CINCINNATI, OH – The Cincinnati Cyclones walk away with a point but let a 3-0 lead slip through their fingers. The Cyclones quickly dominated the ice in the first period, scoring first and early with 18:28 left in the first period as Andrew Yogan fired off a goal after maneuvering around the back of the net. A tripping call put the Walleye in shorthanded as Kenny Ryan quickly took advantage and scored the Cyclones a power play goal. Colin Mulvey added to the Cyclones lead making the score three to nothing, netting his first goal of the season. The Walleye out shot the Cyclones 13 to 9 with goaltender Mark Visentin keeping the first period scoreless.
Intensity and emotions picked up in the second period. Cyclones failed to capitalize on a power play to start the second period after Jaynen Rissling was slashed as time expired in the first. With 12:17 left in the the second, Walleye’s Nolan Zajac scored the Walleye’s first goal of the night, cutting into the Cyclones lead. The Cyclones out shot the Walleye 9-6 in the period but can’t add to the scoreboard.
Starting the third period , the Walleye quickly cut the lead to one when Evan Rankin scored his first of two goals of the night from the slot. Visentin did his best to turn back Walleye’s pressure throughout the period but it was too much. Tyler Sikura ties the game with 4:07 left in regulation, sending the game into OT.
With the 3-on-3 format in play, the fans at U.S. Bank Arena were on their feet. One minute and ten seconds into the extra frame, Visentin made a quick save and hit a streaking Kenny Ryan at center ice but his one on one chance soared over the cage. Leblanc then got his opportunity to end the game when he was tripped on a break away and rewarded a penalty shot. Leblanc tried to go stick side low, but Heeter kicked the puck away. As time rand down, and odd man rush saw Rankin hitting the back of the net for his second goal of the game and the game winner.
Text provided by Cincinnati Cyclones
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