NAILERS NEWS – DECEMBER 4, 2017
The Wheeling Nailers sit in a tie with the Manchester Monarchs at the top of the ECHL’s North Division with a 12-7-2-0 record this season. Here’s your weekly look at the team in our NAILERS NOTES feature.
RECENT ACTION
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1 VS. READING (4-3 LOSS): The Nailers carried a 3-2 lead into the third period, but a pair of power play goals from the Royals allowed the visitors to pull out a one-goal victory. Cody Wydo (1+1) led the offensive attack for Wheeling, and extended his point streak to four games (3+3=6)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2 VS. READING (5-4 OT WIN): Once again Reading rallied late, posting a pair of goals in the third period to force overtime. But Garrett Meuers popped home his team-leading 12th goal of the season at 2:10 of the extra frame to pull out the win for the Nailers. Zach Tolkinen picked up his first two goals of the season in the win.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 VS. FORT WAYNE (3-2 LOSS): A rested Fort Wayne squad (they didn’t play the previous night) rolled into Wheeling and took home a one-goal victory.Wydo and Dan Milan picked up goals in the loss for the Nailers.
THE WEEK AHEAD
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6 @ READING: The Royals currently sit in third place in the ECHL’s North Division with a 11-7-2-0 mark, just two points behind the division leading Nailers and Monarchs. Only five points separate the first place teams from fifth place Adirondack in the division. Reading is one of three teams in the league without a shorthanded goal this year.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8 @ INDY: The Nailers begin a two-game swing through the Central Division against the Fuel, who currently sit in seventh place with a 5-10-2-1 mark. Indy’s 48 goals scored is the second-fewest in the ECHL.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9 @ TOLEDO: The Walleye (14-4-2-1) carry a four-game point streak (3-0-0-1) into the week, and have extended their lead at the top of the Central to six points over the second place Cincinnati Cyclones. Toledo paces the league with a 90.9% success rate on the penalty kill (7 goals against/77 times shorthanded).
LEAGUE LEADERS
The NAILERS lead the entire ECHL with a 25.5% conversion rate on the power play (22 goals/98 attempts)
CODY WYDO is third in the ECHL with 27 points, tied for fourth with 12 goals and tied for seventh with 15 assists
REID GARDINER is tied for fifth in the ECHL with 24 points, tied for eighth with 11 goals and tied for second with four game-winning goals
GARRETT MEURS is tied for 10th in the league with 23 points, tied for fourth with 12 goals and tied for first with two overtime goals
HUNTER FEJES is tied for eighth in the ECHL with 11 goals and tied for eighth with four power play goals
CAM BROWN is tied for third in the ECHL with 18 assists.
NICK SORKIN is tied for fifth in the ECHL with 16 assists
