CINCINNATI, OH – The Cincinnati Cyclones (27-24-4-0) shutout the Wichita Thunder 2-0 on Friday night. Forward Shawn O’Donnell and defenseman Jaynen Rissling tallied the goals for the Cyclones, while goaltender Joel Rumpel was stellar in his first U.S. Bank Arena start, stopping all 27 shots he faced to collect the win.
Cincinnati drew first blood late in the opening period when O’Donnell took the puck off the left-wing wall, skated around the Wichita defense and in on goal where he tucked the puck around Thunder goaltender Drew Owsley to put the Cyclones ahead, 1-0.
That 1-0 lead held up throughout the remainder of the first period, and in the second Cincinnati picked up the offensive pressure and peppered Owsley with shots throughout the frame, outshooting the Thunder 15-4 in the period. Cincinnati extended their lead with 1:21 to go when defenseman Jonathan Diaby sent a pass to Rissling who drifted into the high slot and snapped a wrister in off the crossbar to give Cincinnati a 2-0 lead through two periods.
The third saw some stellar goaltending from both Owsley and Rumpel, as neither offense was able to find the back of the net. Despite a late Thunder push, Rumpel was perfect down the stretch, and preserved the 2-0 win.
The Cyclones welcome in the Indy Fuel on Saturday night in the finale of Cincinnati’s three-game homestand. Face-off is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. ET.
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