Nailers at Admirals Game Day Snap Shot

WHEELING NAILERS(9-2-2-0, 20 PTS, 1st North, 2nd East)59 GF, 46 GAPP: 30.4% (21-for-69), 1stPK: 75.4% (49-for-65), 24th

11-F-Cody Wydo (8 goals, 12 assists, 20 points in 13 games)24-F-Reid Gardiner (11 goals, 8 assists, 19 points in 13 games)23-F-Garrett Meurs (8 goals, 8 assists, 16 points in 12 games)8-F-Nick Sorkin (3 goals, 13 assists, 16 points in 13 games)21-F-Cam Brown (2 goals, 14 assists, 16 points in 13 games)25-D-Jeff Taylor (1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points in 5 games)29-G-Will King (1-0-1 record, 2.73 GAA, .919 Sv% in 2 games)

NORFOLK ADMIRALS(3-11-1-0, 7 PTS, 5th South, 11th East)44 GF, 69 GAPP: 15.8% (12-for-76), 16thPK: 79.1% (53-for-67), 20th

16-F-Thomas Frazee (5 goals, 11 assists, 16 points in 14 games)12-F-Grant Besse (7 goals, 8 assists, 15 points in 15 games)7-F-Brodie Dupont (4 goals, 8 assists, 12 points in 15 games)9-F-Trevor Mingoia (7 goals, 3 assists, 10 points in 12 games)19-F-Chase Witala (3 goals, 7 assists, 10 points in 13 games)4-D-Michael Young (2 goals, 5 assists, 7 points in 12 games)1-G-Jamie Murray (1-4-1 record, 4.29 GAA, .892 Sv% in 6 games)

Head to HeadSeason Series: Nailers 2, Admirals 0Season Series at Norfolk Scope Arena: Nailers 1, Admirals 0All-Time Series: Nailers 5, Admirals 3All-Time Series at Norfolk Scope Arena: Nailers 3, Admirals 2

Playing the Role of DestroyerThe Wheeling Nailers put forth a dominating performance in Friday night's game, earning their third straight victory, as they trounced the Norfolk Admirals, 6-2 at Norfolk Scope Arena. Wheeling gave up the first goal, but only trailed for 1:57, before Reid Gardiner netted the equalizer with a one-time rocket from the top of the left circle. Later in the opening stanza, the Nailers took the lead, and never looked back. Cody Wydo converted on a one-timer from high in the zone, then Jeff Taylor added his first goal by tossing in a wrist shot from the left point. Neither side dented the twine in the second period, but in the third, Wheeling added more insurance. Dylan Zink and Derek Army scored during a double-minor penalty assessed to the Admirals, and Garrett Meurs capped off the night for the Nailers, chipping in a shot from the right side of the crease. Sean Maguire kept Norfolk at bay for the majority of the night, stopping 36 of 38 shots for his fourth win in his last five starts.

Rough Waters in VirginiaThe Norfolk Admirals suffered their fifth straight setback and 11th in their last 12 games, after starting the season 2-1-0, as they dropped the 6-2 decision to the Nailers at home on Friday. The Admirals are 1-6-1 at Norfolk Scope Arena, as three of the seven teams in the South Division have yet to win multiple games on home ice. Norfolk bookended the scoring on Friday night, while Wheeling sandwiched its six markers in the middle. The first goal of the evening came on a 2-on-1 rush, as Trevor Mingoia slapped in a pass from Grant Besse. The final tally was created by Tommy Schutt, who wrapped the puck into the crease, where it was stashed in by Domenic Alberga. Ty Reichenbach made 40 saves in a game for the second time this season, taking the loss. After the Nailers leave town, the road won't get any easier for the Admirals, who welcome in their division leaders, the Florida Everblades, for a three-game set.

A Special Night for Two RookiesAmong the six goals scored by the Nailers on Friday night, two will be remembered for a long time by a pair of first year blueliners. With 8:04 remaining in the first period, Jeff Taylor let a wrist shot go from the left point, finding the right side of the net, as he tallied the first goal of his professional career. Taylor notched a pair of assists last weekend, and has three points in his first five games wearing a Wheeling uniform. At the five-minute mark of the third period, fellow rookie defenseman Dylan Zink joined the party, as he took a pass from Freddie Tiffels, roofing a shot underneath the crossbar for his first professional goal. Zink also assisted on Derek Army's tally 1:57 later, giving him a multi-point game. Taylor and Zink become the third and fourth Nailers to score for the first time at the ECHL level this season, joining Jeremy Beirnes and Freddie Tiffels.

We Leave Our MarkIn their nine victories thus far this season, the Nailers have certainly left opposing teams and goaltenders knowing who they just faced. Friday night's win was already the fourth time this season that Wheeling has scored at least six goals in a game, with the season-high coming in a 7-6 overtime thriller over Greenville on October 14th. The Nailers have racked up five goals on three occasions, while the other two wins both featured four goals by the North Division leaders. Wheeling has scored at least three goals in all but one of its tilts, with that lone exception being a 2-1 overtime defeat against the Reading Royals on October 22nd. One of the more impressive notes about Friday's triumph was the fact that the six goals were scored by six different players. Previously this year, the Nailers had four goal scorers in a game on six occasions.

The End of the First SetSaturday night marks the third of six head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Admirals this season, as well as the second of three battles at Norfolk Scope Arena. Wheeling has gotten the upper hand in both of the first two matches, winning 5-3 at home on Sunday and 6-2 in enemy territory on Friday. The Nailers have racked up four straight wins over Norfolk, dating back to March 13, 2016, with two wins coming in each arena. Garrett Meurs has stormed out to the scoring lead in the season series, collecting two points on Sunday and three points on Friday for a total of five. Derek Army is hot on his tail, thanks to a four-point night on Friday. After Saturday, the two clubs will take a break from seeing each other until January, when there will be three games in 11 days, culminating with Bricks & Kids Night at WesBanco Arena on January 13th.