Wheeling Nailers Weekly Report, Oct. 29

Last WeekSaturday, October 27th: WHEELING NAILERS 3 @ Reading Royals 2 (shootout)The Wheeling Nailers earned their first victory of the season, which was also the first for Head Coach Mike Bavis, as they edged the Reading Royals, 3-2 in a shootout at Santander Arena. The line of Cam Brown, Winston Day Chief, and Troy Josephs accounted for both goals during regulation, as Day Chief pulled Wheeling even at one, before Josephs struck on the power play for a brief lead. John Muse was tremendous in his season debut between the pipes, making 37 saves during the game, then another four in the shootout. Brown was the shootout hero in round four.

Sunday, October 28th: WHEELING NAILERS 2 @ Reading Royals 5The weekend series resulted in a split, as the Royals drew even with a win on Sunday afternoon. Kevin Spinozzi netted the first goal of the day for the Nailers, firing in a shot off a face-off. Reading tied the score with a penalty shot goal late in the middle frame, before taking its first lead of the day in the early stages of the third. Nick Saracino's first goal in a Wheeling uniform made the score 2-2, but the Royals scored three times in the final 10:01 for a 5-2 win. After sitting for the first time in six games on Saturday, Branden Komm returned to get the win in goal for Reading on Sunday, edging his former teammate, Muse.

This WeekSaturday, November 3rd: Indy Fuel @ WHEELING NAILERS, 7:05 p.m.The home opener has finally arrived for the Nailers, who will skate in front of their home fans at WesBanco Arena for the first time in the regular season on Saturday night. Those fans will see an opposing team that will be a very frequent visitor in 2018-19, as the Indy Fuel play the first of nine games in Nail City. Last season, Wheeling defeated Indy in three of five battles, including a 7-3 decision in the rubber match on 90's Night, which featured a hat trick by Troy Josephs. After falling on opening night, the Fuel rattled off three straight wins against divisional foes, before getting crushed 7-2 by the Kansas City Mavericks. Saturday will be the third game in three days for Indy, following a home game against Utah and a road tilt in Fort Wayne. Former Nailer Josh Shalla leads the Fuel with eight points.

Notes- Wheeling utilized a shootout to earn its first victory of the season for the seventh time in team history.- The Nailers played three different goalies in the first four games of the season for the first time since 2009-10.- Wheeling and Reading met up for the 174th time in regular season play on Sunday, setting a team record for most games against any single opponent.- Cedric Lacroix recorded his first professional point with an assist on Kevin Spinozzi's goal Sunday.- Sunday's penalty shot goal by Reading's Josh MacDonald ended a streak of five straight penalty shot saves by Wheeling goaltenders, dating back to 2016.- The Nailers enter Saturday with a 6-0-1 record in their last seven home openers, and are 18-5-3 all-time in game number one at home.

Central Division Standings1. Toledo Walleye 4-1-1-0, 9 pts.2. Cincinnati Cyclones 3-1-2-0, 8 pts.3. Indy Fuel 3-2-0-0, 6 pts.4. Kalamazoo Wings 3-2-0-0, 6 pts.5. WHEELING NAILERS 1-3-0-0, 2 pts.6. Fort Wayne Komets 1-5-0-0, 2 pts.

Team LeadersGoals: Eliot Grauer- 2Assists: Cam Brown & Zac Lynch- 3Points: Zac Lynch- 4Penalty Minutes: Cedric Lacroix- 24Plus/Minus: Alex Rauter & Aaron Titcomb- +1Wins: John Muse- 1Goals Against Average: John Muse- 2.89Save Percentage: John Muse- .914

Next Big Promotional NightSaturday, November 3rd- Home Opener, Pregame Party, Concert by Logan Wojcik, Wheeling Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Rally Towel GiveawayFamily Four Packs are available for the home opener. Fans can get 4 tickets, 4 hats, and 4 McDonald's Meal Vouchers for $60.

Next Five Home GamesSaturday, November 3rd vs. Indy Fuel, 7:05 p.m.Friday, November 9th vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits, 7:05 p.m.Saturday, November 10th vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits, 7:05 p.m.Tuesday, November 13th vs. Toledo Walleye, 10:45 a.m.Wednesday, November 21st vs. Reading Royals, 7:05 p.m.