes - both of which take place at WesBanco Arena.