ECHL Cincinnati Cyclones

South Carolina Captures Conference Title in 3-2 Win Over Cyclones

Published on May 15, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Cincinnati Cyclones News Release


CINCINNATI, Ohio - The South Carolina Stingrays scored a late third period goal to claim a 3-2 win over the Cincinnati Cyclones on Friday night. With the win, the Stingrays take the American Conference championship and will play Alaska in the Kelly Cup Finals starting next weekend. It si the third time that South Carolina has advanced to the championship series.

The Cyclones netted the two goals of the first period. Rookie Mark Santorelli collected his first pro playoff goal at 9:41, as Jason Woll and Mac Faulkner added the assists. The lead extended to 2-0 at 18:16, as a power play from rookie Ian McKenzie off a rebound gave the two-goal cushion. It was the first two goal lead of the series for the Cyclones-who entered the game having led just 5:11 during all of the first three games. Jimmy Kilpatrick and Mark Van Guilder had the helpers on the McKenzie goal. The shots on goal favored Cincinnati, 13-8, in the opening frame.

South Carolina returned the favor by scoring both goals in the second period. Josh Godfrey scored his first pro playoff goal at 7:49 with a blast from the point. Pierre-Luc O'Brien had the assist on the score. The Stingrays tied the game at 12:24 with a shorthanded goal from Max Lacroix-his seventh of the postseason. Travis Morin had the helper on the score. The shots on goal favored Cincinnati, 7-5, in the period.

Rookie Nikita Kashirsky grabbed a puck on the right halfwall with 2:41 to play and fired it inside the far side post for his fifth goal of the playoffs. It was an unassisted goal and provided the heroics for the win. The Cyclones pressured the South Carolina goal in the final minute but were unable to score. The shots on goal favored Cincinnati, 6-5, in the third period and for the game the Cyclones held the upper hand, 26-18.

Jonathan Boutin stopped 24 shots to pick up his eleventh win of the postseason. Ryan Nie stopped 15 shots in taking the loss.

Head Coach Chuck Weber will participate in the final Cyclones Coaches Show on Monday night at Jefferson Hall at Newport on the Levee from 7-8pm.

Tickets for the 2009-10 Cincinnati Cyclones season are now on sale. The Cyclones Sales Department can be reached at 513-421-PUCK, extension 3. For the latest news, notes and information on the team, visit: www.cycloneshockey.com . Ask about the Family Four Pack (four tickets, four hot dogs, four Pepsis, four Cyclones winter hats, four public skate passes at SportsPlus and a SportsPlus game card) for just $77!

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