ECHL Cincinnati Cyclones

Cyclones Do What They Have To – Win at Kalamazoo, 6-5

Published on March 31, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Cincinnati Cyclones News Release


KALAMAZOO, Michigan - The Cincinnati Cyclones claimed a 6-5 shootout win at the Kalamazoo Wings on Wednesday night. Dustin Sproat had a pair of goals, while Jimmy Kilpatrick turned in a goal and an assist and an additional score in the shootout. Barret Ehgoetz' score in the fifth round of the shootout gave the club the triumph.

In the eighth meeting between the teams at Kalamazoo, it was ironic that the game would go to overtime-as four of the eight matchups in the facility had gone to extra time.

It was the 15th, and final, regular season meeting between the teams with Cincinnati winning the series a 10-4-1 record. The Cyclones finished the year with a 4-3-1 mark at Wings Stadium. Kalamazoo is 12-1-2 at Wings Stadium since January 1-with both extra time losses coming to the Cyclones.

The victory closes the gap between these two teams for the top spot in the division and either the first or second seed in the American Conference playoffs to one point. Kalamazoo has 90 points, while the win gives the Cyclones 89. The top five seeds in the American Conference are separated by just two points-with two games remaining for all of these teams.

The Cyclones jumped out to a 3-2 lead after the first period. Cincinnati grabbed a 1-0 lead for the ECHL-leading 45th time, as Scott Reynolds netted the opening tally. His 23rd score of the season was the tenth he has scored against Kalamazoo. The score at 1:39 was assisted by Ryan Del Monte. The lead became 2-0 when Dustin Sproat collected a puck in the slot and as he drifted to the left, slipped it past Ryan Nie at 11:35. Matt Pierce and Jason Jozsa added the assists. The lead went to 3-0 when on the power play, Jozsa fired a shot from the center of the blueline through traffic for his fourth score the year. Doug Krantz and Mathieu Aubin had the assists. Dean Strong's power play goal-his 16th of the campaign--on the left wing side at 16:35 made it 3-1. Tom Morrow and Andrew Fournier had the assists. Sam Ftorek's 25th goal on a two-on-one break up the right side cut the lead to 3-2. Andrew Fournier and Trent Daavettila had the helpers. The shots favored the Wings, 12-7, in the opening term.

Kalamazoo would knot the scores up at three each when Jon Landry netted his tenth goal of the season on the power play at 3:23. Rick Cleaver and Patrick Asselin had the assists. Cincinnati would regain the lead when Jimmy Kilpatrick would fire home his 15th of the season during a five-on-three power play at 12:09, as Barret Ehgoetz and Doug Krantz had the assists. The Wings would again even the scores at four each when Strong picked up his second of the night and 15th of the year on a scramble at the top of the goal crease on the right side at 15:39. Matt Jones and Darryl Lloyd assisted. But the tie would not last long, as just 18 seconds later-at 15:57-as Kilpatrick pulled the puck out of scrum in the right corner and worked his way behind the Kalamazoo net and slipped it on the stick of Sproat who one-timed it over the shoulder of Nie to make it 5-4. The shots favored Cincinnati, 13-8.

Kalamazoo would tie the game for a third time when Cleaver would notch his 31st score at 17:18 from Mathieu Curradeau and Asselin to even things up at five and force the overtime. The shots were even also at seven each.

After a scoreless overtime, which saw Kalamazoo have a late power play chance-the game went to the shootout. The Wings would get a goal from Matt Jones in the second round, that would be equaled by Kilpatrick and after two poke checks from Cyclones goaltender Jeremy Smith-Barret Ehgoetz would provide the heroics with a goal in the fifth round to end the game. For the contest, the Cyclones and Wings were tied in shots at 29 each. Kalamazoo would go two-for-seven in the shootout, while Cincinnati was two-for-five. Jeremy Smith won his 22nd game of the season with a 24 save effort and turning away four of five shooters in the shootout. Ryan Nie would lose the contest despite 23 saves and a three-for-five effort in the bonus frame.

Cincinnati is 43-24-3, while Kalamazoo is 40-20-10. The Cyclones return home for U.S. Bank Fan Appreciation Night on Friday, April 2 versus Johnstown at 7:30pm. Hundreds of prizes worth more than $5000 will be given to fans attending the game. The regular season concludes with a clash at Wheeling on Saturday, April 3 which is now a 6:05pm faceoff.

The opening round of the Cincinnati Cyclones USA Collision Centers postseason will be during the week of April 5 and will be a best-of-five series. The format for Kelly Cup playoff games, opponents and dates will be determined as the postseason approaches. The latest information on the team and playoffs can be found at www.cycloneshockey.com. .

Tickets for the 2010-11 Cincinnati Cyclones season are now on sale. The Cyclones Sales Department can be reached at 513-421-PUCK, extension 3. Selected Friday night games are carried on 1530-AM Homer, while all 72 regular season games can be heard on the club's website at: www.cycloneshockey.com. The next game on ESPN 1530 will come Friday, April 2, when the Cyclones host Johnstown at 7:30pm

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