CINCINNATI, OH- The Cincinnati Cyclones (22-21-4-0) earned a 2-0 victory over the Elmira Jackals on Friday night, completing the two-game sweep. Forwards Christiaan Minella and Brandon McNally potted the goals for Cincinnati, while goaltender Michael Houser was impenetrable on the night, stopping all 28 shots he faced for his second shutout of the season.
After a scoreless opening period that saw the Jackals outshoot Cincinnati 14-4, the Cyclones drew first blood while on the power play midway through the second. Forward Jaynen Rissling took a shot from the high slot that was turned aside by Elmira goaltender Andy Iles, but the rebound went right to Minella who fired it in off the crossbar to put Cincinnati ahead, 1-0.
That lead extended to a pair moments later when forward Shawn O’Donnell sent a pass to McNally in the left circle, and skated in on Iles and popped the puck in past him to give the Cyclones a 2-0 edge.
That 2-0 lead held up throughout the remainder of the second, and in the third the Cyclones defense, led by Houser, shut the door, stopping all nine Elmira shots to preserve the 2-0 win.
The Jackals outshot Cincinnati, 28-19 on the night, while the power play converted on 50 percent of its chances. Cincinnati wraps up its six-game homestand on Saturday night against the Ft. Wayne Komets. Face-off is slated for 7:35 p.m. ET.
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