ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers Game Preview: Cincinnati Vs. Wheeling

Published on January 6, 2012 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Cincinnati Cyclones (14-9-0-3 31 Pts) vs. Wheeling Nailers (16-11-1-1 34 pts)

On Friday night, the Wheeling Nailers begin the 2012 calendar season, when they play the first of three straight home games at WesBanco Arena this weekend. It's a battle of the two teams that have allowed the fewest goals in the Eastern Conference, as the Nailers take on the Cincinnati Cyclones.

The Nailers had a bumpy finish to 2011, going 1-2-1 in a four-game stretch against their three Atlantic Division rivals last week. Despite that, Wheeling has maintained their position in second place in the division, entering the weekend with a 16-11-1-1 record, which is good for 34 points. In the Eastern Conference, the Nailers currently sit in seventh place, trailing sixth place Chicago by just one point. The Cyclones are also looking up at the Express, as they are currently in third place in the North Division, entering the weekend at 14-9-0-3, which is good for 31 points. If the playoffs began today, Cincinnati would be on the outside looking in, as they are currently in tenth place in the conference, but have played by far the fewest games, only taking the ice 26 times thus far.

This weekend at WesBanco Arena will feature some relatively unfamiliar faces to the 2011-12 campaign, as Cincinnati, South Carolina, and Greenville all make their first visits of the season to the Mountain State. Friday night will be just the third time this season that the Nailers will face a North Division opponent, as they fell 6-5 to Kalamazoo on November 4th, before knocking off Chicago 4-1 on December 18th. All four games that Wheeling played last week were decided by one goal, as they defeated Trenton 5-4, while coming up short 2-1 and 3-2 to Elmira, and 3-2 against Reading. In the most recent contest, the Nailers fired 48 shots on Reading netminder Mark Owuya, lighting the lamp twice, on tallies by Matt Lombardi and Denver Manderson. Also during that game, Wheeling's penalty kill was perfect at 4-for-4, and hasn't allowed an opposition power play goal in six straight contests.

Now that they are beginning to play a bit more frequently, the Cincinnati Cyclones have gotten on a roll, winning each of their last six games, with five of those victories coming on home ice at US Bank Arena. Cincinnati posted a pair of triumphs last week, knocking off Kalamazoo 8-5 and Toledo 3-0, before doubling up Greenville 6-3 on Wednesday night. After five straight appearances by Brian Foster, Brian Fogal made the start in goal, and stopped 29 of 32 shots in his season debut. With Mathieu Aubin (27 points) currently on recall to the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Anthony Luciani and Michael Pelech are now tied for the team's active lead with 23 points each. Luciani's 11 goals are second to Aubin's 14, while Pelech leads the way with 19 assists. On the blueline, David Leaderer and Maury Edwards are also on recall, making Ryan Annesley's seven points the most at that position. The Cyclones' most notable stat is their home/road splits, which have seen them go 11-1-0-2 in Cincinnati, and 3-8-0-1 on the road.

There are no former Nailers on the Cincinnati roster, while Christiaan Minella is the lone player for Wheeling to have suited up with the Cyclones.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Wheeling Nailers

16-11-1-1, 34 points, 2nd Atlantic Division, 7th Eastern Conference

96 GF, 83 GA

PP: 23-for-122 (18.9%), 8th

PK: 98-for-118 (83.1%), T-6th

Active Leaders

Goals: Barton (15)

Assists: Torquato (16)

Points: Barton (28)

Penalty Minutes: Ross (70)

+/-: Bushee (+8)

Wins: Delmas (6)

GAA: Delmas (2.40)

Sv%: Delmas (.902)

Cincinnati Cyclones

14-9-0-3, 31 points, 3rd North Division, 10th Eastern Conference

90 GF, 80 GA

PP: 21-for-117 (17.9%), 11th

PK: 86-for-105 (81.9%), 12th

Active Leaders

Goals: Luciani (11)

Assists: Pelech (19)

Points: Luciani, Pelech (23)

Penalty Minutes: Liambas (115)

+/-: Wilson (+8)

Wins: Pickard (5)

GAA: Pickard (3.06)

Sv%: Pickard (.888)

NEXT HOME GAME: Fri. Jan., 6th - 7:35PM

vs.

FREE YOUTH SKI CAP GIVEAWAY JAN. 7TH

Saturday January 7th, the Wheeling Nailers will host the South Carolina Stingrays at WesBanco Arena. The first 1,000 kids 14 & under through the gates will receive a free Nailers Ski Cap courtesy of the WesBanco

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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