Nailers at Cyclones Game Day Snap Shot, Nov. 7

WHEELING NAILERS(1-4-0-0, 2 PTS, 6th Central, 13th West)12 GF, 21 GAPP: 22.7% (5-for-22), 3rdPK: 83.3% (20-for-24), 15th

NHL Affiliate: Pittsburgh PenguinsAHL Affiliate: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

27-F-Zac Lynch (2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points in 5 games)10-F-Troy Josephs (3 goals, 1 assist, 4 points in 3 games)15-F-Eliot Grauer (2 goals, 2 assists, 4 points in 5 games)21-F-Cam Brown (3 assists, 3 points in 5 games)17-F-Winston Day Chief (1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points in 4 games)5-D-Dan Fick (1 goal, 1 point in 5 games)1-G-John Muse (1-2-0 record, 3.62 GAA, .883 Sv% in 3 games)

CINCINNATI CYCLONES(5-2-2-0, 12 PTS, 2nd Central, T-4th West)32 GF, 26 GAPP: 15.8% (6-for-38), 14thPK: 86.7% (26-for-30), 8th

NHL Affiliate: Buffalo SabresAHL Affiliate: Rochester Americans

27-F-Brady Vail (5 goals, 4 assists, 9 points in 9 games)12-F-Jesse Schultz (1 goal, 8 assists, 9 points in 9 games)46-F-Justin Vaive (5 goals, 3 assists, 8 points in 9 games)5-D-Eric Knodel (2 goals, 6 assists, 8 points in 9 games)92-F-Vasili Glotov (2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points in 9 games)15-F-Spencer Dorowicz (4 goals, 1 assist, 5 points in 9 games)29-G-Michael Houser (3-0-1 record, 1.74 GAA, .946 Sv% in 4 games)

Head-to-HeadSeason Series: Cyclones 1, Nailers 0Season Series at U.S. Bank Arena: Cyclones 1, Nailers 0All-Time Series: Cyclones 65, Nailers 61All-Time Series at U.S. Bank Arena: Cyclones 36, Nailers 28

Exciting Moments EarlyThe Wheeling Nailers had 4,800 fans on their feet during the first period of Saturday's home opener against the Indy Fuel at WesBanco Arena. At the 16:48 mark of the stanza, Troy Josephs put the home team on the scoreboard, as he darted down the right side, ripping a wrist shot into the back of the net. 2:10 later, the lead was extended, courtesy of Zac Lynch, who roofed a shot under the crossbar. Brad Drobot kept the good times rolling off the ensuing face-off, as he dropped the gloves with Anthony Collins. Unfortunately, the second period went in the opposite direction, as the Fuel rattled off five straight tallies in a span of 9:30, going ahead, 5-2. Former Nailer Josh Shalla recorded points on three of the goals, while Kevin Dufour netted a pair. Josephs notched his second of the night to make the score 5-3, but that was as close as Wheeling could get. Kevin Lankinen made 26 saves in the win for Indy, while John Muse turned aside 19 shots for the Nailers.

Coming off a High-Scoring WeekendThe Cincinnati Cyclones played three games in three days over the weekend, and during that time, they saw plenty of pucks go into the back of the net. On Friday night, Cincinnati clobbered Kalamazoo, 7-1, as six different players solved Wings goaltenders Jake Hildebrand and Keegan Asmundson. Having to travel overnight from Kalamazoo to Brampton, the Cyclones were a tad rusty on Saturday night, and the Beast took full advantage with a 6-1 triumph. However, Cincinnati exacted some revenge in the Great White North on Sunday afternoon, posting a 6-3 victory. Brady Vail led the way in Sunday's win with a couple of goals, while Justin Vaive tallied at least once in all three contests. Michael Houser made 27 saves for the win on Friday, before Jonas Johansson played both tilts in the Brampton set, turning aside 49 of 58 attempts. The Cyclones are 4-1-2 in their last seven games.

Milestone Week Ahead for FickDan Fick has the longest tenure in Wheeling for any player on the 2018-19 roster, as he is in the midst of his fourth season with the team. On Wednesday night, the 27-year old will play in his 198th career game with the Nailers, moving him into a tie for seventh place in team history, along with 2018 Wheeling Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee Tim Tisdale. Thanks to two games with the AHL's San Antonio Rampage at the end of the 2016-17 campaign, Wednesday will also be the 200th game of Fick's professional career in North America. After graduating from Harvard university, Dan played one season with Mangerlud in Norway. The Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota native joins Winston Day Chief (266) and John Muse (256) as the three current Nailers with at least 200 pro games.

Let the Games BeginAfter a historically slow start with only five games during the first four weeks of the regular season, the schedule will now take the Nailers up to speed, as they look to get into a groove to make their climb up the Central Division Standings. Wheeling will play at least three games during each of the next seven weeks, leading up to the holiday break. Over the course of the next six weeks, the Nailers will have a great chance to capitalize on home ice advantage, as 13 of the next 20 matches will be played at WesBanco Arena. All five Central Division opponents come to Nail City at least once during that stretch, while Wheeling also welcomes Greenville, Reading, and Allen to town for the first time in 2018-19. Next weekend's trip to Jacksonville, South Carolina, and Greenville will be the first of 11 sets of three games in three days.

Searching for the Crown in the Queen CityWednesday night marks the second of eight head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Cyclones this season, as well as the second of four battles at U.S. Bank Arena. Cincinnati opened the season set with a 4-1 win over Wheeling at home on October 20th, scoring three of four goals on special teams. The Cyclones have been a thorn in the side for the Nailers over recent seasons, as Wheeling looks to snap a six-game skid overall against Cincinnati, as well as a six-game skid in Southwest Ohio. The last time the Nailers were victorious in Cincinnati was March 17, 2016, when Mathew Maione's overtime tally gave the visitors a 2-1 decision. After leading the Cyclones with nine points against Wheeling last season, Eric Knodel collected two more in the previous clash. Zac Lynch was the lone goal scorer for the Nailers that evening. Cincinnati will make its first trip to West Virginia on November 25th, before the teams go over two months without seeing each other.