Cyclones Game Preview: Cincinnati vs. Wheeling - December 26, 2010

Cyclones Game Preview: Cincinnati vs. Wheeling - December 26, 2010

CINCINNATI CYCLONES (11-10-5-2) vs. WHEELING NAILERS (15-12-0-0)

DATE: Sunday, December 26, 2010
TIME: 5:05pm
SITE: WesBanco Arena - Wheeling, WV
RADIO: None
WEBCAST: CyclonesHockey.com (American One)

NHL AFFILIATES
Cincinnati Cyclones: Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators
Wheeling Nailers: Pittsburgh Penguins, Montreal Canadiens

NEXT HOME GAME

Tuesday, December 28 – vs. Toledo, 7:30pm
Kids Eat Free - Fans ages 2-12 will receive a FREE meal courtesy of John Morrell, Grippos, and Sun Drop.


TONIGHT'S MATCHUP:  After more than a week off of the ice, the Cyclones will resume their season series with the Wheeling Nailers tonight at WesBanco Arena.  The teams have split four meetings with each other this year.

SCOUTING THE NAILERS:  After splitting a two-game series with Cincinnati last weekend, Wheeling finds itself leading the North Division by just one point.  Ben Street and Nick Petersen pace the Nailers in scoring and are each among the top five rookie point-getters.  Street’s 25 points (9 goals, 16 assists) rank him second in that category while Petersen’s 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) place him fourth.  They have combined for 11 points in four games against the Cyclones.

ROAD WARRIORS: Through four games of the 11-game season series with Wheeling, the visiting team has claimed victory three times.  The Cyclones 2-1 win over the Nailers at U.S. Bank Arena on December 17 was the only exception.

POSITIVITY, PASS IT ON: Team captain Barret Ehgoetz has found himself on the good side of the plus/minus rating quite frequently this season.  He has earned a +1 mark or better in 15 games.  Not surprisingly, he is tied for the team lead in points (21) as well.

ANOTHER 'CLONE REACHES "THE SHOW": Former Cyclones goaltender Mark Dekanich becomes the fourth Cincinnati player in franchise history to make his NHL debut.  Last Saturday, Dekanich stopped 22 of 25 shots for Nashville in a 6-1 loss to Los Angeles.

SEASON SERIES (11 Meetings - 7 Remaining)
Oct. 30 Wheeling 7 at Cincinnati 3 Final
Nov. 6 Cincinnati 2 at Wheeling 0 Final
Dec. 17 Wheeling 1 at Cincinnati 2 Final
Dec. 18 Wheeling 7 Cincinnati 2 Final
Dec. 26 Cincinnati at Wheeling 5:05 pm EST
Jan. 14 Wheeling at Cincinnati 7:30 pm EST
Jan. 15 Cincinnati at Wheeling 7:35 pm EST
Jan. 18 Wheeling at Cincinnati 7:30 pm EST
Feb. 4 Wheeling at Cincinnati 7:30 pm EST
Feb. 5 Cincinnati at Wheeling 8:05 pm EST
Mar. 4 Cincinnati at Wheeling 7:35 pm EST