CINCINNATI, OH — Backstopped by terrific goaltending and capitalizing at critical junctions of Tuesday’s game, the Kalamazoo Wings snapped a four-game losing streak as they defeated the Cincinnati Cyclones, 3-1, during a morning tilt at US Bank Arena.
Setting the tone with physical play and a breakneck pace in their second meeting over the last five days, Kalamazoo and Cincinnati raced out of the gates with a series of chances on both ends, but it was the goalies that dominated the first twenty minutes. Kalamazoo’s Nic Riopel made ten first period saves, including a breakaway denial of Andrew Yogan, and Cincinnati’s Michael Houser made ten saves of his own, sending the game into the intermission, gridlocked in a scoreless tie.
Early in the second period, the Cyclones took the game’s first lead after Tommy Mele carried into the Kalamazoo zone and fired a 45-foot slap shot that went over the blocker of Riopel and into the top corner of the goal.
Ten minutes later, Kalamazoo equalized after maintaining possession and generating sustained pressure on Houser. After some point-blank chances were denied by the Cincinnati goalie, Anthony Camara dished the puck to Charlie Vasaturo at the blue line, where his well-placed slap shot went over the pad of Houser and tied the game at one.
Midway through the third period, the Wings kept on the throttle and dominated the pace of play. Michael Trebish worked the puck to Dajon Mingo, who fired it to an open Tanner Sorenson at the blue line. Sorenson uncorked a 55-foot shot that sailed into the back of the goal and gave Kalamazoo a 2-1 lead.
With time winding down and Houser on the bench for an extra attacker, Kalamazoo were forced to kill off a late penalty after Ben Wilson was called for a holding minor. The Wings withstood the power play attack of Cincinnati, and put the game away with Justin Taylor’s empty net tally, shortly thereafter.
Notes: Riopel has allowed four goals or fewer in four of his first six starts… Kalamazoo’s 33 shots on goal were the most since October 28… Tyler Biggs led the Wings with seven shots on goal… The Wings are 1-1-0 against Cincinnati this season… Kalamazoo’s four penalty minutes set a new season low.
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