ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers vs. Cyclones Game Day Snap Shot

October 9, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


WHEELING NAILERS

2014-15:

(37-33-1-1, 76 PTS, 4th North, 9th East)

210 GF, 213 GA

PP: 16.2% (44-for-272), 18th

PK: 83.4% (247-for-296), 12th

Returning Players Expected in the Lineup: Jarrett Burton, Tanner Burton, Paul Cianfrini, Adam Krause, Cody Wydo, Anton Zlobin

CINCINNATI CYCLONES

2014-15:

(31-30-2-9, 73 PTS, T-5th North, T-10th East)

195 GF, 212 GA

PP: 15.1% (39-for-259), 25th

PK: 81.8% (189-for-236), 25th

Played for a Different ECHL Team Last Season: Neil Conway, Gabriel Levesque, Kevin Lind, Ryan Misiak, Mike Ratchuk, Peter Sakaris, Riley Weselowski

Head-to-Head

2014-15 Season Series: Nailers 2, Cyclones 2

2014-15 Season Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 1, Cyclones 1

All-Time Series: Nailers 56, Cyclones 55

All-Time Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 30, Cyclones 25

Welcome to Our House

The Wheeling Nailers and Cincinnati Cyclones will meet for the second time in three days, closing out their brief two-game preseason schedules. On Wednesday night, the Nailers opened the scoring with Tyler Fernandez's goal at the 13:24 mark of the first period, but that was the lone celebration for the visitors. Cincinnati netted the final six goals of the contest, with tallies coming from former Nailers Mike Ratchuk and Christiaan Minella, as well as Branden Gracel, Eric Robinson, Jaynen Rissling, and Zach Budish. Ex-Nailer Brad Thiessen played the full game in goal for the Cyclones, making 17 saves, while Franky Palazzese (13/14, ND) and Casey DeSmith (16/21, L) split the evening for Wheeling.

Five New Faces Get a Look

Friday night's lineup for the Nailers will feature a different look, as eight skaters and one goaltender who didn't play in Wednesday's game will get their first taste of 2015 preseason action. Five of those nine will wear Wheeling uniforms for the first time in their careers, including starting goaltender Brian Foster, who spent two seasons with the Cyclones. Rookies Mickael Beauregard, Ty Loney, John McCarron, and Brett Stern will also hit the ice for the host squad, with Beauregard, McCarron, and Stern all eagerly anticipating their professional debuts next week. Loney appeared in five games with the then AHL's Norfolk Admirals last spring, notching two goals and two assists.

They Aren't Here Much

Despite being the Nailers' closest geographical opponent, the former rivalry between Wheeling and Cincinnati has begun to diminish, as the two teams will reside in different conferences during the 2015-16 season. Back in 2013-14, the Nailers and Cyclones banged heads on 12 occasions, with each team snagging six wins from the opposition. Last year, that number shrunk down to four, again resulting in a split of two wins per squad. This season, they will play four head-to-head games, with only one of those taking place at WesBanco Arena. That tilt will be the Education Day Game on November 10th. Wheeling's first visit to Cincinnati won't happen until February 3rd.

Only Non-First Timers of the Month

Fans in the Ohio Valley are very familiar with the Cincinnati Cyclones, as they and the Nailers have met on 111 different occasions during regular season play, with Wheeling holding a 56-55 advantage entering this season. However, that won't be true for the remainder of the regular season's opening month, as all three visiting teams will make their WesBanco Arena debuts. Next weekend, the Nailers will open the campaign in Norfolk, marking their first trip to Norfolk Scope Arena since January 21, 2000. When they return home, they will face the Brampton Beast, whom they played four times in Ontario last season. The following weekend, the Adirondack Thunder and Quad City Mallards will both make their first appearances in the Mountain State.

Aim for the Split

2015 marks the fifth time in the last six seasons that Wheeling and Cincinnati have clashed in the preseason, and the previous four seasons have had similar scripts, with both teams earning one head-to-head victory per year. In order for that to become true again, the Nailers will need to come out on top, as they open the doors at WesBanco Arena for the first time since the end of April. Recently, the home team has held a decisive edge in the exhibition set, winning eight of the nine clashes, dating back to 2010. Wheeling is 4-1-0 in its back yard, with its most recent triumph coming from a 5-3 decision last October.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics



ECHL Stories from October 9, 2015


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