ECHL Cincinnati Cyclones

Cyclones Game Preview - Cincinnati Vs. Chicago

March 21, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Cincinnati Cyclones News Release


CINCINNATI CYCLONES (30-26-2-7)

vs.

CHICAGO EXPRESS (29-25-7-4)

DATE: Wednesday, March 21, 2012

TIME: 7:30pm ET

SITE: U.S. Bank Arena - Cincinnati, OH

RADIO: None

WEBCAST: CyclonesHockey.com (America One)

NHL AFFILIATES

Cincinnati Cyclones: Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators

Chicago Express: Columbus Blue Jackets

NEXT HOME GAME (After Tonight)

Saturday, March 24 - 7:30pm vs. Wheeling Nailers

Kids Eat FREE: Fans ages 2-12 will receive a FREE meal courtesy of Donatos, Snack Healthy, and Sunny D

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP: Tonight, the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference race is on the line as the Cyclones are back home to host the Chicago Express. Cincinnati currently finds itself in a three-way tie for eighth with Chicago and the Reading Royals. And as the Clones play four of their final seven games at 100 Broadway, each point will be crucial and home ice advantage is as important as ever. This season against their Windy City rivals, the Cyclones have collected a 6-4-3 record.

TONIGHT'S PROMOTION: Wet Wednesday/Pucks N Pinot/Singles Night - Fans ages 21+ can enjoy $1 PBR and Miller High Life. Plus, a pre-game Pucks N Pinot Wine Tasting will be available for purchase. Plus, it will be the first-ever singles mixer at U.S. Bank Arena!

SCOUTING THE EXPRESS: Steve Martinson's club has remained in the thick of the playoff race despite winning just four games out of their last ten. With Tyler Donati on the 21-Day IR, Pierre-Luc Faubert has emerged as the offensive leader for Chicago; in 65 games this season, he has amassed 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) - eight of them coming against Cincinnati. Maxime Gratchev has also been a scoring threat for the Express, posting 37 tallies in 41 contests. Chicago has been somewhat of a goaltending carousel this season, with six different backstops tending the pipes. Of late, the go-to guy has been University of Vermont product Rob Madore. In five ECHL appearances this year, he has earned a 3-2-0 record and a 2.21 goals against average.

About Sunday Afternoon in Greenville: On the strength of a Brandon Wong hat trick and 46 saves from Jason Missiaen, the Road Warriors defeated the Cyclones by a 5-1 final score in front of 2,545 at the BI-LO Center.

Eastern Conference Playoff Race: The top eight teams at season's end earn a Kelly Cup Playoff bid.

TEAM -- RECORD -- POINTS

1. Gwinnett* -- 38-18-7-4 -- 87

2. Elmira* -- 40-22-2-2 -- 84

3. Kalamazoo* -- 35-23-2-6 -- 78

4. Greenville -- 40-22-2-3 -- 85

5. Wheeling -- 35-23-4-4 -- 78

6. South Carolina -- 35-24-4-3 -- 77

7. Florida -- 35-25-2-5 -- 75

8. CYCLONES -- 30-26-2-7 -- 69

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9. Reading -- 31-28-3-4 -- 69

10. Chicago -- 29-25-7-4 -- 69

11. Toledo -- 28-32-2-4 -- 63

12. Trenton -- 21-37-3-5 -- 50

(Italicized teams have clinched a playoff berth)

Keeping Things Close: Throughout the season, Cincinnati has played in more than their fair share of close contests. In fact, 35 of their games have been decided by a single goal - the second most such games of any team in the ECHL. This season they are 16-10-2-7 in one-goal decisions.

SEASON SERIES (16 Meetings - 3 Remaining)

Nov. 4 Cincinnati 3 at Chicago 4 Final SO

Nov. 5 Chicago 2 at Cincinnati 3 Final SO

Nov. 11 Cincinnati 3 at Chicago 5 Final

Nov. 19 Cincinnati 1 at Chicago 2 Final

Dec. 17 Chicago 0 at Cincinnati 3 Final

Dec. 22 Chicago 3 at Cincinnati 4 Final

Jan. 20 Chicago 4 at Cincinnati 3 Final

Jan. 21 Chicago 1 at Cincinnati 4 Final

Jan. 25 Cincinnati 3 at Chicago 2 Final OT

Jan. 28 Cincinnati 0 at Chicago 3 Final

Jan. 29 Cincinnati 2 at Chicago 3 Final SO

Feb. 18 Cincinnati 7 at Chicago 3 Final

Mar. 1 Chicago 2 at Cincinnati 4 Final

Mar. 21 Chicago at Cincinnati 7:35 pm EDT

Mar. 28 Cincinnati at Chicago 7:00 pm CDT

Mar. 31 Chicago at Cincinnati 7:35 pm EDT




ECHL Stories from March 21, 2012


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