ECHL Western Conference Recap – Week 6

CINCINNATI CYCLONES (9-3-1-1, 20 Points)

The Cyclones remain in the top spot in their division, following two wins in three home games. Nick Huard netted a goal and assist on Tuesday, as Cincinnati built a 3-0 lead late in their game against Alaska. Brad Thiessen made 30 saves, picking up his seventh win of the season, as the Cyclones prevailed 3-1. Friday saw the Cyclones drop a 2-1 decision to the Indy Fuel for their first home loss in regulation this season. Joe Wilson’s first period goal gave Cincinnati a 1-0 lead for 20 minutes before Indy answered with two unanswered goals in 12 minutes for the win. It took a five round shootout against Orlando on Saturday, but the Cyclones escaped with a 4-3 win. leading 2-1 entering the third period, Cincinnati allowed two Solar Bears goals before they tied the game with four minutes remaining. Three out of five shooters scored for the Cyclones and Brandon Whitney stopped three Orlando shooters for the victory.

The week ahead: Wed. home vs. Fort Wayne (7-7-0-0), Thur. at Fort Wayne, Sat. at Quad City (8-6-1-2).

INDY FUEL (9-4-1-0, 19 Points)

The Fuel stayed on pace with the Cyclones, and find themselves just one point out of first place following two wins in three games. Sam Jardine scored a second period goal and Ben Marshall added the third period game winner after the Fuel trailed 1-0 in the first intermission at Cincinnati on Friday. Shane Owen made 27 saves for his fifth win as the Fuel went on to claim a 2-1 win. Peter Schneider had a goal and assist as the Fuel broke a 1-1 tie late in the second and added a third period goal to pull away for a 3-2 home win over Quad City on Saturday. Mac Carruth turned away 30 shots in the win. Cody Sharib scored first for Indy at Quad City on Sunday before the Mallards reeled off two goals to end Indy’s five game winning streak 4-2.

The week ahead: Wed. at Wichita (5-10-0-1), Fri. and Sat. at Missouri (13-2-0-1), Sun. at Quad City (8-6-1-2).

QUAD CITY MALLARDS (8-6-1-2, 19 Points)

Not to be outdone, the Mallards picked up a pair of wins in three games to pull even with Indy for second place. Mike Monfredo scored a goal and added an assist during a home contest against Alaska on Friday. Down 2-1, Quad City scored three goals in the third period, twice on the power play, as they went on to claim a 4-2 win over the Aces. Darren McMillan netted a goal in the middle of the second and Olivier Archambault added a goal at 19:55 of the third at Indy on Saturday night, but the Mallards would fall 3-2 despite outshooting the Fuel 32-22. The Mallards answered back at home on Sunday as Raphael Bussieres scored two and a half minutes after falling behind 1-0 and Sam Warning added the would be game winner late in the second period to claim a 2-1 decision. Steve Michalek posted 40 saves for his fourth win of the year as Indy outshot Quad City 41-32.

The week ahead: Wed. at Missouri (13-2-0-1), Fri. home vs. Kalamazoo (7-9-1-0), Sat. home vs. Cincinnati (9-3-1-1), Sun. home vs. Indy (9-4-1-0).

FORT WAYNE KOMETS (7-7-0-0, 14 Points)

Fort Wayne stumbled twice last week, picking up two points out of a possible six points to fall six points behind the division-leading Cincinnati Cyclones. Cody Corbett and Kyle Thomas each scored in the first period and Mike Embach added his sixth goal of the season, scoring shorthanded in the second period to lead the Komets past Kalamazoo 3-1 at home on Friday. Brett Perlini scored twice and Garrett Meurs added a goal and two assists at Toledo on Saturday. The Komets netted two power play goals, but gave up three Walleye goals on the penalty kill to fall 6-4. A scoreless game after 40-minutes was broken open three minutes into the final period on Sunday as the Brampton Beast handed Fort Wayne their second road loss in as many days, 2-0. Cody Sol racked up 16 penalty minutes in the game that saw the two squads combine for 56 penalty minutes. The Komets were 0-for-10 on the man advantage in the contest.

The week ahead: Wed. at Cincinnati (9-3-1-1), Thur. home vs. Cincinnati, Sat. home vs. Toledo (7-5-0-3).

