Nailers vs. Komets Game Day Snap Shot, Jan. 27

WHEELING NAILERS(20-19-3-0, 43 PTS, 5th Central, T-9th West)149 GF, 140 GAPP: 22.5% (41-for-182), 1stPK: 81.9% (154-for-188), 21st

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

27-F-Zac Lynch (12 goals, 30 assists, 42 points in 42 games)10-F-Troy Josephs (20 goals, 13 assists, 33 points in 25 games)9-F-Yushiroh Hirano (12 goals, 19 assists, 31 points in 37 games)4-F-Alex Rauter (9 goals, 22 assists, 31 points in 35 games)23-F-Michael Phillips (11 goals, 16 assists, 27 points in 42 games)28-D-Dane Birks (9 assists, 9 points in 37 games)1-G-John Muse (7-10-0 record, 3.33 GAA, .883 Sv% in 17 games)

FORT WAYNE KOMETS(21-17-1-2, 45 PTS, 4th Central, 7th West)127 GF, 134 GAPP: 14.7% (24-for-163), 22ndPK: 82.8% (154-for-186), 15th

NHL Affiliate: Vegas Golden KnightsAHL Affiliate: Chicago Wolves

25-F-Jake Kamrass (15 goals, 24 assists, 39 points in 40 games)88-F-Justin Hodgman (12 goals, 27 assists, 39 points in 32 games)10-F-Brady Shaw (17 goals, 20 assists, 37 points in 39 games)36-F-Anthony Petruzzelli (11 goals, 14 assists, 25 points in 41 games)15-F-J.C. Campagna (19 goals, 5 assists, 24 points in 35 games)71-D-Ryan Lowney (1 goal, 20 assists, 21 points in 41 games)34-G-Eric Levine (3-0-1 record, 2.49 GAA, .912 Sv% in 5 games)

Head-to-HeadSeason Series: Nailers 1, Komets 1Season Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 1, Komets 1All-Time Series: Komets 13, Nailers 11All-Time Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 6, Komets 6

Shootout Solves SlugfestThe Wheeling Nailers and Reading Royals played an explosive game on Saturday night, that saw 11 goals scored, with seven of the tallies going in during the opening period of play. Wheeling jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Yushiroh Hirano and Cedric Lacroix, but the Royals were quick to respond, as Brayden Low found the back of the net twice, then Frank DiChiara put the visitors ahead, all in a span of 2:32. Michael Phillips drew the Nailers even, before a power play marker by Chris McCarthy gave Reading a 4-3 lead. Both goals in the middle frame were scored by Wheeling, as Phillips was once again responsible for the equalizer, before Lacroix's one-timer from Winston Day Chief made the score 5-4. With 5:53 left in regulation, Alex Roos knotted things up for the Royals, assuring both squads of a point. The match came down to the final shot of the shootout, which was converted by McCarthy, who had four points in regulation, as Reading prevailed, 6-5.

Fueling up to ThirdThe Fort Wayne Komets had an ugly night in their last game, as they were beaten down by their in-state rivals, the Indy Fuel on Friday night at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Mathew Thompson and Ryan Rupert got the offense started with goals 2:16 apart from each other in the opening frame for the Fuel. The advantage was extended in the second period, thanks to Brett Welychka, then Connor Moynihan, who delivered a dagger with less than one minute remaining. Josh Shalla tacked on one more strike in the third period, as Indy cruised to the 5-0 triumph. Matt Tomkins made 30 saves for the shutout, while the Komets used both of their netminders. Lukas Hafner gave up four goals on 18 shots in the start, and Eric Levine stopped four of five shots in relief. Thanks to Friday's victory, as well as a 4-2 win over Kalamazoo on Saturday, the Fuel have jumped into sole possession of third place in the Central Division, leading Fort Wayne by two points, Wheeling by four points, and Kalamazoo by seven points.

Red Light Getting a WorkoutGoals have gone in at a remarkable rate this weekend at WesBanco Arena, as the Nailers and Beast combined for 11 goals on Friday night, then Wheeling and Reading combined for 11 more tallies in Saturday night's clash. Both tilts resulted in losses for the Nailers, although the offensive performances lifted the team to the fifth best offense in the ECHL, averaging 3.55 goals per game. This was the second time this season that Wheeling and its opposition combined to light the lamp 22 times in a two-game span, as the Nailers won back-to-back games in Norfolk, 7-6 and 6-3 in December. On the other side of the ice, the Komets know plenty about high-scoring games, as they were involved in the largest combined offensive outburst of the season last Wednesday, when they fell to the Kalamazoo Wings, 10-8 on home ice.

Power Play Rising to the Cream of the CropThree power play goals were scored in Saturday night's contest, as the Nailers converted on two of their four attempts, while Reading posted a 1-for-2 mark. Wheeling has now netted at least one power play tally in each of its last six games, bringing its success rate on the season to 22.5%, which ranks first in the ECHL. The 41 power play goals by the Nailers are tied for the most in the league, along with the Utah Grizzlies. While Zac Lynch has been a big contributor to the club's achievements on the man advantage with his 18 assists, a pair of rookies have stepped up in a big way. Michael Phillips' seven power play goals are the most among first-year players in the ECHL, and he is followed by fellow rookie Yushiroh Hirano, who has dented the twine six times on the power play. Hirano has been on a terrific tear as of late, collecting at least one point in 13 of his last 15 games.

Strong Possibility of More GoalsSunday afternoon marks the third of eight head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Komets this season, as well as the third of five battles at WesBanco Arena. The first two clashes both saw nine total goals scored, including four-goal periods for each team. Fort Wayne flew out to a 4-0 lead in the opener, before clinging to a 5-4 win in early December. The following week, Wheeling had the dynamic start, as it snagged a 6-3 victory. Jake Kamrass is the leading scorer in the set with four points for the Komets, while Zac Lynch and Yushiroh Hirano have both notched three points for the Nailers. Fort Wayne is the only Central Division city that the Nailers have yet to visit in 2018-19, but that will change with the next match on February 17th. This is the first of four straight divisional contests for Wheeling, who will welcome Indy, Kalamazoo, and Cincinnati in town to conclude a six-game homestand.