vs.
WHEELING NAILERS (35-23-4-4)
Click here for tonight's game note packet
DATE: Friday, March 23, 2012
TIME: 7:35pm ET
SITE: WesBanco Arena - Wheeling, WV
RADIO: Cyclones Radio Network (1050-AM)
WEBCAST: CyclonesHockey.com (America One)
NHL AFFILIATES
Cincinnati Cyclones: Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators
Wheeling Nailers: Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins
NEXT HOME GAME
Saturday, March 24 - 7:30pm vs. Wheeling Nailers
Kids Eat FREE: Fans ages 2-12 will receive a FREE meal courtesy of Donatos, Snack Healthy, and Sunny D
TONIGHT'S MATCHUP: After earning an impressive 4-1 win over Chicago on Wednesday in Cincinnati, the Cyclones are back on the road tonight as they open a weekend home-and-home series with the Wheeling Nailers at WesBano Arena. Jarrod Skalde’s team has captured five out of a possible eight points against the Nailers this season and sits just seven points back of Wheeling for fifth in a tightly contested Eastern Conference playoff race. Three of the five meetings this season have been decided by a single goal.
SCOUTING THE NAILERS: Clark Donatelli’s club has struggled of late, dropping four straight games and seven of their last ten. While they currently own the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, the Nailers only have a one point cushion over both South Carolina and the surging Florida Everblades. Rookie Chris Barton has been the consistent offensive producer for Wheeling this year, posting 56 points (26 goals, 29 assists) in 63 games which is good for third among all first-year players. Defenseman Andrew Hotham has risen to fourth among rear guards in scoring, collecting 41 points (8 goals, 33 assists) in 46 contests. His “helper” totals rank him fourth among D-men. Between the pipes, Peter Delmas has been the Nailers’ work horse during the second half; he has started in 13 of the last 14 games, amassing an 18-12-1-2 record with a 2.47 goals-against average. His GAA ranks third-best among all active ECHL goalies and is the best mark among Eastern Conference backstops.
About Wednesday Night vs. Chicago: Matt Sisca and Anthony Luciani each had three point games as the Cyclones cruised past the Express by a 4-1 final score in front of 2,528 at U.S. Bank Arena. The win gave the Cyclones sole possession of the eight seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race, passing Chicago and the idle Reading Royals.
Eastern Conference Playoff Race: The top eight teams at season’s end earn a Kelly Cup Playoff bid.
TEAM -- RECORD -- POINTS
1. Gwinnett* -- 38-18-7-4 -- 87
2. Elmira* -- 40-22-2-2 -- 84
3. Kalamazoo* -- 35-23-2-6 -- 78
4. Greenville -- 40-22-2-3 -- 85
5. Wheeling -- 35-23-4-4 -- 78
6. South Carolina -- 35-25-4-3 -- 77
7. Florida -- 36-25-2-5 -- 77
8. CYCLONES -- 31-26-2-7 -- 71
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9. Reading -- 31-28-3-4 -- 69
10. Chicago -- 29-26-7-4 -- 69
11. Toledo -- 28-32-2-4 -- 63
12. Trenton -- 21-37-3-5 -- 50
(Italicized teams have clinched a playoff berth)
No Shots for You: The Clones have been one of the stingiest teams in the league in terms of shots on goal. They are allowing the fifth-fewest average shots per game (28.50).
SEASON SERIES (6 Meetings - 2 Remaining)
Jan. 6 Cincinnati 2 at Wheeling 5 Final
Jan. 14 Wheeling 4 at Cincinnati 5 Final OT
Jan. 15 Cincinnati 3 at Wheeling 4 Final SO
Mar. 3 Wheeling 5 at Cincinnati 7 Final
Mar. 23 Cincinnati at Wheeling 7:35pm EDT
Mar. 24 Wheeling at Cincinnati 7:30pm EDT