ECHL Cincinnati Cyclones

Lacasse Collects 34 Saves In 5-0 Win For Cyclones!

February 25, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Cincinnati Cyclones News Release


CINCINNATI, Ohio - Cincinnati Cyclones goaltender Loic Lacasse stopped all 34 shots he faced in leading the club to a 5-0 shutout of the Reading Royals on Wednesday night. Five different goal scorers paced the attack for Cincinnati, which won for the ninth time in the last eleven games at U.S. Bank Arena. The triumph also gave the Cyclones sole possession of first place in the North Division.

The shutout was the first posted by a Cyclones goaltender since March 12 of last season when Cody Rudkowsky stopped all 22 shots he faced in a 6-0 blanking of Wheeling.

The Cyclones opened a 2-0 first period lead, as rookie Mark Van Guilder collected his 20th goal of the season at 4:38 on the power play. Ben Gordon handed out the assist on that tally. Rookie defenseman Mark Van Vliet fired a shot from the right faceoff dot past Michael Ouzas-just inside the far post-at 8:01. It was Van Vliet's first ECHL goal and it was assisted by Ben McLeod and Chris Ferazzoli. Reading led the shots battle in the first frame, 15-8.

The Cyclones extended the lead to 3-0 when Tom Sawatske rifled home his second goal of the year at 3:29. Sawatske took a rebound of the goalpost on the right wing side and sent it past the sprawled Ouzas. Matt Syroczynski rang the shot off the goalpost for the first assist and Gordon had the second.assist. The shots again favored the Royals, 10-7.

The Cyclones closed out the scoring with a Dustin Sproat shorthanded empty net goal at 16:43. The unassisted score was his eighth of the season. Matt Syroczynski's 15th goal of the campaign came on the power play at 18:26 from Ian McKenzie and Barret Ehgoetz. Cincinnati won the shots battle, 14-9, but Reading claimed the game honors at 34-29.

Loic Lacasse improved his record to 5-3-1 by stopping all 34 shots. Michael Ouzas dropped to 16-16-1 by stopping 28 shots in the defeat.

Cincinnati was two-for-seven on the power play, while Reading was zero-for-seven with the man-advantage.

Cyclones captain Barret Rhgoetz returned to the lineup for the first time since suffering a lower body injury against Reading back on February 3. Through the 22 days between the date of the injury and tonight's contest, Ehgoetz underwent a surgical procedure and missed only nine games. Forward Brandon Scero returned to the lineup as well after missing the previous four games due to injury.

The Cyclones are now 31-20-5 on the season, while Reading is 18-34-4. The Cyclones play host to Elmira on Friday and Saturday night, the final regular season meetings between the teams. These are also the final weekend games for the Cyclones until Fan Appreciation Weekend (April 3-4). Tickets are just ten dollars each. Friday is one dollar pizza slices and the team will wear Nashville Predators jerseys that will be auctioned off after the game. Proceeds of the auction will benefit A Kid Again. Saturday is one dollar pulled pork sandwiches and is Go Green Night.

Tickets for the 2008-09 Cincinnati Cyclones season are now on sale. The Cyclones Sales Department can be reached at 513-421-PUCK, extension 3. For the latest news, notes and information on the team, visit: www.cycloneshockey.com . Ask about the Family Four Pack (four tickets, four hot dogs, four Pepsis, four Cyclones winter hats, four public skate passes at SportsPlus and a SportsPlus game card) for just $69!

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ECHL Stories from February 25, 2009


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