Wheeling Nailers Weekly Report, Jan 29

Last Week

Wed. 1/24 Kalamazoo Wings 2 @ WHEELING NAILERS 6Wydo (Sorkin, Milan)Gardiner (Sorkin, Taylor)Gardiner (Taylor, Fick)Sorkin (unassisted)Beirnes (Zink, Francis)Bourbonnais (Fick, Taylor)Morrison- 21/23

Fri. 1/26 Reading Royals 2 @ WHEELING NAILERS 1 (overtime)Gardiner (Wydo, Taylor)Morrison- 27/29

Sat. 1/27 Manchester Monarchs 5 @ WHEELING NAILERS 2Wydo (Gardiner, Sorkin)Sorkin (Wydo, Zink)King- 15/20 (L), Morrison- 2/2

Sun. 1/28 Manchester Monarchs 2 @ WHEELING NAILERS 4Gardiner (Wydo)Wydo (Gardiner, Zink)Brown (Meurs)Gardiner (Sorkin, Tolkinen)Morrison- 27/29

Last week, the Wheeling Nailers closed out the month of January by earning points in three of four games, going 2-1-1. The week began with a one-sided victory on Wednesday night, as the Nailers rolled over the Kalamazoo Wings, 6-2. Wheeling led 3-2 after one period on goals by Cody Wydo and Reid Gardiner (2), then picked up a huge insurance marker with 2.2 seconds left in the middle frame, courtesy of Nick Sorkin. In the third period, Jeremy Beirnes and Riley Bourbonnais iced the triumph for the home team. On Friday night, goaltending stole the show, as Adam Morrison of the Nailers and John Muse of the Reading Royals battled their teams to a 1-1 deadlock in regulation. Reading ended up prevailing on Michael Huntebrinker's strike at the 28-second mark of overtime. Gardiner was the lone scorer for Wheeling. On Saturday, the Nailers and Manchester Monarchs combined for the three fastest goals in ECHL history, notching them in 16 seconds. Wydo and Sorkin lit the lamp for Wheeling, but those were the lone celebrations in a 5-2 defeat. On Sunday, the Nailers exacted revenge on the Monarchs, and tied them for the top spot in the North Division. Gardiner tacked on two more goals to his weekly tally, and was joined by Wydo and Cam Brown in the 4-2 Wheeling win.

The Nailers posted a 9-3-2 record in January, and the nine wins were their most in a month since November of 2013. Adam Morrison went 2-0-1 in goal last week, bringing his record to 7-0-1 in his last eight starts (all in January). Cam Brown and Reid Gardiner have both recorded points in eight straight games, and Brown is currently on a seven-game goal streak. Gardiner enjoyed a magnificent month, scoring 12 goals in ten games, giving him 26 on the season, which ranks second in the ECHL. Nick Sorkin also had an eye-popping month, posting a +17 ranking, which is tops in the league. Jaynen Rissling appeared in his 150th professional game on Wednesday. Cody Wydo scored his 70th goal in a Wheeling uniform on Wednesday night, putting him alone in sixth place on the team's all-time list. Wednesday night's win over Kalamazoo was the 12th different opponent that the Nailers have beaten this season, with only Orlando left on the schedule. Wheeling enters February tied for its best record of the season, sitting eight games over .500 at 25-17-4.

This Week

Fri. 2/2 Indy Fuel @ WHEELING NAILERS, 7:05Sat. 2/3 Fort Wayne Komets @ WHEELING NAILERS, 8:05

This week, the Wheeling Nailers will continue their longest homestand of the season, while starting a stretch of eight straight games against non-divisional opponents. On Friday night, the Nailers will play the rubber match of their five-game set against the Indy Fuel. The Fuel have won three straight games, evening their season record at 19-19-3. Since Wheeling last saw Indy, the Fuel signed former Nailer Josh Shalla. In 11 games, Shalla has racked up nine goals, four assists, and 13 points. The Nailers are looking for their first season series win over the Fuel since Indy joined the ECHL in 2014-15. On Saturday night, the other team from the Hoosier State comes to town, as Wheeling goes to battle with the Fort Wayne Komets. Fort Wayne currently sits in second place in the Central Division, trailing Toledo by four points. The Nailers are 1-2-0 against the Komets this season, earning their victory in the most recent meeting on January 7th. The top four teams in the North Division are separated by two points. Wheeling and Manchester are tied for the top spot with 54 points, and the two will be joined by either Adirondack or Reading, who clash on Tuesday night.

Upcoming Home Games/PromotionsFri. Feb. 2- 90's Night, Starring Alfonso Ribeiro, Nailers Wear Special Jerseys, Frosty FridaySat. Feb. 3- Beach Party, Nailers Sunglasses Giveaway (first 2,500 fans), One Lucky Fan Wins a Trip to Myrtle BeachTue. Feb. 6- Two for Tuesday (2 tickets for $22)Fri. Feb. 16- Olympics Night, Frosty FridaySat. Feb. 17- Ladies Night

Nailers LeadersGoals: 26, Reid GardinerAssists: 27, Cam BrownPoints: 43, Reid Gardiner & Cody WydoPenalty Minutes: 100, Garrett MeursPlus/Minus: +14, Dan Milan & Nick SorkinWins: 9, Adam MorrisonGoals Against Average: 2.70, Adam MorrisonSave Percentage: .913, Adam MorrisonShutouts: 0

North Division Standings1. Manchester Monarchs 25-15-3-1, 54 pts.2. WHEELING NAILERS 25-17-4-0, 54 pts.3. Reading Royals 25-18-2-0, 52 pts.4. Adirondack Thunder 24-17-2-2, 52 pts.5. Worcester Railers 18-19-3-2, 41 pts.6. Brampton Beast 17-18-4-3, 41 pts.