ECHL Playoff Preview – Cincinnati Cyclones

CINCINNATI, OHIO – The Cyclones enter the 2011 Kelly Cup Playoffs as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. The club has had an up and down season in defense of their 2010 Kelly Cup title, but have managed to regain a spot the playoffs once again.  
 
OFFENSE- The offense has been spectacular one game and absent the next of late. Forwards Mathieu Aubin, Dustin Sproat, and Casey Pierro-Zabotel have provided the punch, along with newcomer, Cory Conacher and Captain Barret Ehgoetz. Overall, the offense has been average throughout the season, but unable to overcome deficits when the team falls behind. When the Cyclones score first, the squad holds a commanding edge over the opposition.  
   
DEFENSE- The blue line corps is anchored by veterans Brock Sheahan, Brian O’Hanley and Kevin Roeder. The younger members of the group have had a bit of a learning curve this season, but overall have done a decent job in the defensive zone. Carl Hudson, Scott Lehman, Garrett Suter and Phil Youngclaus have been solid in most games this spring.  
GOALTENDING- Netminders Brian Foster and Chet Pickard have backstopped the ‘Clones well this season. There have been a few hiccups along the way to be sure, but that is to be expected with rookies. The tandem does a good job most nights keeping the Cyclones in the game, giving the team the chance to secure a victory.     
 
SPECIAL TEAMS- The power play has been anemic this season. The unit spends a great deal of time passing the puck and playing dump and chase rather than putting pucks on net. The inability of the unit to get any traction has been a sore spot with the fans.   The penalty kill unit has been somewhat porous at intervals and solid as a wall in other games. Overall performance by the special teams has been spotty at times but spectacular at others.  
 
COACHING- Coaches Skalde and Fankhouser have inherited a winning tradition and not the affiliation that brought it to fruition. This has resulted in a bit of a rough go in their first season at the helm. Untimely injuries and call-ups have played havoc on the line up at intervals. Generally used to success, this pair has had to get used to up and down performances this season by the squad.  
 
INTANGIBLES-The rivalry with Reading has heated up over the past couple of seasons and become quite unpredictable. Given their seeding, this would seem like an intense series in Readings favor, but the Cyclones have shown an uncanny ability to win on the road this season. Overall, this will be a tough series for both squads.  
 
Contact the author/Photographer at Rob.Huelsman@prohockeynews.com