EVANSVILLE ICEMEN (4-9-0-0, 8 Points)

Evansville picked up one win out of three home games over the week, as their ongoing lease negotiations with the city continued to take place. Down 5-0 in the third period on Wednesday, Tyson Fawcett scored a pair of goals just seven minutes apart to break up Alaska’s shutout bid, but the IceMen would go on to fall 6-2 despite outshooting the Aces 40-27. A Friday battle with Orlando saw the IceMen score three goals in less than five minutes to come back from a two-goal deficit before they allowed three Solar Bears goals in a two minute pan in the third to fall 6-4. Playing from behind once again on Saturday, Evansville scored twice in the second period to erase a one goal deficit then Daultan Leveille netted the game winner on the power play early in the third period to give the IceMen a 3-2 win over Kalamazoo. Goaltender Cody Reichard made 41 saves in his Evansville debut.

Ford Center Lease Update

The prospects of a 2016-17 ECHL season look better for the IceMen this week after receiving a lease counter proposal from the City of Evansville. According to WFIE, the city has offered the team a five-year deal that reduces their rent from $643,752 to $26,500 and allows the city to pocket the profits from concession sales. WEVV says that 60 possible dates for the 2016-17 season were presented to the ECHL, who granted the IceMen an extension of their lease deadline beyond December 1. According to WEVV, the team and city will be meeting sometime in the next week.

The week ahead: Fri., Sat., and Sun. at Alaska (5-10-0-2).

MISSOURI MAVERICKS (13-2-0-1, 27 Points)

The Mavericks won a pair of weekend road games to extend their winning streak to eight games. Sebastien Syvestre scored twice while Tyler Barnes added a goal and two assists on Friday night at Tulsa as the Mavs jumped out to a 4-1 lead seven minutes into the third period. The Oilers roared back, tying the game with 1:32 remaining to send it to overtime, where Rocco Carzo scored the game winner 2:37 into the extra frame to secure a 5-4 win. Missouri jumped scored the first three goals at Wichita the following night, then Jesse Root added a goal each in the second and third periods as the Mavs walked away with a 5-2 victory. Root finished the night with two goals and an assist while Barnes added a goal and assist as Missouri outshot Wichita 43-26.

The week ahead: Wed. home vs. Quad City (8-6-1-2), Fri. and Sat. home vs. Indy (9-4-1-0), Sun. at Tulsa (5-7-1-1).

ALLEN AMERICANS (12-6-0-0, 24 Points)

The Americans remain just three points behind Missouri for the division lead after claiming wins in two of three weekend games. Justin Baker and Chad Costello each had a goal and assist and Riley Gill posted 44 saves at Wichita on Friday night as Allen cruised to a 3-0 shutout win over the Thunder. A second period goal by Gary Steffes would be the only bright spot for the Americans on Saturday as they were outshot 32-20 at in a 6-1 drubbing at the hands of the Tulsa Oilers. Allen returned the favor the following day, as they defeated the Oilers 4-3 in Tulsa. Costello netted a goal and three assists while Casey Pierro-Zabotel added a goal and assist in the road win.

The week ahead: Fri. and Sat. at Utah (9-5-2-0).

TULSA OILERS (5-7-1-1, 12 Points)

The Oilers climbed out of the Central Division basement, picking up three points out of a possible six points last weekend. Down 4-1 seven minutes into the third period on Friday, Tulsa jumped to life, scoring three goals to tie the game with 1:32 remaining. Rookies Christophe Lalancette and Phill Brewer each had a goal and assist on the night, but Missouri would go on to score in overtime to give Tulsa a 5-4 loss. The Oilers offense sprang to life the following night in Allen, as they scored early and often to slam the Americans 6-1. Adam Pleskach netted his first hat trick of the season, while Matt Konan and newcomer Emerson Clark each posted a goal and assist in the victory that snapped Tulsa’s five game losing skid. Pleskach and Lalancette remained hot on Sunday, with each picking up a goal and assist as the Oilers battled to erase a three goal deficit in the third. It was not meant to be though, as they would fall 4-3.

The week ahead: Fri. home vs. Wichita (5-10-0-1), Sat. at Wichita, Sun. home vs. Missouri (13-2-0-1).

