ECHL Cincinnati Cyclones

Las Vegas Evens Series With 2-0 Win

Published on May 30, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Cincinnati Cyclones News Release


LAS VEGAS, Nevada - Kevin Lalande stopped 27 shots in posting his second shutout of the Kelly Cup Finals and gave Las Vegas a 2-0 win over the Cincinnati Cyclones on Friday night. Aki Seitsonen and Kelly Czuy scored the goals for the Wranglers in the triumph. The series is now even at two games apiece.

This was the fourth game of the best of seven Kelly Cup Finals. The fifth game will be held at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Monday night (June 2) at 10:05pm (ET). It is the first time in 35 years that a Cincinnati pro hockey team has competed in its league finals. The last team to compete for a championship was the 1973 Cincinnati Swords, which captured the AHL's Calder Cup in five games over Nova Scotia.

The victory assures that a sixth game in the series will be played in Cincinnati at U.S. Bank Arena on Thursday, June 5 at 7:30pm. Tickets are on sale now.

Las Vegas opened the scoring when Aki Seitsonen took a shot off the end boards at the right post and pushed it past Cedrick Desjardins for his seventh goal of the postseason. Aaron Power and Jason Josza had the assists on the score. The Wranglers held the upper hand on the shots on goal, 15-6, in the term.

The Wranglers got the only goal of the second period, when Kelly Czuy tallied his seventh goal of the postseason from Marco Peluso and Curtis Fraser, to extend the lead to 2-0. Again, Las Vegas won the shots on goal battle in the frame, 15-10.

The teams are competing for the Kelly Cup, presented annually by the ECHL to its playoff champion. This is the 20th season of operation for the ECHL and the Cyclones first trip to the Finals series. Cincinnati swept Johnstown in four games, knocked off Reading in seven games and defeated South Carolina in five games to reach this series. Las Vegas dropped Stockton in six games, Alaska in five games and swept Utah to reach the Kelly Cup Finals. It is the first-ever Finals trip for the Wranglers as well.

The series marks the first time in ECHL history that two John Brophy Trophy winners (ECHL Coach of the Year) have faced one another for the championship. Cyclones Head Coach Chuck Weber won the award this season and Glen Gulutzan of Las Vegas captured the award in 2005-06.

Tickets for all Cyclones games can be purchased at the U.S. Bank Arena box office, all Ticketmaster outlets including select Kroger stores, charge by phone at 513-562-4949 or online at ticketmaster.com. The most up-to-date information and broadcast of the games can be found on our website www.cycloneshockey.com.

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