The Nailers split their two games last weekend, losing in a shootout to Indy on Friday before beating Cincinnati on Saturday. How did Wheeling manage to come away with three out of a possible four points?
While it would have been nice to come away with all four points, getting these three against teams from outside our division won’t hurt us that badly in the long run. The teams directly behind the Nailers, Reading and Adirondack, have managed to go 1-1-1 and 2-0, respectively, since last Wednesday, which means the Nailers getting these points keeps those teams from gaining too much ground as we approach the midpoint of February.
Friday’s game started off slowly for the home team, as the Nailers only managed to fire four shots on net in the first period, none of which were able to find their way past the goalie. On the other hand, Indy took seven shots themselves in the opening frame, but unfortunately, one did get through Taylor Gauthier to give the Fuel the 1-0 lead after the first 20 minutes.
The second period went much better for Wheeling, as they got their first goal of the game a minute into the period by Matty De St. Phalle to tie the game again. The Nailers outshot the Fuel 13-9 for the period, but the one score would be the only one tallied in the frame and the game went to the third tied.
Both teams pushed hard in the final period to bring home the victory, with Indy breaking the tie just over three minutes into the period to take the lead, but just 20 seconds later, Logan Pietila knocked home a rebound on the power play to get the game tied again.
Neither team was able to finish the game in regulation, and overtime was needed.
In the overtime period, Indy was awarded a penalty shot with just over two minutes left in extra time, but Gauthier made the save, and the game eventually went to a shootout. The first two shooters for the Fuel were able to tickle the twine, while only Zach Urdahl scored for the Nailers as their first shooter.
With the ability to continue the shootout on his stick, Brent Johnson failed to score, and Indy took home the extra point.
Saturday’s game was much more fast-paced from the drop, as the two teams registered 23 shots combined in the first period alone, but none got through and the game remained in a 0-0 deadlock to the horn. Things would not stay that way as Wheeling broke the game wide open with a five goal second period, starting with Craig Armstrong just under six minutes in, followed by Max Graham, Daniel Laatsch with his first professional goal, Zach Urdahl on the power play, and finally Brayden Edwards with just over two minutes left in the period, and the rout was on.
The third period saw both teams vent a little frustration, as the Cyclones attempted to mix things up and get back into it, but it wasn’t to be against Maxim Pavlenko in this game. The Nailers got another power play six and a half minutes into the final period, and just over a minute into the advantage, Matthew Quercia snuck home the sixth and final goal of the game, and Wheeling came away with the two points.
The Nailers got revenge on Indy on Wednesday, traveling out there and coming away with a 2-1 win. What went better in this game for Wheeling that allowed them to prevail?
After losing to this same Fuel team just five nights prior, the Nailers went on the road with the thought of revenge on their mind. While it didn’t appear for the longest time that it would be Wheeling’s night, things turned quickly late in the game in favor of the visitors, and they brought home the two points that were denied to them at WesBanco Arena.
Things started off well for the Fuel yet again, scoring the first goal of the game in the first period on Taylor Gauthier while shorthanded to take a lead just seven minutes into the contest. The Nailers did manage to put nine shots on goal in the first this time, compared to the four in the opening stanza the previous Friday, but yet again, they failed to find the back of the net and went to the second period trailing.
The second period saw both teams earn chances to change the score of the game, but both goaltenders continued to play strong, and nothing got in behind them, causing the game to remain 1-0 heading into the third. For more than half of the final period, Wheeling continued to push to no avail.
Finally, the Nailers were awarded their fourth power play of the game, and they took advantage as Connor Lockhart tied the game at 1-1 with just over seven minutes to play in regulation.
Wheeling got a penalty called against them with just under two minutes remaining, but a call went against Indy three seconds after that call, and during the ensuing four-on-four, Lockhart once again found the net to get the first lead of the game for the Nailers with just over a minute remaining, and they found a way to hold on for the win.
With that victory, Taylor Gauthier earned his 59th victory in a Wheeling Nailers uniform, putting him one short of tying Andy Franck’s team record of 60 wins as a goaltender with the team. He will now enter this next series with the chance to tie (and possibly break) this record at home against Reading.
The Nailers now will play their last three games this weekend before their bye week, welcoming Reading to town. What does Wheeling need to do to continue winning games against their division rival?
