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ECHL Cincinnati Cyclones

Cyclones Closing In On Division Title

March 10, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Cincinnati Cyclones News Release


COMING UP: The Cincinnati Cyclones, who are 19-0-2 in regulation time at U.S. Bank Arena since November 28, put that record on the line with the third and fourth games of a homestand this week. Wednesday (March 12), Wheeling comes in for a 7:30pm tilt and Thursday (March 13), Trenton makes another journey to the Queen City for a 7:30pm contest. The club hits the road for games at Wheeling (Friday, March 14 at 7:30pm) and Dayton (Sunday, March 16 at 5pm).

ABOUT SATURDAY...: Eight different Cyclones players registered points, as Cincinnati rallied for a 4-3 shootout win over Reading. Thomas Beauregard, Mathieu Aubin and Olivier Latendresse netted the shootout goals, while David Desharnais, Scott Reynolds and Matt Syroczynski all scored in regulation time to lead the way. Max Daigneault stopped 26 shots and another four in the shootout for his ninth win of the campaign. It was the 21st come-from-behind win this season.

ABOUT FRIDAY NIGHT...: The Cyclones erupted for three first period goals and raced out to a 5-0 lead early in the third period before holding on for a 5-4 win over Reading. David Desharanis took over the ECHL's scoring lead (76 points) with two goals and an assist. Barret Ehgoetz and Mathieu Aubin each chipped in with two point nights.

ABOUT MONDAY NIGHT...: The Cyclones exploded for three third period goals in taking a 7-2 win at Bakersfield on Monday (March 3). Thomas Beauregard and David Desharnais each had a goal and three assists to pace the offense, while Matt Syroczynski had two goals and an assist. Max Daigneault collected the win, stopping 30 shots in the triumph.

PLAYOFFS, HERE WE COME: The win on February 22, gave Cincinnati a berth into the Kelly Cup playoffs. It is the first time in team history that the squad has secured a postseason appearance in the month of February. With a win over Reading Friday night, the Cyclones secured at least third in the North Division standings, giving Cincinnati a bye into the second round of the playoffs. Next up, is clinching second place and home ice advantage in the second round. The Cyclones have a ‘magic number' of six over Reading for that runner-up spot. Every time the Cyclones pick up a standings point--that number reduces by one. Each time the Royals lose a standings point--that number also reduces. When that number reaches zero, the Cyclones clinch second place and home ice advantage in the second round. The ‘magic number' for clinching the North Division title is nine over Elmira.

INSIDE THE ‘MAGIC NUMBERS': Mathematically, the earliest Cincinnati could clinch second place in the North Division is Thursday night (March 13)--requiring a pair of Cyclones wins AND a Reading loss in regulation at home to Elmira. Mathematically, the earliest Cincinnati could clinch the North Division title is Friday night (March 14)--requiring three Cyclones wins and Elmira losing both games at Reading and at home versus Reading. One of those two losses may occur in overtime, but not both.

THERE'S ‘MAGIC' IN THOSE NUMBERS: Expanding the ‘magic number' information...the Cyclones are currently tied with Texas for the most possible points (123 available for each) in the American Conference, which would translate into home ice in round three. Despite trailing the Wildcatters by ten points in the standings-the Cyclones have five games in hand (ten possible points). Cincinnati has a ‘magic number' of 30 to securing the spot. Should both teams win out, Cincinnati would have home ice over the Wildcatters, as it would have a greater number of wins--the first tie-breaker. The Cyclones now have a ‘magic number' of 18 over Las Vegas (which can collect the most points in the National Conference) for securing home ice-should Cincinnati advance to the Kelly Cup finals.

FEBRUARY TO REMEMBER: The Cyclones had a perfect February, winning all 13 games--to establish a club record for wins in a single month. Cincinnati outscored the opposition, 57-21, in the month. Ten of the wins occured when the opponent was held to two or fewer goals. Eight of the wins were come-from-behind efforts, establishing a team record for most rallies in a month.

FEBRUARY HARDWARE: The Cyclones took several ECHL honors for Player of the Month honors in February, which were announced last week. For the second time this season, David Desharnais was named CCM Vector ECHL Rookie of the Month, after collecting three goals and 18 assists for a 21 point month. Cedrick Desjardins was named RBC Financial Group ECHL Saver of the Month, by turning in a perfect 5-0 mark with a 1.40 goals against average, a shutout and a .957 save percentage. Chad Starling picked up the PaysourceUSA ECHL Plus Performer of the Month, registering a league-best +16 for February. To cap off the month, on February 26--Mathieu Aubin was named ECHL In Glas Co Player of the Week, following his eight point week (5-3-8, from February 16-22).

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK: At the ECHL trade deadline on Wednesday, the Cyclones made a pair of moves to solidify the lineup for the upcoming Kelly Cup playoffs. Goaltender Cody Rudkowsky was acquired from Phoenix, in exchange for defenseman Gerard Miller. Defenseman Jeremy Swanson was added from Columbia, which had acquired him earlier in the day. In exchange, Cincinnati sent forward Travis Fuller to Columbia (and was subsequently dealt to Augusta) and A.J. Bozoian. Rudkowsky was in uniform over the weekend and Swanson was placed on the injured reserve list.

