ECHL Cincinnati Cyclones

Cyclones Finish Strong In 4-2 Win

Published on March 5, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Cincinnati Cyclones News Release


CHARLESTON, South Carolina - The Cincinnati Cyclones used a three goal third period to claim a 4-2 win at South Carolina on Friday night. Jimmy Kilpatrick paced the offense with a goal and two assists, as Robert Mayer stopped 20 shots in the victory. The win keeps the Cyclones in first place in the North Division, just two points behind South Carolina for the American Conference lead.

The contest was the first time in regular season play that Cincinnati won at South Carolina and the first time in five tries (1-3-1) all-time that the club had won at the North Charleston Coliseum in regular season play. It was the 18th different road building that Cyclones coach Chuck Weber has claimed in a victory in during the regular season.

There was no scoring in the first period, with South Carolina controlling most of the play. The Stingrays outshot the Cyclones, 9-2, in the period- aided by three power play opportunities to Cincinnati's one.

The Cyclones opened the scoring with their ECHL-leading 38th first goal of the season. Jimmy Kilpatrick netted his eleventh goal of the season with a shot from the high slot area after Scott Reynolds forced a turnover. The goal came at 6:27. A major boarding penalty to Cincinnati's Ian McKenzie led to five minute power play and the Stingrays would ultimately get a goal from Trevor Bruess, his eighth of the season, from Rob Ricci and Jason Fredricks. The game would be tied at one each at the intermission. The shots favored Cincinnati, 15-9, despite South Carolina having four minutes of power play time- including 54 seconds of a two-man advantage.

For the 15th time this season, the Cyclones exploded for three third period goals to take the 4-2 victory. Former Stingray Maxime Lacroix snapped his 14th goal from the bottom of the left circle at 3:20, as Kilpatrick and Dustin Sproat put Cincinnati ahead at 2-1. Two minutes later, at 5:23, defenseman Brian O'Hanley slapped home his sixth goal of the season with a shot from the blueline. Patrik Prokop collected his first professional point on one assist, as Kilpatrick added the other on the eventual game winner. South Carolina cut the deficit to one when Jay Cascalenda snapped a shot from the top of the left circle past Robert Mayer at 7:51- his first goal of the season. Dain Prewitt and Spencer Carbery had the assists. The Cyclones would respond less than a minute later when Brett Robinson slipped a puck past Todd Ford for his twelfth goal of the campaign. Ryan Del Monte assisted on the lamplighter. The shots again Favored Cincinnati in the final period, 8-4. For the game the Cyclones won the shots battle, 25-22.

Cincinnati was zero for two on the power play, while South Caroline ended one for six. The winning goaltender was Robert Mayer. Mayer collected his 18th win by turning away 20 shots. South Carolina got a 21 save effort from Todd Ford, making a bid for his 100th ECHL win. The teams meet again in South Carolina on Sunday at 4pm (www.cycloneshockey.com will have the game).

Cincinnati is 38-19-3, while South Carolina is 35-16-11 The contest was the third game of a six game road trip and the second game of a four game southern swing. The Cyclones will return to U.S. Bank Arena on Thursday, March 18 for a 7:30pm showdown against the Johnstown Chiefs.

Cincinnati leads the North Division with 79 points. Kalamazoo is second with 73, while Toledo is third at 64 and Wheeling rounds out the division with 59 points. The Cyclones have led the North Division for 59 days this season and for 320 days over the past three-plus seasons. Cincinnati's 'magic number' to clinching a playoff berth is now at ten.

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. 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, March 19, when the Cyclones travel to Toledo at 7pm.




ECHL Stories from March 5, 2010


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