CINCINNATI, OH – The Cincinnati Cyclones (36-29-4-0) earned a 5-3 win over the Toledo Walleye on Saturday night in the final home game of the 2016-17 season. Forwards Nick Huard, Justin MacDonald, Seth Ambroz, and Christiaan Minella, along with defenseman Martin Lefebvre scored the goals for the Cyclones, who are now tied for the fourth and final playoff spot in the ECHL’s South Division.
The Cyclones drew first blood in this one with just over two minutes to play on the opening period when Huard took the puck at the top of the left circle and hammered a slapshot in past Toledo goaltender Cal Heeter to put the Cyclones ahead, 1-0.
Cincinnati added to their lead with eight seconds left in the frame when defenseman Eric Knodel sent a pass to Lefebvre at the center blueline, and he blasted a shot in to give the Cyclones a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.
The Walleye were not deterred and managed to tie the game after the second, on goals from forward Carter Sandlak, and a power play marker from forward Evan Rankin.
The Cyclones came out firing in the third and regained the lead just 3:11 in when defenseman Jonatan Diaby sent a pass to MacDonald who buried it past Heeter to put Cincinnati up 3-2.
The special teams got into the mix midway through the frame when Ambroz forced a turnover at the center red line while shorthanded, and skated in to the offensive zone where he backhanded a shot over the shoulder of Heeter to push Cincinnati’s lead to 4-2.
That lead became 5-2 with less than four minutes remaining when MacDonald sent a pass to Minella at the offensive blueline, and he barreled in on goal and scored, 17:26 into the final period.
Toledo managed to tack on one more from forward Dane Walters, however it was not enough and the Cyclones held on for the 5-3 win. The Cyclones were outshot, 32-19 on the night, with goaltender Michael Houser stopping 29 in the win.
Cincinnati heads to Indy on Sunday to take on the Fuel. Face-off is slated for 3:05 p.m. ET.
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