Game Day: Sunday Matinee in Wheeling

Game #12

Admirals 3-8-1-0) vs. Nailers (6-2-2-0)

WesBanco Arena

3:05 pm

Last Time Out:

Norfolk got goals from Darik Angeli and Tommy Schutt in the third period but Brampton held off the Admirals late to take a 4-2 victory on Friday night. The Admirals took a season-low two penalty minutes in the loss and capitalized once on six power play opportunities. Brady Vail picked up a pair of assists to run his point streak to six games.

Two of the League’s Best:

Sunday’s matchup will feature two of the ECHL’s top three leading rookie scorers. Wheeling’s Reid Gardiner leads all rookies through ten games with 17 points (10g, 7a). Gardiner’s 10 goals is the most by a first year man in the ECHL so far. Norfolk’s Grant Besse is currently third among all rookies in scoring with 12 points (6g, 6a), one point back from second place Justin Parizek (IDH). Besse’s 12 points has the former Wisconsin Badger sitting in second place on the team in scoring, trailing only Angelo Miceli (13 pts).

New Face Facing Old Friends:

Newly acquired defenseman Ryan Segalla has joined the team in Wheeling after being acquired from Adirondack on Friday afternoon. Segalla, in his second professional season, will face off against his former squad in his Admirals debut on Sunday. The defenseman appeared in 62 games with Wheeling in his rookie year last season. Segalla was originally drafted by the Penguins in the fourth round of the 2013 NHL draft.

Better on the Road:

The Admirals head into Sunday tied for the fifth best power play in the ECHL when playing on the road. Norfolk has converted on seven of 28 attempts (25.0%) over the course of six road games this season. Comparatively, the Admirals are 26th on the power play at home, converting on 5.9% of chances. Wheeling, who boasts the ECHL’s top man-advantage unit, has scored on 35% of opportunities on the road, and 25% at home.

Vail’s Streak Continues Part 2:

A pair of assists on Friday net for Brady Vail set a new career high for Vail with points in six consecutive games. Prior to the current streak Vail had achieved five-game streaks on three separate occasions but had never surpassed the five-game mark. The forward has recorded two multi-point games while recording nine points (4g, 5a) in the current streak.