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ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers Game Preview: January 14th, 2012

January 14, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Wheeling Nailers (19-13-1-1 40 Pts) vs. Cincinnati Cyclones (14-12-0-4 32 Pts)

On Saturday night, the Wheeling Nailers continue their stretch against teams from the State of Ohio, when they make their first visit of the season to U.S. Bank Arena, where they will take on the Cincinnati Cyclones in the front half of their home-and-home series that concludes in Wheeling on Sunday.

The first half of the regular season has been slow in terms of the number of games played by the Nailers and Cyclones, as Cincinnati has played a conference-low 30, while Wheeling is tied with two other teams for the second fewest games in the conference, having taken the ice 34 times. However, both teams have made the most of the times that they have laced up the skates with two points at stake, as the Nailers' .588 points percentage is fourth in the conference, while the Cyclones' .533 points percentage is eighth. Wheeling enters the home-and-home series with a 19-13-1-1 record, which is good for 40 points, as well as a tie for sixth place in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, Cincinnati currently owns a 14-12-0-4 record, which is good for 32 points, as well as tenth place in the Eastern Conference.

The Nailers are coming off of a home-and-home series with the Toledo Walleye that saw the host squad come out on top in both meetings. On Wednesday night, former Walleye Zack Torquato broke a 2-2 tie at the 23-second mark of overtime, lifting Wheeling to the dramatic victory. Then, on Friday night, Toledo came back with an answer, as two goals by Joey Martin and 19 saves by Rob Nolan gave the Walleye a 3-0 victory at Huntington Center. Prior to Friday night, Peter Delmas had made four consecutive starts in goal for the Nailers, returning from an injury with a 3-1 record. On Thursday, he was recalled to Hamilton, while Patrick Killeen was returned to Wheeling by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Despite ending up on the short end of the decision, Killeen stopped 30 of 33 shots in his first appearance since December 31st.

The Cincinnati Cyclones have been dominant on home ice this season, going 11-2-0-2 in their first 15 contests at U.S. Bank Arena. However, Cincinnati's most recent home game resulted in a setback, as the Kalamazoo Wings picked up a 3-1 victory against the Cyclones on Friday night, thanks to a 31-save effort by Maxime Clermont. Cincinnati has gone through two recent streaks, as they rattled off six straight wins from December 17th-January 4th, before a loss to the Nailers started a string of four consecutive losses, in a streak that remains active, as the Cyclones enter Saturday night's tilt. Since the two teams last met, Cincinnati has received leading scorer Mathieu Aubin back from the AHL, while also acquiring forward Mathew Sisca in a trade with the Bakersfield Condors. Both players have 27 points thus far this season. David Leaderer remains the Cyclones' top defensive scorer with 12 points in 27 games, while Chet Pickard returned to the crease on Friday, following a nine-game absence due to injury. In 14 appearances this season, Pickard has a 5-8-1 record, a 3.06 GAA, and an .888 Sv%.

This is the second of six meetings between the Nailers and Cyclones, as well as the first of three games at U.S. Bank Arena. Wheeling took the first battle between the two clubs, picking up a 5-2 victory at WesBanco Arena on January 6th. Chris Barton led the way for the Nailers in that game, recording two goals and one assist, while Paul Crowder dished out three assists for the home team. Jonathan Hazen had two assists for Cincinnati, as Peter Delmas defeated Brad Fogal between the pipes.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Wheeling Nailers

19-13-1-1, 40 points, 2nd Atlantic Division, T-6th Eastern Conference

110 GF, 96 GA

PP: 24-for-140 (17.1%), 11th

PK: 113-for-138 (81.9%), 12th

Active Leaders

Goals: Barton (19)

Assists: Torquato (19)

Points: Barton (35)

Penalty Minutes: Ross (72)

+/-: Bushee (+14)

Wins: Killeen (10)

GAA: Killeen (2.87)

Sv%: Killeen (.882)

Cincinnati Cyclones

14-12-0-4, 32 points, 3rd North Division, 10th Eastern Conference

97 GF, 96 GA

PP: 22-for-135 (16.3%), 12th

PK: 106-for-128 (82.8%), 9th

Active Leaders

Goals: Aubin (14)

Assists: Pelech (20)

Points: Aubin, Sisca (27)

Penalty Minutes: Liambas (133)

+/-: Sisca, Suter (+8)

Wins: Pickard (5)

GAA: Pickard (3.06)

Sv%: Pickard (.888)

The Wheeling Nailers play next on Saturday, January 14th, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. when they take on the Cincinnati Cyclones at the US Bank Arena. All Nailers road games can be heard live on the MIX 97.3 FM and www.wheelingnailers.com, or seen live on RTV 9 and America One Networks at b2livetv.com.

The Wheeling Nailers return to WesBanco Arena on Sunday Janaury 15th at 4 p.m. when they host the Cincinnati Cyclones. Fans can purchase the Sunday Family Four Pack for just $54. The Four pack includes four game tickets, hotdogs, sodas and large popcorn. Following the game fans can skate with the team.

Single game tickets for the 2011-2012 season are available at the Nailers Office in Downtown Wheeling, the WesBanco Arena Box Office, any Ticketmaster Outlet, online at shop.wheelingnailers.com or through charge-by-phone at 304-234-GOAL.

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