Nailers vs. Cyclones Game Day Snap Shot, Nov. 25

WHEELING NAILERS(5-8-1-0, 11 PTS, 5th Central, 11th West)38 GF, 46 GAPP: 19.0% (11-for-58), 8thPK: 80.6% (54-for-67), 21st

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

10-F-Troy Josephs (12 goals, 5 assists, 17 points in 12 games)27-F-Zac Lynch (4 goals, 6 assists, 10 points in 14 games)22-D-Kevin Spinozzi (3 goals, 7 assists, 10 points in 12 games)13-F-Nick Saracino (3 goals, 6 assists, 9 points in 14 games)4-F-Alex Rauter (2 goals, 6 assists, 8 points in 9 games)5-D-Dan Fick (2 goals, 5 assists, 7 points in 14 games)30-G-Matt O'Connor (1-2-1 record, 3.00 GAA, .888 Sv% in 4 games)

CINCINNATI CYCLONES(12-4-2-0, 26 PTS, 2nd Central, 3rd West)70 GF, 41 GAPP: 17.3% (14-for-81), 14thPK: 90.3% (56-for-62), 1st

NHL Affiliate: Buffalo SabresAHL Affiliate: Rochester Americans

27-F-Brady Vail (9 goals, 9 assists, 18 points in 18 games)19-F-Jesse Schultz (2 goals, 14 assists, 16 points in 18 games)10-F-Alex Wideman (4 goals, 11 assists, 15 points in 14 games)5-D-Eric Knodel (4 goals, 11 assists, 15 points in 18 games)92-F-Vasili Glotov (4 goals, 10 assists, 14 points in 18 games)46-F-Justin Vaive (9 goals, 4 assists, 13 points in 18 games)31-G-Jonas Johansson (6-2-1 record, 2.45 GAA, .915 Sv% in 9 games)

Head-to-HeadSeason Series: Cyclones 2, Nailers 02017-18 Season Series at WesBanco Arena: Cyclones 3, Nailers 1All-Time Series: Cyclones 66, Nailers 61All-Time Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 33, Cyclones 29

The Fish Slipped off the HookThe Wheeling Nailers nearly came up with a big catch on Saturday night, as they took the ice against the Central Division leading Toledo Walleye at WesBanco Arena. Toledo's Shane Berschbach opened the scoring in the first period, and the Walleye eventually built a 3-0 lead on a pair of quick strikes in the second by Bryan Moore and Charlie O'Connor. Wheeling had a terrific surge at the end of the middle frame, pulling to within a goal, as Cedric Lacroix and Dan Fick both found the back of the net. The biggest goal of the contest came with 5:57 remaining, when Moore collected his second of the night, putting the Walleye ahead by two. The marker was significant, because Troy Josephs responded with a shorthanded goal for the Nailers to make the score 4-3. Unfortunately, that turned out to be the final score, as Toledo escaped with the two points.

Late Push Can't Keep Streak AliveThe Cincinnati Cyclones entered Saturday night with a five-game winning streak, as they took their show on the road for a clash with the Fort Wayne Komets at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. Fort Wayne had early ideas about ending that streak, as Jamie Schaafsma and Shawn Szydlowski scored 19 seconds apart from each other. Former Nailer J.C. Campagna appeared to put the Komets into the driver's seat with a 3-0 advantage, but little did the Komets realize at the time, that goal would turn out to be the game winner. Zachary Fucale's shutout bid was ended by Cincinnati's Jesse Schultz with 1:27 left on the clock, and then with ten seconds remaining, Pascal Aquin made things even more interesting, shrinking Fort Wayne's lead down to 3-2. The Cyclones were unable to produce an equalizing goal in the dying seconds, and Michael Houser fell short against his former squad, despite a 29-save effort.

Weekly Winners CollideA pair of ECHL award winners will take the ice against each other on Sunday afternoon, in hopes of earning their respective clubs a couple of key points within the division. Wheeling's Troy Josephs was named Inglasco ECHL Player of the Week last week, after he posted six goals and seven points in four games, as the Nailers earned victories in three of four contests. Troy has continued to put up points at a high rate this week, as he assisted on the lone goal Wednesday against Reading, while notching a goal and an assist in Saturday's match. On the other side of the ice is last week's CCM ECHL Goaltender of the Week, Jonas Johansson. The second year pro took home the honors by stopping 53 of 54 shots in a pair of Cincinnati wins, and he picked up right where he left off on Friday, blanking the Indy Fuel on 32 shots for his sixth win in nine starts.

Get Them Away from the Queen CityU.S. Bank Arena has been a friendly place for the Cyclones this season, as they have more than capitalized on their home ice advantage. Cincinnati is one of three teams in the ECHL that has yet to lose in regulation on home ice this season, opening the year with an 8-0-2 mark in the Queen City. The other two clubs that can stake claim to that statistic are the Toledo Walleye and Kansas City Mavericks, who have yet to lose at all at home, going 5-0-0 and 7-0-0 respectively. On the road, Cincinnati has compiled a 4-4-0 record, which is the same as the Nailers, who will look to turn around a 1-4-1 home mark on Sunday afternoon. Earlier in the week, Wheeling saw the only team in the league that has yet to lose in regulation on the road, as Reading improved to 5-0-3 in enemy territory on Saturday at Adirondack, thanks to a 38-save performance by 36-year old former Nailer Nick Niedert.

A Turn at Our HouseSunday afternoon marks the third of eight head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Cyclones this season, as well as the first of three battles at WesBanco Arena. Cincinnati opened the season set with identical 4-1 triumphs at U.S. Bank Arena, rattling off four straight goals in each game, following opening strikes by Wheeling. Both goals by the Nailers came off Zac Lynch's stick, with a pair of assists going to Cam Brown. Justin Vaive, Eric Knodel, and Jesse Schultz each have three points in the two games for the Cyclones, with Vaive scoring three goals, Knodel picking up a goal and two assists, and Schultz dishing out three helpers. Michael Houser has been the winning netminder in both clashes, beating Matt O'Connor and John Muse once each. Wheeling will go two full months without seeing its closest geographical opponent, as the next tilt will be in West Virginia on February 5th.