Nailers at Stingrays Game Day Snap Shot, Nov. 17

WHEELING NAILERS(3-6-1-0, 7 PTS, 6th Central, 13th West)25 GF, 32 GAPP: 15.2% (7-for-46), 18thPK: 84.3% (43-for-51), 12th

NHL Affiliate: Pittsburgh PenguinsAHL Affiliate: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

10-F-Troy Josephs (9 goals, 2 assists, 11 points in 8 games)27-F-Zac Lynch (4 goals, 6 assists, 10 points in 10 games)13-F-Nick Saracino (2 goals, 5 assists, 7 points in 10 games)21-F-Cam Brown (1 goal, 5 assists, 6 points in 10 games)23-F-Michael Phillips (1 goal, 4 assists, 5 points in 10 games)22-D-Kevin Spinozzi (1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points in 9 games)30-G-Matt O'Connor (0-1-1 record, 3.46 GAA, .848 Sv% in 2 games)

SOUTH CAROLINA STINGRAYS(8-6-0-0, 16 PTS, T-3rd South, T-5th East)48 GF, 45 GAPP: 14.9% (10-for-67), 19thPK: 84.4% (54-for-64), 11th

NHL Affiliate: Washington CapitalsAHL Affiliate: Hershey Bears

9-F-Grant Besse (10 goals, 10 assists, 20 points in 14 games)28-F-Andrew Cherniwchan (6 goals, 10 assists, 16 points in 14 games)11-F-Jonathan Charbonneau (3 goals, 10 assists, 13 points in 14 games)17-F-Sam Fioretti (3 goals, 6 assists, 9 points in 14 games)26-F-Christian Horn (3 goals, 6 assists, 9 points in 14 games)3-D-Kevin McKernan (2 goals, 6 assists, 8 points in 14 games)32-G-Gordon Defiel (1-0-0 record, 0.00 GAA, 1.000 Sv% in 1 game)

Head-to-Head2017-18 Season Series: Did Not PlayAll-Time Series: Stingrays 12, Nailers 11All-Time Series at North Charleston Coliseum: Stingrays 8, Nailers 5

Successful Start to the TripThe Wheeling Nailers began a stretch of three games in three days in three different cities with a victory on Friday night, as they played their first ever game against the Jacksonville Icemen at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. After a scoreless first period, the Nailers got the offense started in the opening minutes of the middle frame, when Troy Josephs drilled home a shot from the slot. Josephs struck again in the closing minutes of the stanza, finishing off a shorthanded rush with Nick Saracino. Wheeling's second year forward wasn't done yet, as he completed his natural hat trick at the 11:56 mark of the third period, as the visitors held a 3-0 advantage. The Icemen ruined the shutout bid with 3:48 left, but the Nailers got one more insurance tally from Zac Lynch for the 4-1 win. John Muse made 36 saves for Wheeling, and also assisted on Lynch's empty netter. Tanner Jaillet stopped 22 of 25 shots for Jacksonville.

Not Your Traditional 1-0 GameThe South Carolina Stingrays have been one of the top defensive teams in the ECHL for most of the past decade, and a lot of that success has come from the goal crease, where players such as Philipp Grubauer, Jeff Jakaitis, Parker Milner, and Ryan Zapolski have frustrated opposing forwards. On Friday night, South Carolina's defense and goaltending stole the show, as they edged the Florida Everblades, 1-0 at North Charleston Coliseum. Former Nailer Adam Morrison was the starting netminder for the Stingrays, but exited with an injury during the middle of the second period. His replacement was Gordon Defiel, who previously played in one career ECHL game, but took over without any issue, stopping all 13 shots he faced. Defiel earned the win, as Joey Leach's lone goal came while he was in net on a power play with 6:10 to go in the middle stanza.

Josephs Brings Hats and Heat to the SouthLast season, Troy Josephs collected 16 goals and 36 points in 43 games as a rookie for the Nailers. Just eight games into this season, he is already looking to blow those numbers out of the water. On Friday night, Josephs scored each of Wheeling's first three goals of the contest, giving him goals in four straight games, and season totals of nine goals and 11 points. The nine goals push him into a tie for third place in the ECHL, despite the fact that every other player in the top ten has played in at least ten games. Friday's hat trick was the second of Troy's career, as he accomplished that same feat on February 2nd against the Indy Fuel. Riley Bourbonnais and Cody Wydo were the last two Nailers with multiple career hat tricks. Additionally, the hat trick was a natural one (three consecutive goals) - the first of that variety for Wheeling since Johnny Daniels potted three goals in 57 seconds against the Quad City Mallards on March 11, 2017.

Oh the Places We Have WonIn their 27-year history, the Nailers and Thunderbirds have had the opportunity to visit a good portion of the continent, traveling through the United States and Canada, while playing in five different time zones. On Friday night, Wheeling checked Jacksonville, Florida off the list of cities it has played in and also earned a victory. Counting both regular season and playoffs, the Nailers and Thunderbirds have now gone to 50 different road cities, recording at least one win in all but three of those destinations (Anchorage, Augusta, Lexington). The two cities that make the list thanks to playoff wins are Allen and Tallahassee. Wheeling has collected at least one win in a new city during nine of the last ten seasons, with 2013-14 being the lone exception. The Nailers will travel to one more new place this season, when they go to Portland, Maine to face the Mariners on February 10th.

Last Time, We Left With a TrophySaturday night marks the first and only head-to-head meeting between the Nailers and Stingrays this season, as well as the first time the clubs have battled since the 2015-16 campaign. Wheeling's last game at North Charleston Coliseum was a memorable one, as a three-goal third period in game seven of the 2016 Eastern Conference Final gave the Nailers the E.A. "Bud" Gingher Trophy, sending them off to the Kelly Cup Final. Dan Fick of Wheeling and Joey Leach of South Carolina are the lone remaining players from that deciding match. The Nailers and Stingrays are the two teams that have been in the ECHL the longest, as this is Wheeling's 27th season and South Carolina's 26th, but this will only be their 24th regular season clash, to go along with 15 playoff contests. All three games for the Nailers this weekend are winner-take-all when it comes to the season series.