Game 1- Cincinnati Cyclones vs. Kansas City Mavericks- 4/9/2024
The Cincinnati Cyclones and Kansas City Mavericks met on Tuesday night In Independence, MO, and started with an uneventful scoreless first period. The Cyclones struck first in the preliminary stages of the second period, with a goal by #10 Elijah Gonsalves, assisted by #62 Sahil Panwar, to make the score 1-0. The Mavericks did not take long to answer back with a goal by #17 Patrick Curry, assisted by #28 Cade Borchardt and #20 Nolan Walker to tie it at 1-1. The Cyclones held their own defensively for the rest of the 2nd period and killed off three minor penalties. The 3rd period was a completely different story, and it was not in the favor of the Cyclones. #14 Jacob Hayhurst lit the lamp 3:04 into the 3rd with a wicked wrist shot, and #12 Jeremy McKenna followed right behind with his own two minutes later. The Mavericks tacked on one more goal by #14 Jacob Hayhurst, with his second of the game, assisted by #49 Cole Coskey and goaltender #33 Cale Morris. The Cyclones fell at a final score of 4-1, with yet another meltdown in the 3rd period, which has plagued them all season.
Game 2- Cincinnati Cyclones vs. Kansas City Mavericks- 4/10/2024
On Wednesday night, the Cincinnati Cyclones and Kansas City Mavericks faced off for the second game of a back-to-back. The Cyclones dominated the first two periods in this one, with a goal from # 17 Mike Ferraro, assisted by #9 Jarrett Lee and #5 Jalen Smereck 6:15 into the 1st period. The Cyclones were unable to capitalize on many other chances throughout the first two periods, but there was an intense tilt between Justin Nachbaur of the Mavericks and Nick Isaacson of the Cyclones at the end of the 1st period. The 2nd period was uneventful, with two power-plays that the Cyclones were not able to capitalize on. Goaltender #31 Talyn Boyko for the Cyclones made an incredible save to rob #44 Max Andreev in the middle stages of the 3rd period. Later on, the inability to put the Mavericks would come back to haunt the Cyclones, as #17 Patrick Curry scored with 10 minutes left in regulation. This marked yet another blown 3rd period by the Cyclones, which rolled over into overtime, where #14 Jacob Hayhurst scored the game-winner in front of a packed-out Cable Dahmer Arena. Wednesday night was the final regular season home game for the Mavericks, but there will be many more games coming to Cable Dahmer Arena during the Kelly Cup Playoffs. For the Cyclones, this was their second to last game of the season, and they will face their division rival, Wheeling Nailers, on Saturday at 7:10 PM ET in Wheeling, WV.
