ECHL Cyclones February 2010 wrap up

 

CINCINNATI, Ohio – February has been the time of the season for the Cyclones to surge forward the past couple of years. At the beginning of the month, Coach Chuck Weber engineered a seven-game win streak, which turned out to be broken on the seventeenth, by the Toledo Walleye, in a 2-1 overtime loss at U.S. Bank Arena.
 
 
The home team played well for 58 minutes, but let down enough for Toledo to score the equalizer on the power play with less than two minutes to go in regulation. Then less than two minutes into overtime, Toledo slipped the game winner past Robert Mayer. Again on the Toledo power play.
 
The Cyclones earned fifteen of sixteen possible points, over eight games to take an 11 point division lead. The Toledo loss was the start to a five game home stretch that lasted until the twenty-sixth, followed by a six game road trip into March. The Cyclones needed to make this most recent home-stand count.
 
On the nineteenth, the team from Wheeling came to town, to face the Cyclones for a three game series. The home team scored first, on a goal by Jimmy Kilpatrick at the 8:24 mark. The West Virginians answered at eight minutes into the second stanza. Casey Pierro-Zabotel fired the puck over the shoulder of goalie Robert Mayer equalizing the score.
 
At 17:27 of the final period, Ryan DelMonte scored the game winning goal for the Cyclones. For assurance, they added a long range, empty net goal by Brock Sheahan to round out the scoring and the ‘Clones came out the winner at 3-1.
 
Saturday the twentieth, was “Pink in the Rink” breast cancer awareness night at the arena. Pink ice and pink themed sweaters were the sight of the night. The crowd of over 7,100 received their moneys’ worth at this tilt.
 
The scoring opened with a Nailers tally by Andrew Lord, his twelfth.   Just over ten minutes later in the first period, Mark Voakes netted the equalizer for the Cyclones. The remainder of regulation settled into a tight defensive battle on both sides of the puck. Many furious flurries in the crease for the Cyclones, but unable to put the biscuit into the basket, the game remained tied after the overtime at two apiece.
 
The Nailers scored the game winner on their last skater in the shoot-out with a goal by Billy Ryan. This was a disappointing loss for the home squad to be sure.
 
Currently remaining second in the conference standings, the Cyclones hope to avenge the loss, with a win on Wednesday night at U.S. Bank Arena when the Nailers returned for game three of this series.
 
The Cyclones Mark Voakes began the scoring at 13:56 of the opening stanza, assisted by Dustin Sproat and Brett Motherwell. Before the first could expire, Mark VanGuilder added the first of his two goals, to spot the Cyclones a two goal lead.
 
The second period saw the Cyclones give both tallies back, as Billy Ryan and Andrew Lord evened things up, going into the final period. Mark VanGuilder added the game winner at 1:20 into the third. Assists were handed out to Dustin Sproat and Jimmy Kilpatrick on the play.
 
Cyclones netminder Jeremy Smith, faced several solo rushes from various Nailers and stoned each in turn.   According to Coach Weber the Cyclones were “brain dead” during the second period. “We looked like a youth hockey team playing against men” said Weber.
 
The game ended with furious attempts by Wheeling, to gain the equalizer to no avail.
 
So far, the four home games have been split evenly, giving last Fridays’ game against the Checkers more importance, in starting another win streak before going on the road.  
 
The opening period saw several quality chances for the Cyclones to score, including a turnover to Matt Pierce. Pierce broke in alone on Charlotte goalie Ryan Munce, who made a left pad save to keep the period scoreless.
 
The Checkers enjoyed their own opportunities and success eluded the visitors as well. At least the fans received a coupon for a frosty at the local Wendy’s for the shutout by the Cyclones in the period.
 
Netminder Jeremy Smith faced only eight shots by the Checkers in the first. Early in the middle stanza Dustin Sproat was unable to convert on a breakaway for the ‘Clones. Scott Marchesi scored off of a faceoff at 10:07 of the second with an assist to Mark VanGuilder.
 
T.J.Reynolds and Hans Benson started the pugilistics shortly afterward to delight the crowd. Charlotte scored a shorthanded goal to even the tallies at one each.   Smith miraculously cleared a dangerous Checkers attempt late in the second period. The Cyclones ended the period on the penalty kill as the extracurricular activities began to get out of hand at the four second mark.
 
Mark Van Guilder was dealt a game misconduct for boarding. This gave Charlotte a brief four on four followed by a three minute plus power play to begin the third period. At 3:26 into the third Charlotte scored a power play goal and took a 2-1 lead. No further damage occurred for the remainder of the power play. The Cyclones tried mightily to return the favor and knot this at two apiece but it was not to be. The home stand ended two up and three down, now it is on the road until March eighteenth.
  Contact the writer/photographer at Rob.Huelsman@prohockeynews.com