THEY ARE CATCHING ON: The Cyclones drew 5178 for the February 23 game against Elmira, the fifth time this season that the club has exceeded 5000 in attendance for a game-four of these have happened since the start of the new calendar year. U.S. Bank Arena has had an average of 2331 check out the Cyclones through 30 home dates, an increase of 38.3 percent in attendance through an equal number of dates from a year ago. The last time the Cyclones had six or more crowds of 5000 in a season was back during 2002-03, when the club had it happen eight times. In the 14 games at U.S. Bank Arena since January 1, the Cyclones are averaging 2905 fans per contest.

DESHARNAIS SHINES: Cyclones rookie forward David Desharnais has enjoyed his first pro season. After signing with the Cyclones prior to the season, Desharnais was invited to Hamilton's training camp. He was later signed by the Bulldogs and re-assigned to Cincinnati. David presently leads the ECHL in scoring with 78 (20-58-78). He represented Cincinnati at the 2008 Rbk ECHL All-Star Game and had an assist in the contest. Since Dec. 31, Desharnais has a 26-game point scoring streak, netting 43 points during that span (9-35-44). David had an ECHL record twenty-game assist streak snapped on March 1 (3-28-31). Desharnais' 26-game point streak is the longest in the ECHL this season and the fourth-longest in ECHL history. David has established the Cyclones team record with 58 assists on the season. On Wednesday (March 5), he was selected as the ECHL's Rookie of the Month for the second time this season.

SYROCZYNSKI SETS CLUB RECORD: Forward Matt Syroczynski netted Cincinnati's fifth goal in the win over Reading Friday night--his ninth game-winning goal of the season. That breaks the club record for game-winners in a season held by Sheldon Gorski who established the record during the 1997-98 season in Louisville.

NINETEEN, TWENTY, TWENTY-ONE...: The Cyclones are riding a club record 21-game home unbeaten in regulation string (19-0-2). The run surpasses the then-record eleven game stretch, set last year from Nov. 18 through Jan. 6 with a 9-0-2 mark. Cincinnati has not lost a game in regulation time at U.S. Bank Arena since Nov. 24, when Dayton beat the Cyclones, 4-2. The team is 24-3-3 (.850) at home.

THAT MAKES LITTLE SENSE: The Cyclones are 27-8-1 when scoring the first goal of a game. They have an even more impressive 18-1-2 mark when they ALLOW the first goal of a game. Trailing a game, 2-0, Cincinnati is 5-1-0 in those situations as well. The club has not trailed 3-0 in a game this season. March 1, in Stockton, was the first time this season (54 games) that the club gave up the first goal of a game and trailed 2-0 and lost a game.

THIRTY-SIX OVER!: With the win Saturday night, the Cyclones are 36 games above .500 for the first time in team history. Prior to this season, the last time a Cincinnati pro hockey team was 30 games above break even was March 3, 1996 when the IHL Cyclones were 42-12-9 (.738). No professional hockey team called the Cincinnati Cyclones has EVER been 36 games above the break even mark. The last time any Cincinnati pro sports team was more than 33 games above .500 was October 3, 1976 after the Cincinnati Reds finished their regular season at 102-60-42 games above the mark.

WE ARE QUITE OFFENSIVE: The Cyclones have scored ECHL-high 236 goals. Cincinnati is averaging 4.14 goals per game, the most in the ECHL. The club has also posted five games in which it has netted eight goals-which sets a team-record for most games with eight or more goals in a season. Cincinnati was the first team in the league to reach the 100 goal and 200 goal plateaus this season, reaching the double century mark February 22. The squad is on pace to net 298 goals.

GUNNING FOR 46 WINS!: The Cyclones picked up their 45th win of the season Saturday night versus Reading-setting a club record for earliest, and fastest, to the plateau. Previously, the 1995-96 Louisville squad had 39 wins on March 23 to establish both records. The club record for wins was 39 set by the 1995-96 Louisville squad. Including the postseason in 2006-07, Cincinnati won 43 games. The 45 wins are the seventh-most ever by a professional hockey team in Cincinnati. The 1972-73 Cincinnati Swords (AHL) won 54 games, while the 1995-96 IHL Cyclones posted 51. The 1956-57 Cincinnati Mohawks (IHL) collected 50 wins, as the only teams to reach the half century mark in triumphs.

CYCLONES AND MEIJER: The Cyclones will team up with Meijer stores this season for a series of appearances. Cyclones players will stop by selected Meijer stores to meet fans, sign autographs, cook up John Morrell snacks and unveil a special Cyclones clothing line that will be available ONLY at Meijer locations. The final stop will be Monday, March 10 from 4-6pm at the Fields Ertel location.

CYCLONES COACHES SHOW: The Cyclones Coaches Show airs every Monday from Jefferson Hall at Newport on the Levee from 7-8pm. The show, features Head Coach Chuck Weber and defenseman Chad Starling will be on hand tonight.

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