WHEELING, WVa – The visiting Cyclones began game four intent on evening this series and thus forcing a game six to be played in Cincinnati. Having broken out for seven goals in game three the Cyclones seem to have solved Nailers net minder Curtis Darling. The scoring began in unusual fashion for this series with the Cyclones capitalizing on a five-on-three power play. Jimmy Kilpatrick passed to Barrett Ehgoetz who then slid the puck to Matt Syroczynski in front of the net. Syroczynski slammed it into the net past Darling at 4:25 of the first. The ‘Clones doubled their lead just one minute and 13 seconds later on a second power play goal, again by Syroczynski and company.At 5:38 into this game It was a hole the Nailers never climbed out. Each game of the series has so far been “away ice “advantage ,with the visitor garnering the victory and the trend would continue. The Nailers went 0-3 on the power play against the leagues worst PK unit on the road this season. Meanwhile the visitors were 2-2 on the power play in the first.
The second period saw the Nailers Tommy Goebel grab a rebound off of a great save by Cyclones goalie Loic Lacasse, then deposited the puck behind Lacasse. This goal halved the Nailers deficit. Things looked better for the homies and their fans when Wheeling killed off a four minute double minor to Mitch Ganzak. At 16:19 Wheeling went on the power play but Cyclones PK unit had other intentions. Bryan O’Hanley stole the puck, passed to Dustin Sproat on the breakaway and Sproat hammered the puck past Darling to give the Cyclones a short-handed goal and a two-goal lead. The Cyclones held the lead for the remainder of the second stanza to the dejection of the home crowd.
Cincinnati took advantage of a defensive lapse by the Nailers to increase their lead to three early in the period. Kilpatrick took a pass near the net and stuffed it home under Darling for the game-winning goal. The West Virginians made it close by scoring twice in the third, the last at 19:32, a short-handed goal by Aaron Clarke. This series is now a best two out of three with Fridays’ game five scheduled to be played in Wheeling
Contact rob.huelsman@prohockeynews.com.
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