CINCINNATI, Ohio – After completing a pair of seven-game first round series, the Elmira Jackals and defending Kelly Cup champion Cincinnati Cyclones will meet beginning Friday night in Cincinnati in the North Division finals. The winner of this series will play for the American Conference title against the winner of the Florida Everblades-South Carolina Stingrays series.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Elmira defeated the Trenton Devils in seven games, including the longest game in ECHL history in Game 1 (126:10). Cincinnati took out the Wheeling Nailers in seven games, with their game seven win being the first win by the home team in that series. Paul McIlveen led the Jackals in the Trenton series with 10 points (one goal, nine assists) while Pierre-Luc Faubert scored six goals against the Devils. Cincinnati was led by Matt Syroczynski with five goals and an assist.
Photo by Lewis Bleiman
Michael Teslak started six games in goal for Elmira, going 4-2 with a 1.83 goals against and one shutout while Loic Lacasse went 4-2 for the Cyclones with a 2.64 GAA.
REGULAR SEASON
The Jackals went 4-2-1 against Cincinnati during the 2008-09 season, winning three of five games played at Cincinnati’s US Bank Arena. Kaleb Betts had four goals for Elmira while Josh Aspenlind added five assists. Jimmy Kilpatrick had four goals and three assists for Cincinnati against the Jackals.
INTANGIBLES
While the Cyclones have the home ice advantage, they were only 1-3 against Wheeling in the North semi finals. However their 22 road wins were tops in the ECHL and they were 3-0 at Wheeling.
The Jackals officially played seven games against Trenton, time wise it was more like nine and a half games with all of the overtime played. Counting their series with the Reading Royals last season, Elmira has seen six of their 13 postseason games go into extra time.
PICK
Both teams should be somewhat rested after their long first round series. The Jackals will give the defending champs a good run but look for the Cyclones to move closer to another run to the finals.
Cincinnati in six
Contact the author at tom.hoffman@prohockeynews.com
Overall the Cyclones continue where they left off in the regular season by providing exciting hockey to their fans. The just completed series with Wheeling saw ECHL history as the road team had the advantage in six of the seven games played. Road wins in the playoffs seem to be a hallmark of Chuck Weber coached squads.
OFFENSE- Plenty of shots on goal led to good things for this group. Matt Syroczynski has five playoff goals in the first round including the series-winner in overtime. The offense was inconsistent during the first round, with seven goals one game and none two games later.
Photo by Lewis Bleiman
DEFENSE- The defense was solid in critical games all season and this was no different in the first round. Veteran T.J. McElroy is returning from assignment in the AHL and will be with the team for the opener on Friday night. SPECIAL TEAMS- This seems to be a pair of units that are deceiving on paper. Statistics say the penalty kill is dead last on the road but have killed penalties at critical junctures in most first round games. The power play came on stronger as the round progressed, adding confidence to the team when down a goal or two. COACHING- Chuck Weber and Dean Stork have shown that they have the mettle to bring a championship home. With a much different group of players the Cyclones won the division regular season crown and again play in the division finals for a third year in a row.
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Contact Tom.hoffman@prohockeynews.com
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