ECHL Western Conference Recap – Week 5

CINCINNATI CYCLONES (7-2-1-1, 16 Points)

The Cyclones find themselves atop the division after gaining five out of a possible eight points last week. Up by three goals in the middle of the third period at Wheeling on Tuesday, the Cyclones allowed five unanswered goals to fall 7-5 to the Nailers. Cincinnati then claimed a pair of home wins, both by the score of 3-1. Eric Robinson had a goal and assist and Brad Thiessen made 34 saves on Wednesday in a 3-1 win over Fort Wayne. Friday saw Joe Pendenza net two goals and add an assist as the Cyclones scored twice on the power play in the first period, en route to a win over Quad City. Cincinnati salvaged one point from a 2-1 overtime loss at Kalamazoo on Saturday. Brandon Gracel’s goal at 19:18 of the third sent the game to the extra frame where the Cyclones would give up the game winner just 31-seconds into overtime.

The week ahead: Tue. home vs. Alaska (4-8-0-2), Fri. home vs. Indy (7-3-1-0), Sat. home vs. Orlando (6-3-1-1)

INDY FUEL (7-3-1-0, 15 Points)

The Fuel was perfect on the week after sweeping a two game home series with the visiting Alaska Aces. Garett Bembridge scored twice, including the game winning goal with 10-seconds remaining, while Daniel Ciampini added a goal and assist and Shane Owen posted 35 saves to turn back the Aces 3-2 on Friday night. Saturday night’s game went to a shootout before Indy was able to secure a 3-2 win. Kyle Stroh and Cody Sharib each scored for the Fuel before Alaska tied the game in the third. Ciampini posted the only shootout goal while Mac Carruth was a perfect 4-for-4 against the Aces in the shootout.

The week ahead: Fri. at Cincinnati (7-2-1-1), Sat. home vs. Quad City (6-5-1-2), Sunday at Quad City

QUAD CITY MALLARDS (6-5-1-2, 15 Points)

The Mallards moved into a tie for second place in the division after winning two of three games last week. Matt Neal and Zach Pochiro each scored twice and added an assist, while Raphael Bussieres added two goals in a 7-4 home win over the Alaska Aces on Wednesday night. Neal contributed the only goal at Cincinnati on Friday, as the Mallards fell 3-1 to the Cyclones. Tanner Eberle scored a shorthanded goal in the second period and Bussieres added the game winner with 5:52 left in a 2-1 home win over the Fort Wayne Komets on Sunday. The Mallards outshot the Komets 36-28 in the victory.

The week ahead: Fri. home vs. Alaska (4-9-0-2), Sat. at Indy (7-3-1-0), Sun. home vs. Indy

FORT WAYNE KOMETS (6-5-0-0, 12 Points)

It was a rough week for the former division leaders, as they dropped both outings to fall to fourth place. Mike Embach netted a power play goal with 2:20 left in Wednesday’s 3-1 loss at Cincinnati. The Komets followed up with a 2-1 loss at Quad City on Sunday. Fort Wayne took an early lead when Kyle Thomas scored late in the opening period, but they went on to allow two goals over the following 40 minutes to drop the game to the Mallards. The Komets have lost three of their last five games.

The week ahead: Fri. home vs. Kalamazoo (6-7-1-0), Sat. at Toledo (5-5-0-2), Sun. home vs. Indy

EVANSVILLE ICEMEN (3-7-0-0, 6 Points)

The IceMen came out of a weekend road trip with two points out of a possible six. Tyson Fawcett and Chris Rumble scored at Kalamazoo on Friday night, but Evansville would go on to lose 4-2. Daultan Leveille scored shorthanded 3:42 into overtime and Christoffer Bengtsberg posted 31 saves for a 2-1 win at Wheeling on Saturday. The Nailers returned the favor on Sunday, handing the IceMen a 4-2 loss. Vincent Dunn and Sebastian Strandberg scored on Sunday but it would not be enough in a game that saw the Nailers outshoot the IceMen 40-23.

Ford Center Lease Issues

In other news out of Evansville this week, the IceMen are in negotiations with the city over a new lease for the team at the Ford Center. Team Owner Rob Geary said earlier this week that the team pays $650,000 per year for use of the arena, while the median cost for ECHL teams is about $152,000 per year.