With the Nailers getting ready to take some extended time off, earning as many points as possible from these three games against one of the teams right behind you in the standings becomes all the more important, but I’ll discuss that even more soon. Not only that, but with these being games nine, 10, and 11 out of 15 total between these two squads this season, and with the season series between these squads being tied at four wins apiece, Wheeling needs to use this series as the time to separate itself from the group behind them once and for all.
Winning all three contests, preferably in regulation, would extend the Nailers’ lead in the division over Reading to 15 points. But it also runs the risk of pushing the Royals down the standings, possibly even out of a playoff spot entirely depending on how the other teams in the division go this weekend, so they aren’t going to give up easy.
Reading has been pretty poor when away from home, earning a record of 8-10-3-1 in games away from Santander Arena. Meanwhile, Wheeling is tied for the second most home wins in the ECHL this season, with their record entering the weekend at WesBanco Arena at 17-3-1-1.
One big reason for their meager road record is their specialty teams. While their penalty kill is relatively average at 12th in the league on the road, their power play sits in 27th in the 30-team ECHL away from home. On the other side, Wheeling at home has the fourth best power play in the league at a 26.1% success rate, while the penalty kill sits in 10th with an 84.4% success rate.
Also, the Nailer penalty kill group is tied for the league lead in shorthanded goals at home with four, while the Royals power play group has yet to give up a shortie this season at all. If Wheeling can find a way to break through and get the first one of the year against Reading, while keeping their power play from finding the net, it could go a long way towards helping the home team maximize their points in this series.
The Nailers find themselves entering this weekend’s series leading Reading and Adirondack in the standings by nine points. How much would winning these three games help Wheeling towards keeping their division lead?
While the Royals and Thunder are technically tied for second place in the North Division with 53 points, Reading has earned those through 46 games played, while Adirondack has only played 42. At the top of the division, the Nailers are sitting there with 62 points while having played 45 games so far, meaning they have a game in hand over the Royals, but the Thunder have three games in hand on Wheeling.
While the Nailers prepare to play three games with Reading this weekend in hopes of extending their lead over the Royals, Adirondack doesn’t have it much easier themselves, having to travel to Atlanta to face the best team in the Eastern Conference, the Gladiators, with games scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Monday.
Meanwhile, the other teams currently chasing the Nailers in the standings don’t have any especially easy games themselves. Maine, currently in fourth place with 49 points, travels to Estero, FL to take on the Florida Everblades, the team currently chasing Atlanta in the standings and tied with Wheeling at 62 points, for three games.
Worcester, sitting just outside the playoff line at 47 points, has possibly the easiest schedule this weekend of the teams behind Wheeling, welcoming Trois-Rivières to town for three games Friday through Sunday.
With how difficult the road ahead looks to be for the teams directly behind them, the Nailers could definitely earn themselves even more breathing room heading into a rather tough end of the season in terms of number of games over the number of days to play them, with 24 games being played in 52 days to get them to April 18th and the end of the regular season.
Even though the other teams in the division will face a tough stretch themselves, Wheeling can’t assume that just because they’re in the pole position now that they will stay there. Going out and winning games against the teams nipping at their heels, starting with three this weekend against Reading, can give them that space they need, and will hopefully go a long way towards giving the Nailers home ice advantage when they get to the postseason.
This Saturday’s game against Reading is Country Night at WesBanco Arena. What are your thoughts on the more unique aspects of this promotion?
I make no bones about my personal opinion: I am not a fan of country music. Sure, I enjoy some of the older artists, like Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty, and Waylon Jennings, but that’s from watching the Grand Ole Opry on television with my grandparents growing up. As I got older and developed my own musical tastes, country just fell off for me.
But take that with a grain of salt, as some of my current favorite bands hail from Germany, Italy, and Mongolia, so I’m sure I stick out like a sore thumb when it comes to what music one enjoys.
That being said, color me intrigued by what they’re going to have at the arena on Saturday. I’ve attempted to ride a mechanical bull in the past, when I was much younger and a lot spryer. It did not go well for me. If (when) I end up on it this weekend, say a prayer for me that I don’t hurt myself too badly falling off of it.
In addition to that, Loop Rawlins will be performing his One Man Wild West Show during both intermissions, which includes twirling a lariat that is on fire around himself. I can only imagine how difficult it was to learn that task and to be able to perform it as well as he does.
I’m very interested to see how well everyone else fares when riding the bull and hope to see another all-important victory for the Nailers. I’ll see you at the rink.
