The Nailers managed to complete the series sweep in Greensboro, winning 3-2 in a shootout on Friday followed by a 2-1 victory on Saturday. What did Wheeling do well to earn these wins?
Last season, the theme of the year for Wheeling was going on streaks. Winning streaks at opportune times allowed the Nailers to stay competitive in the North Division and allowed them to be in second place when the dust settled. Now, early in the 2025-26 season, Wheeling has their first extended winning streak of the year already at six games, and they don’t look to end it any time soon, I hope.
The Gargoyles came out hot on Friday, jumping on the Nailers early and getting a 1-0 lead less than seven minutes into the game, an advantage they managed to maintain through the end of the period. Wheeling came out with a bit more pep in their step in the second period and found a way to tie it just past the halfway mark of the frame thanks to Ryan Mahshie, and the two teams remained tied after 40 minutes of play.
The Nailers got their first lead of the game just over two minutes into the third when Eric Parker scored his first goal as a professional after a nice career at Bowling Green, but they couldn’t hold it as Greensboro got it back just three minutes later, and the game stayed tied through regulation. The Gargoyles outshot the Nailers 3-0 in the overtime period, but they couldn’t solve Jake Smith in net, nor could their five shooters in the shootout get one through. In that fifth round, Logan Pietila managed to net one and give Wheeling the winner’s point.
Sunday’s game started off much better for the visitors as Parker scored for the second time in as many nights just two minutes into the contest to give the Nailers the early lead. Wheeling pushed to extend the lead but to no avail as the first period ended with the 1-0 score.
Greensboro pushed hard in the second and found a way to get one through Jaxon Castor to tie the game with eight minutes left in the middle stanza, but that was all they would get for the night as Castor would end up making 23 saves on 24 shots against. Wheeling received a penalty less than a minute into the third period, but the shorthanded group found a way to make it work as Zach Urdahl scored the eventual game winner a minute into the penalty. Both teams exchanged chances down the stretch, but neither team scored again, and the Nailers came away with all six points on the weekend and a six-game winning streak.
The Nailers now come home for games on Friday and Saturday against Maine, followed by a Sunday trip to Reading. What does Wheeling need to do to come away with wins in these games?
And now, the Nailers get a chance to avenge their only loss so far this season, a 7-3 win for the Mariners back on October 25 (never mind that they did beat Maine 5-4 in overtime the very next night). The two teams Wheeling faces this weekend sit first and third, respectively, in the North Division, so despite how early in the season it still is, this is a chance for the Nailers to set a tone early for how the year can go.
Maine comes to town undefeated on the road this year through four away contests with a goal differential in those games of +15. The Mariners average over a minute and a half more in penalty minutes per game than Wheeling does, so having the power play going in these contests will be needed. The issue is, Maine’s penalty kill group is fourth best in the league on the road, and their power play is fifth best away from home, so the Nailers will need to stay sharp on both sides of the specialty team battle to win these games.
Then it’s off to Reading for the first of four straight games against the Royals. Penalty issues are a big issue for them this season also, as they average over 16 minutes in penalties a game through their first nine on the season. The bigger factor in this game could come down to getting out on the right foot and scoring early. Reading has scored first in five of their nine contests, earning a record of 4-0-1 in those games, while Wheeling has done so in four of their eight contests, but are a perfect 4-0-0 when getting the first tally. If the Nailers can push early and get that first goal, it could put Reading in a tough spot to come back.
The Nailers will then stick around Reading and play a Tuesday morning game against the Royals next week. How will Sunday’s result play into this midweek morning tilt?
Listen, I’ve said in this column a number of times over the years just how important I think education day games are in helping to grow the game of hockey amongst the youth. I’ve also said how insane I think it is to play a hockey game starting at 10:30 in the morning, and this one is no different. As someone who has historically not been a fan of mornings, this feels like a tough start to the day, and when you add in players with their pregame rituals and such, it makes for an even longer one.
This will be Coach Ryan Papaioannou’s first chance to experience an early morning game with thousands of screaming children in the stands, assuming they didn’t do anything like this up in Brooks. He will have to make sure the team is focused and ready to play a game that early in the day and are able to follow the staff’s coaching even when they may not be able to hear themselves think. Hopefully, he and the team can be prepared for what is in store for them and don’t let it get them out of the rhythm they have set for themselves to this point.
Despite it still being quite early in the season, the Nailers find themselves with the second-highest point percentage in the league, just behind Atlanta. How realistic is it for Wheeling to continue earning points as well as they have and staying in that position throughout the year?
The Nailers’ current point percentage of 0.875 is truly astounding from a hockey standpoint. Per the team’s stats, this is the best eight-game start in team history, with seven wins and 14 standings points. If they were to find a way to maintain that point percentage over the full season, they would earn 126 out of a possible 144 points, which I don’t think you’ll ever see in reality.
What Wheeling is doing now is setting themselves up. Generally speaking, the first major checkpoint in hockey is American Thanksgiving, which gives you a good idea about which teams are good and should be in postseason contention, which teams are falling behind and most likely will be playing for pride in the new year, and which teams need things to go their way to have a chance to make some noise at the end of the year.
Of course, that’s not set in stone, and anything can happen from that point, especially for a team in a developmental league. Call ups, injuries, or anything else that can cause changes to the line up could cause movement in that regard. But by winning now and pushing hard against division rivals like Maine and Reading, the Nailers can do everything possible early to be ready for success later.
Following Veteran’s Day this past Tuesday, the Nailers will be honoring those in uniform with Military Appreciation Night on Friday. How special are events like this to you as someone who did not enter the military yourself?
As the question says, I was not a military man myself. I knew that wasn’t the direction I was meant to go in life. But I have a ton of respect for those who do, and a lot of people I love in my life did serve. My best friend, Micah Knisely, spent 14 months deployed in Afghanistan as an MP, missing my wedding to my lovely wife while defending our country. Both of my grandfathers, Alfonso Rocini and Delbert Yost, spent time in the service after leaving school, being deployed around the world before settling back down at home in Follansbee and Wellsburg, respectively.
I am thankful for all of the sacrifices of those individuals who do choose to protect our way of life as well as their families and friends who just wish for their safe return home. I think it’s a wonderful thing that the Nailers put together a special night to give them thanks as well, and I hope everyone in attendance at that game shows just how appreciative we are to those who are in attendance who served. I personally will be one of them, and I hope to see you all at the rink.