“The current lease and price threaten our ability to bring our fans a premier ice hockey team and at the same time run a business,” Geary said in a press release. “Bottom line, I want a championship team here in Evansville, but we cannot continue to operate in financial loss because of an overpriced lease,” he added.

According to Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke, the city has been working on a counter-proposal that will be financially viable for both the city and the IceMen. In order for the ECHL to begin scheduling games for the 2016-17 season, the IceMen must have a lease in place by December 1. WFIE News reported that the city is prepared to offer the IceMen a five-year deal that allows the team to pay rent based on their attendance. We will continue to monitor the negotiations and report any developments to you as information becomes available.

The week ahead: Wed. home vs. Alaska (4-8-0-2), Fri. home vs. Orlando (7-3-1-1), Sat. home vs. Kalamazoo (6-7-1-0)

MISSOURI MAVERICKS (11-2-0-1, 23 Points)

The Mavericks are flying high, as they posted three wins over the week to run their current winning streak to six games. Colin Markison secured a hat trick and Tyler Barnes added two goals as the Mavericks outshot the Wichita Thunder 38-20 to take a 7-2 road win on Friday night. Kane Lafranchise had a goal and assist on Saturday and Andrew Courtney posted the only shootout goal as the Mavericks claimed a 3-2 road win over Wichita. Parker Milner made 19 saves and stopped all four Thunder shooters in the shootout. Lafranchise continued to be red hot as the Mavs returned home to host the Allen Americans on Tuesday. The defenseman netted a goal and assist while Bryce Aneloskim, Tanner Fritz and Scott Allen all added goals in a 4-1 win over the Americans. Missouri peppered Allen netminder Joel Rumpel as they outshot Allen 42-18 on the night.

The week ahead: Fri. at Tulsa (4-6-0-1), Sat. at Wichita (5-8-0-1)

ALLEN AMERICANS (10-5-0-0, 20 Points)

The Americans remain on the Mavericks’ heels, after claiming wins in four out of five games over the last week. David Makowski and Chad Costello each posted two goals last Tuesday in a 5-2 home win over the Wichita Thunder. Makowski, Casey Pierro-Zabotel and Eric Roy all scored on Friday night during Allen’s 3-2 road win at Tulsa. Roy netted the game winning goal less than one minute after Tulsa’s power play goal tied the game with less than five minutes remaining. Ian Schultz scored the lone goal on Saturday night as the Americans were slammed 8-1 by the visiting Colorado Eagles. The loss is said to be the most lopsided in team history. Allen battled back the following night to hand the Eagles a 4-3 loss. Jonathan Parker scored his fifth of the season as Vincent Arseneau’s first goal of the year was the game winner. Tristan King’s first period goal would be the only bright spot for the Americans in Tuesday’s 4-1 loss at Missouri.

The week ahead: Fri. at Wichita (5-8-0-1), Sat. home vs. Tulsa (4-6-0-1), Sun. at Tulsa

WICHITA THUNDER (5-8-0-1, 11 Points)

The Thunder opened their week with a 2-1 home win over Tulsa on Wednesday night. Peter Sakaris scored 51-seconds into the second period to tie the game, and then found the net during the shootout along with Anthony Deluca to secure the victory. Mason Baptista and Kenton Miller each scored on Friday, but it would be too little, as the Thunder dropped a 7-2 decision to the visiting Missouri Mavericks. Daulton Reum posted a goal and assist on Saturday night as the Thunder held a 2-1 lead going into the third period against Missouri on Saturday. Wichita then allowed the tying goal 2:45 into the third and went on to lose 3-2 after they failed to find the net in a shootout.

The week ahead: Fri. home vs. Allen (10-5-0-0), Sat. home vs. Missouri (11-2-0-1)

TULSA OILERS (4-6-0-1, 9 Points)

The Oilers find themselves in the middle of a slump after dropping two games this week to extend their losing streak to four games. Tulsa has scored just five goals during the course of the losing streak. Brandon Wong scored a power play goal 6:47 into the opening frame at Wichita on Wednesday night, but the Oilers went on to fall 2-1 in a four round shootout. Kyle Bochek scored twice, including a power play marker at 15:16 of the third period on Friday night at home against the Allen Americans. Unfortunately, the home crowd left the BOK Center disappointed after the Americans answered to score the game winning goal just 42-seconds later.