WICHITA THUNDER (5-10-0-1, 11 Points)

Wichita fell to the bottom of the division after dropping a pair of home contests over the weekend and extending their losing streak to three games. David Shantz posted a 31 save effort on Friday, but the Thunder offense could not produce any goals as they fell 3-0 to Allen. The loss is their second by way of shutout this season. Saturday saw Wichita spot the visiting Missouri Mavericks three first period goals, before Andrew Huff and Danick Gauthier scored to cut the lead to one at the first intermission. From there, though, Missouri would add a power play goal in the second and a shorthanded goal in the third to saddle Wichita with a 5-2 loss. Grant Rollheiser made 38 saves on the night as the Thunder was outshot by the Mavericks 43-26.

The week ahead: Wed. home vs. Indy (9-4-1-0), Fri. at Tulsa (5-7-1-1), Sat. home vs. Tulsa.

UTAH GRIZZLIES (9-5-2-0, 20 Points)

The Grizzlies maintain their division lead after picking up one win during a three game road trip to second place Rapid City. Torin Snyderman scored one minute after Rapid City took an early lead on Wednesday, then a shorthanded goal by Jon Puskar gave Utah a one goal lead with less than five minutes remaining. Rapid City would go on to tie the game and send it to a scoreless overtime then a shootout, where the Grizzlies triumphed in 11 rounds to post a 3-2 win. Connor Hardowa’s first period power play marker would be the only offense for the Grizzlies on Friday night, as the Rush would hand them a 5-1 loss. Barry Almeida’s late third period goal Saturday would push the game to overtime, only to see Rapid City strike just 1:47 in to give Utah a 4-3 loss.

The week ahead: Fri. and Sat. home vs. Allen (12-6-0-0)

RAPID CITY RUSH (7-5-1-1, 16 Points)

The Rush chipped away at Utah’s division lead during a three game home stand against the Grizzlies, coming away with five points out of a possible six. Zach Cohen had a pair of goals on Wednesday, including a third period marker that sent the game to overtime. However, the Rush fell in an 11-round shootout and dropped the game 3-2, but still managed one point in the standings. Friday night saw the Rush get back into the win column behind Mikhail Stefanovich’s hat trick and Danny Battochio’s 25 saves to secure a 5-1 victory. Chris Ciotti scored a goal and assist on Saturday and Michael Young netted the game winner 1:47 in overtime to give the Rush a 4-3 decision.

The week ahead: Wed., Fri. and Sat. home vs. Idaho (5-8-4-0).

COLORADO EAGLES (6-8-2-0, 14 Points)

The Eagles picked up a pair of wins during a three game home set with Idaho, moving them into a third place tie with the Steelheads. Patrick D’Amico’s third period goal sent Wednesday’s game into overtime, where Colorado managed to salvage a point despite suffering a 2-1 loss. Friday night saw Kyle Kraemer net two goals, while Jake Marto added the game winning goal and two assists in a 5-4 overtime victory. Kraemer’s two goals would be all the offense the Eagles would need on Saturday, as goalie Kris Lazaruk stopped 22 shots en route to a 2-0 shutout win.

The week ahead: Wed., Fri. and Sat. home vs. Florida (12-6-0-0).

IDAHO STEELHEADS (5-8-4-0, 14 Points)

The Steelheads find themselves in a tie for third place following a three game road trip to Colorado where they picked up three out of six possible standings points. Colton Beck netted a goal and assist and Brandon Magee scored the game winner in overtime to give the Steelheads a 2-1 win on Wednesday night. Beck added a goal and three assists, while Rob Linsmayer and Taylor Peters each contributed a goal and two assists in a 5-4 overtime loss on Friday night. Saturday saw the Idaho offense sputter, as they failed to score a goal on 22 shots in a 2-0 loss. Philippe Desrosiers contributed 17 saves to Idaho’s effort.

The week ahead: Wed., Fri. and Sat. at Rapid City (7-5-1-1).

ALASKA ACES (5-10-0-2, 12 Points)

The Aces closed out their road trip by picking up one win out of three games last week. William Wrenn produced the only offense of the night for Alaska on Tuesday, as the Aces fell to Cincinnati 3-1. A Wednesday contest at Evansville would be all the Aces offense needed to get back on track. Alaska got two goals each from Tommaso Traversa and Garet Hunt as they scored four goals in the second period to pull away from the IceMen 6-2. Troy Redmann turned in a stellar effort in net, making 38 saves. The Aces held a 2-1 lead heading into to the third period of Friday night’s contest at Quad City, but they would allow three third period goals from the Mallards and closed out their road trip with a 3-2 loss.

The week ahead: Fri., Sat. and Sun. home vs. Evansville (4-9-0-0).