The Cincinnati Cyclones faced off against the Wheeling Nailers on Friday night at the Heritage Bank Center, marking their sixth meeting of the season. So far, Wheeling has dominated the season series, winning all five previous matchups (5-0-0), most by two goals or more.
The Cyclones entered the game with some momentum after a solid 4-1 victory over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, placing them sixth in the Central Division with a record of 16-21-5-0.
On the other hand, the Nailers came into the night with a 27-10-2-0 record, just a point shy of the North Division lead held by the Trois-Rivières Lions. However, they were looking to break out of a two-game losing streak following a 3-1 defeat to the Kansas City Mavericks last Sunday.
In goal for Cincinnati was Pavel Cajan, making his second straight start, while Taylor Gauthier took the crease for Wheeling.
First Period:
Striking first was Matty De St. Phalle of Wheeling just 6:37 into the opening period, skillfully wristing the puck past Cajan from right in the slot. That goal not only put Wheeling up 1-0 but also marked his 14th goal of the season.
The Cyclones would later answer back with one of their own, as Tristan Ashbrook sniped a shot past Taylor Gauthier, evening the game at 1-1 14:07 into the first frame.
Second Period:
Wheeling regained the lead 5:50 into the second period when Gabe Klassen capitalized on a defensive breakdown by Cincinnati, scoring through the five-hole on Cajan.
As the seconds ticked down in the second period, the Cyclones struck back. Tristan Ashbrook scored again after a slick setup from Ty Voit, who made a beautiful play behind the net.
With that goal, the game was tied 2-2 as the teams headed into the second intermission.
Third Period:
Cincinnati later took their first lead of the game thanks to Tristan Ashbrook, who scored his hat-trick goal (third of the game), making it three to two for Cincinnati during four-on-four play.
Isaac Belliveau later answered back while four on four too, roofing a backhand over Cajan, evening the game at 3-3.
In the final minutes of regulation, Wheeling’s Louie Roehl was whistled for delay-of-game, but the Nailers PK shut down the power play. Time later winded down heading to overtime, as both teams were content with at least earning the point.
Overtime:
Just forty-eight seconds into overtime, Matt Koopman broke out on a one-on-one against Cajan, roofing a backhand shot above Cajan’s glove for the win.
Despite the tough loss, it wasn’t a complete disappointment for the Cyclones tonight. They managed to earn a point against one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, bringing their record to 16-21-6-0 this season. Meanwhile, Indy fell short (4-3) in regulation against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, but the Bloomington Bison delivered a dominant 5-0 shutout over the Atlanta Gladiators in Georgia. Cincinnati still currently trails both teams in the standings.
The Cyclones put in a valiant effort, outshooting the Nailers thirty-four to twenty-one, but ultimately fell short in overtime. Taylor Gauthier was a standout for Wheeling, making crucial saves when it mattered most, especially towards the end of the third period. Despite the Cyclones seemingly having control of the game, their zero for five performance on the power play was a huge missed opportunity against a Wheeling team known for their quick offensive strikes. Credit must be given to Wheeling’s aggressive penalty kill, as it’s a tough task to capitalize against them.
Looking ahead, the Cyclones will be back at Heritage Bank Center Saturday for the much-anticipated Teddy Bear Toss game. They’ll be facing off against the Toledo Walleye at 4 p.m. ET.
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