Storm Shot Down in Shootout
January 5, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Toledo Walleye News Release
(Toledo, Ohio The Toledo Storm of the East Coast Hockey League failed to win for only the third time in 18 games (15-1-2) at the Toledo Sports Arena this season, dropping a shootout to the Cincinnati Cyclones, 4-3.
The Storm struck first when Matt Ellis jammed a loose puck into the net 1:48 into the contest; but for the second night in a row, Toledo was unable to pull out the win after getting on the board first.
The Storm is now 19-1-2 when scoring the game's first goal. Cincinnati picked up a couple of goals before the end of the first to take a 2-1 lead to the locker room.
The Cyclones' first goal came when Matt Noga chipped one in from point blank range at the 8:14 mark of the first; and then Joe Cardarelli banged in a loose puck after a power play flurry at 12:11 to give Cincinnati the 2-1 lead.
As with the first period, in the second, Toledo had numerous quality scoring chances; but Cyclone goaltender, Mark Kielkucki was nothing short of spectacular. The Storm finally solved Kielkucki at the 7:04 mark of the second, when Grady Moore threw a seemingly harmless wrist shot at the net from the right wing point that somehow snuck through to tie things at two.
In the third, Cardarelli finished on another rebound just after the conclusion of another power play to give the Cyclones a 3-2 lead 11:15 into the period; but Wes Mason answered for Toledo, as he corralled a loose puck in the high slot and ripped a low snap shot that beat Kielkucki low glove side with just five minutes remaining in the game.
The Storm continued to swarm in the overtime, but was unable to convert, despite a wide-open empty net opportunity from in tight for Jeff Johnstone that hit either the pipe or Kielkucki somehow stayed out.
In the shootout, the Cyclones outscored the Storm 3-2 to take the two points, while the Storm picked up a point to extend their Northwest Divisional lead (23-7-3=49) to five points over the Peoria Rivermen (and seven points over Cincinnati).
ECHL Stories from January 5, 2003
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- All Along the Coast - ECHL
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- Gulls win 12th straight with 4-2 win - San Diego Gulls
- Steelheads Rumble over Falcons - Idaho Steelheads
- Grizzlies Take Care of Moose, 6-2 - Utah Grizzlies
- Storm Shot Down in Shootout - Toledo Walleye
- Countdown to Face-off 1/5/03 - Kalamazoo Wings
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