
Downing Paces Cyclones to Victory
February 20, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Cincinnati Cyclones News Release
Moline, IL- The Cincinnati Cyclones (26-20-2-3) picked up a 5-3 win over the Quad City Mallards on Saturday night. Forward Jack Downing recorded a pair of goals, while forwards Joe Pendenza, Zach Budish, and Tommy Mele scored lone tallies for the Cyclones.
Cincinnati wasted little time finding the back of the net, as just 3:47 into the opening frame, Budish sent a pass to Downing in the slot, and he rifled a shot past Mallards netminder Brody Hoffman, putting the Cyclones ahead, 1-0.
Downing struck again a couple of minutes later while on the power play, when he blasted home a one-time pass from Pendenza, extending Cincinnati's lead to 2-0. For Downing, the goal marked his 100th of his pro hockey career.
After the Mallards cut the Cyclones' lead to 2-1 on a goal from forward Matt Carey midway through the frame, Cincinnati responded and extended their lead back to two goals, when forward Peter Quenneville sent a pass from below the goal line to Pendenza in the slot, and he wristed it past Hoffman, giving the Cyclones a 3-1 lead.
That lead held up throughout the remainder of the first, and in the second, the Mallards turned up the offensive pressure, outshooting Cincinnati, 13-4, in the frame. Cyclones netminder Andy Iles came up with some big saves in the period, preserving the Cyclones' 3-1 lead through 40 minutes.
The Mallards chipped away at Cincinnati's lead 7:36 into the third, getting a goal from forward Jared Knight to cut the Cyclones' lead to 3-2.
Cincinnati responded roughly four minutes while on the power play, when a point shot from defenseman Garrett Noonan was tipped into the net by Budish, putting the Cyclones back up by two, 4-2.
The Mallards continued to battle back, pulling back to within a goal late in the period, when forward Kyle Follmer scored on the power play to trim the Cyclones' lead to 4-3.
With less than a minute left, Mele sealed the game when a defensive zone faceoff was won back by forward Nick Huard, and Mele fired it down the ice and into the open net, finalizing Cincinnati's 5-3 win.
The Cyclones were outshot, 29-26 on the night, with Iles stopping 26 to collect the win. Cincinnati's power play was a deciding factor in the game, converting on two-of-three chances.
The Cyclones begin a four-game homestand on Tuesday night against the Evansville IceMen. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:35pm ET.
The 2015-2016 season is underway! Your Cyclones are on the march towards another Kelly Cup Championship, and want you along for the ride! Be sure to check out one of our 2015-16 Ticket Packages, available NOW! Call 513.421.PUCK to reserve your seats. Fans can also get the latest team updates on Facebook, Twitter (@CincyCyclones), Instagram, and our website, http://www.cycloneshockey.com www.cycloneshockey.com!
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from February 20, 2016
- Oilers Own Overtime, a 5-4 Win over Americans - Tulsa Oilers
- Royals Hold on in Thriller in Manchester, 4-3 - Reading Royals
- Ginn Shuts out Grizzlies in 2-0 Gladiators' Win - Atlanta Gladiators
- Missouri Defeats Evansville in First of Two-Game Weekend Match-up - Kansas City Mavericks
- Wichita ties it late, wins in OT - Idaho Steelheads
- Solar Bears Get Point But Fall to Indy in Shootout, 3-2 - Orlando Solar Bears
- Downing Paces Cyclones to Victory - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Thunder Reaches Milestone in Dramatic Comeback OT Win - Wichita Thunder
- Fuel End Road Trip with Shootout Win in Orlando - Indy Fuel
- Nailers Top Beast in OT After Wild Back-And-Forth Affair - Brampton Beast
- IceMen Drop Third Overtime Heartbreaker to Mavs - Evansville IceMen
- Monarchs Can't Complete Comeback, Fall to Reading, 4-3 - Manchester Monarchs
- Americans Fall in Overtime 5-4 - Allen Americans
- Jackals Fire 50 Shots on Goal But Fall to Fielding, Thunder, 3-1 - Elmira Jackals
- Cyclones Hold off Mallards 5-3 - Quad City Mallards
- Swamp Rabbits Fall in Overtime Despite Rashid's Two Goals - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Cameron's Overtime Heroics Leads Rays to 4-3 Win at Greenville - South Carolina Stingrays
- Eagles Surrender Three Goals in Second Period in 6-3 Loss to Wings - Colorado Eagles
- K-Wings Explode for Six Goals, Cap off Weekend Sweep of Eagles - Kalamazoo Wings
- Nailers Win Wild One to Finish 5-1-0 Road Trip - Wheeling Nailers
- 'Blades Let One Slip Away as Norfolk Rallies for Shootout Win - Florida Everblades
- Late Third Period Goal Lifts Walleye to a 4-3 Win over Fort Wayne - Toledo Walleye
- Walleye Set Sellout Record - Toledo Walleye
- Rush Visit Peewees - Rapid City Rush
- Gameday: Adirondack at Elmira - Adirondack Thunder
- Schwartz Returned to Solar Bears, Martin Reassigned by Marlies - Orlando Solar Bears
- ECHL Transactions - February 20 - ECHL
- Game Notes: vs Quad City - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Oilers Host Americans Tonight: Game Preview - Tulsa Oilers
- Gelinas Recalled by Iowa - Quad City Mallards
- Jackals and Thunder Finish Weekend Set with Saturday Showdown - Elmira Jackals
- Game Day Preview: Allen at Tulsa - Allen Americans
- Nailers at Beast Game Day Snap Shot - Wheeling Nailers
- Game Preview: South Carolina at Greenville, 7:00 p.m. - South Carolina Stingrays
- Monarchs Game Day Capsule - Manchester Monarchs
- Mallards Game Day - Quad City Mallards
- Defenseman Tyler Lewington Reassigned to South Carolina - South Carolina Stingrays
- Monarchs Assigned Scott Sabourin and Zach Leslie by Ontario - Manchester Monarchs
- ECHL Today - February 20 - ECHL
- Americans Lose a Tight Game to Missouri 4-2 - Allen Americans
- Oilers Melt IceMen 5-2 - Tulsa Oilers
- Mavericks Win 4-2 vs Visiting Allen Americans - Kansas City Mavericks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Cincinnati Cyclones Stories
- Cincinnati Cyclones Announce Coaching Change
- Cyclones Close Out The Season With 5-2 Over The Heartlanders
- Cyclones Fall to Heartlanders 4-3 in Overtime
- Cyclones Score Four Unanswered to Defeat the Heartlanders 4-2
- Defenseman Chas Sharpe Named to 2024-25 ECHL All-Rookie Team

