ECHL Game Recap: Kalamazoo Wings vs. Cincinnati Cyclones | 3/23/2025

The Cincinnati Cyclones pulled off a gutsy win on Sunday night, outlasting the Kalamazoo Wings in a thrilling 2-1 overtime finish. It was Chas Sharpe who played the hero, scoring the game-winning goal in OT, and giving Cyclones fans plenty to cheer about as their team stays alive in the Central Division playoff race.

First & Second Periods

This game wasn’t a high-scoring one, rather, it was a tight-checking battle from the start, with both teams locked in and determined not to give an inch in their defensive zones. Through two full periods, neither side could find the back of the net. Cincinnati’s Vyacheslav Peksa stopped all 13 shots he faced during that stretch, while Kalamazoo’s Jonathan Lemieux turned aside 18. Both goalies were locked in, making it feel like the first goal could decide the game.

Third Period

Early in the third, the Wings finally broke through. Travis Broughman parked himself in front of the net and tipped a puck past Peksa, giving Kalamazoo a 1-0 lead with just over 14 minutes to play.

But Cincinnati didn’t waste time answering back. Just minutes later, Mathieu Gosselin created a moment of magic. He sped down the left wing, chipped the puck past a defender to himself, and ripped a gorgeous shot into the top corner to tie the game at one apiece. It was Gosselin’s 13th goal of the season, and it keeps his scoring streak against Kalamazoo alive—he’s now scored in three straight games against the Wings.

Overtime

Sixty minutes weren’t enough to settle it, so off to overtime the two teams went. That’s when Chas Sharpe sent the fans home happy. The Cyclones’ star defenseman broke away and snapped an unassisted shot past Lemieux, sealing the win for Cincinnati. Sharpe’s been on fire lately—this goal extended his point streak to seven games, with five goals and four assists in that stretch. He also leads all ECHL defensemen in goals this season, now with an eye-popping 22.

This overtime win was a big one for the Cyclones, who’ve had their share of struggles in extra time this season, racking up 10 overtime losses. But on Sunday night, they flipped the script and showed they’ve still got fight left in them as they battle for a playoff spot.

The Cyclones’ penalty kill was rock-solid in this one, going a perfect 3-for-3 on the night. They also showed a ton of grit defensively, blocking shots and clearing pucks when it mattered most. Offensively, they put plenty of pressure on Lemieux, firing 31 shots on goal and keeping him busy all night, eventually leading to the narrow win.

Three Stars of the Game:

1) Chas Sharpe – 1 G (GWG)
2) Mathieu Gosselin – 1 G
3) Vyacheslav Peksa – 22/23 saves

The Cyclones and Wings will run it back on Wednesday night for their third straight meeting, this time in Kalamazoo at Wings Event Center. Cincinnati will be looking to keep the momentum rolling. Puck drops at 7 p.m. ET.