The week ahead: Fri. home vs. Missouri (11-2-0-1), Sat. at Allen (10-5-0-0), Sun. home vs. Allen

UTAH GRIZZLIES (8-4-1-0, 17 Points)

The Grizzlies hold a six point cushion over the second place Rapid City Rush, thanks to a week that produced two wins in three games. Charles Sarault and Ryan Walters each posted a goal and assist on Wednesday as Utah outshot Colorado 40-29 in a 4-2 home win. Walters was credited with the game winner on a power play goal at 9:14 of the third period. Utah held on for dear life on Friday night, claiming a 5-4 overtime win over the Rush after taking a 4-1 lead into the third period. Alex Krushelnyski led the way for the Grizzlies with a hat trick in the win. Rapid City answered back the following night, handing the Grizzlies a 2-0 loss in their own building.

The week ahead: Wed, Fri and Sat at Rapid City (5-5-1-0)

RAPID CITY RUSH (5-5-1-0, 11 Points)

The Rush picked up a series split and three points during a weekend road trip to Utah. Down 4-1 entering the third period on Friday, Rapid City roared back to score three goals and send the game to overtime. Michael Bunting, Zach Cohen and Dakota Mermis were credited with the goals that allowed Rapid City to salvage one point from what turned out to be a 5-4 overtime loss. Destry Straight scored a first period goal and Taylor Doherty added a late empty net goal on Saturday as Marek Langhamer turned back all 36 Utah shots for a 2-0 shutout win.

The week ahead: Wed, Fri. and Sat. home vs. Utah (8-4-1-0)

IDAHO STEELHEADS (4-7-3-0, 11 Points)

The Steelheads find themselves in the middle of a five game losing streak after dropping three games during a Florida road swing. Colton Beck scored twice and added two assists on Thursday, as Idaho scored worked to chip away on a large third period deficit at Orlando. Down 5-1, Beck potted his two goals and Zack Kamrass added a power play marker at 13:20 of the third, but it would not be enough as the Steelheads went on to lose 5-4. Rob Linsmayer’s goal at 17:25 of the third period sent Friday’s game against Florida to overtime. Unfortunately for the Steelheads, they would surrender the game winner 2:23 into the extra frame and suffer a 4-3 loss. The offense went silent on Saturday and Idaho fell 3-0 to the Everblades to close out the week.

The week ahead: Wed, Fri. and Sat. at Colorado (4-8-1-0)

ALASKA ACES (4-9-0-2, 10 Points)

The Alaska Aces had another rough week, dropping four games to extend their losing streak to eight games. Tyler Maxwell and Ben Lake each had a goal and assist on Wednesday in a 7-4 road loss at Quad City. The Aces took a 2-1 lead into the second period at Indy on Friday, before giving up two goals in a 29-second span late in the second period to lose 3-2. Maxwell scored twice on Saturday as the Aces pushed the Fuel into a shootout before falling 3-2. William Wrenn’s late third period goal on Tuesday would be Alaska’s only offense in a 3-1 loss at Cincinnati. The Aces will close out their road trip with a pair of games this week before returning to Anchorage for a six game home stand.

The week ahead: Wed. at Evansville (3-7-0-0), Fri. at Quad City (6-5-1-2)

COLORADO EAGLES (4-8-1-0, 9 Points)

The Eagles took to the road last week, claiming two points out of a possible six points. The Eagles opened their week at Utah on Wednesday. Jesse Mychan scored twice, but it would not be enough as Utah handed Colorado a 4-2 loss while outshooting the Eagles 40-29. The Eagles went on to take their frustrations out on the Allen Americans on Saturday night. Colorado got on the board first and went on to cruise to an 8-1 win. Mychan netted a hat trick and added two assists, while Joe Zarbo scored twice and added an assist and three other Eagles posted multiple points in the rout. Kyle Ostrow scored a goal and assist the following day only to see the Eagles fall 4-3 to the Americans to close out their road trip.

The week ahead: Wed, Fri. and Sat. at home vs. Idaho (4-7-3-0)