WICHITA, Kan. – The Cincinnati Cyclones (13-8-2-2) picked up a 6-1 win over the Wichita Thunder on Sunday evening. Forwards Zach Budish and Branden Gracel each had a pair of goals, while forwards Christiaan Minella and Joe Wilson each added lone tallies for the Cyclones, who snap their two-game losing streak.
The Cyclones wasted little time jumping on the Thunder, as 13:24 into the opening frame, forward Andrew Yogan kept a play alive in the Cyclones’ offensive end, and sent a pass from the left wing wall out to Budish who launched a wrister past Thunder netminder David Shantz, putting Cincinnati up, 1-0.
Budish was not finished, as roughly three minute later Shantz came out to challenge Yogan on a shot, and he toe-dragged the puck around him and sent a cross-ice feed to Budish who buried his second goal of the period, extending Cincinnati’s lead to 2-0 after 20 minutes.
After Wichita cut the Cyclones’ lead to 2-1 on a goal from Andy Huff, Cincinnati’s offense went back to work late in the second period, when forward Peter Quenneville sent a pass from the right circle to Minella who was all alone in the slot, and he fired it off the crossbar and in, pushing the Cyclones’ lead to 3-1.
Just 23 seconds later, that lead became 4-1 when Gracel sent a rocket from the bottom of the left circle past Shantz, giving the Cyclones a three-goal lead after two periods.
Cincinnati’s offense continued to produce in the third, when defenseman Mike Ratchuk sent a pass to Gracel who hammered a shot past Shantz while on a 5-on-3 power play, pushing the Cyclones’ lead to four goals, 5-1, 3:42 into the frame.
The Cyclones wrapped up the big win late in the third, when Wilson deposited his sixth of the season at the 17:14 mark, sealing Cincinnati’s 6-1 win.
Neil Conway was stellar in net, stopping 15 of the 16 shots he faced to collect his first win as a Cyclone. The Cyclones outshot the Thunder, 35-16, while the power play converted on one-of-five chances. Cincinnati next takes the ice next Saturday night in Evansville. Faceoff is slated for 8:15pm EST.
With Cincinnati Cyclones team release
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