Pre-Game: Away v. Aviators, Thursday December 23rd

Tonight the Whalers play game #22 against the New York Aviators in Brooklyn. It's a big night for the team with lots of roster moves being made early this morning. Live coverage to follow as always at 7pm.

Danbury: 22 games (10-9-2) 22 points
New York: 23 ganes (10-10-2) 22 points

• Danbury and New York both have 22 points, but Danbury has the fourth and final playoff spot on virtue of being a game in hand on New York. This is a must win game for the Whalers tonight. 
• JR Bria and Matt Nelson were both released by the Whalers this morning. No word yet on whether another team will be picking either of them up on waivers. Neither brought anything special to the team so I'm not considering them a big loss. 
• Steve McClellan was activated from IR this morning. In 5 games with the Whalers he's been pointless with a -5 rating and 5 penalty minutes. Not sure what, if anything, he'll be contributing. 
• Adam Blanchette signed with the Whalers and will be playing tonight. He has past CHL experience with Rio Grande, Tulsa, and New Mexico. 
• Peter Garrett also signed and will be playing tonight. I'll update when I find out more.
• As of the beginning of this week I heard we had signed a third player as well, but I don't want to throw the name out there and be wrong, so I'll wait until I hear something else. 
• Perhaps most stunningly, Lucas Schott is back in the lineup and ready to skate tonight, less than a week after a high stick by Ryan Pearson sent him to the hospital in need of six root canals to repair ten and a half teeth. I'm not sure if the pain still hasn't set in or if Lucas is genuinely that much of a badass, but it'll be good to have him back tonight.