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jevers
Administrator
USA
1367 Posts |
 Posted - 02/04/2010 : 10:45:23 PM
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CINCINNATI - The Cincinnati Cyclones used a hat trick from Maxime Lacroix in a 6-3 win over the defending Kelly Cup champion South Carolina Stingrays on Thursday night. It was the second time in six days that the Cyclones defeated the Stingrays. Lacroix has five goals in the last two nights for Cincinnati. The Cyclones are now a season-best twelve games above .500 (29-17-1).
With the victory, the Cyclones extended the lead in the North Division to five points over second place Toledo and to six points over third place Kalamazoo and Wheeling.
The Cyclones raced to a 3-0 lead at the first intermission. Jimmy Kilpatrick opened the scoring with a shot from the slot over the right shoulder of Shane Connelly at 1:20 for his seventh goal of the season. Kilpatrick took the puck from a South Carolina defender and quickly turned the score in transition. The lead extended at 3:32 when Maxime Lacroix netted his eleventh goal of the season, sliding a puck along the ice from the left wing side. Brett Motherwell and Brian O'Hanley had the helpers on the marker. The scoring ended at 16:22 of the period when Brett Robinson buried his ninth score from Matt Pierce and Lacroix. It was the eleventh time this season that Cincinnati struck for three goals in a frame. The shots favored the Cyclones, 13-9, in the period.
Cincinnati added to the lead at 14:43 of the middle frame when Lacroix notched his second of the night and twelfth of the campaign. Scott Marchesi (collecting his first point as a Cyclone) and Matt Pierce had the assists. South Carolina ended the shutout bid at 17:22 on its first power play of the night when Trent Campbell netted his eleventh score. The shots again favored Cincinnati, 12-7.
In the third, Keith Johnson scored his 20th 1:13 into the frame to narrow the gap to 4-2. Cincinnati would tally the next twoas Lacroix finished the hat trick with his 13th goal at 6:45, as Matt Pierce and Brett Robinson had the assists. Pierce collected his 25th of the campaign, working a two-on-one with Mark Voakes at 14:35. The scoring ended with a power play goal from the Stingrays' Matt Scherer at 17:29. Cincinnati again outshot the Stingrays, 8-7 for the term.
The shots on goal on goal tipped to Cincinnati, 33-23. Robert Mayer stopped 20 shots to take his 13th win of the year and eighth on home ice. Shane Connelly absorbed the loss, steering aside 21 shots in the first two periods before being replaced in the third. South Carolina was two-of-four on the power play, while Cincinnati was zero-for-two with the man-advantage.
The hat trick was the second of the season for Lacroix, who netted one in a 5-2 win over Trenton on January 6. Matt Pierce led the Cyclones in the plus/minus category at +5, while Brett Mother well, Lacroix and Robinson all ended at +4.
Cincinnati is 29-17-1, while South Carolina is 30-13-8. The Cyclones travel to Kalamazoo tomorrow night for a 7:30pm clash that can be heard on 1530 Homer The Sports Animal. The standings in the North Division are the tightest of any division in the ECHL. The Cyclones lead the North with 59 standings points, while Toledo is in second with 54 and Kalamazoo is tied with Wheelingboth having 53 points. The next closest race is in the Pacific Division, where 15 points separate first and fourth place.
The Cyclones return to U.S. Bank Arena next Wednesday night (February 10) for a 7:30pm showdown with Kalamazoo.
Tickets for the 2009-10 Cincinnati Cyclones season are now on sale. The Cyclones Sales Department can be reached at 513-421-PUCK, extension 3. Selected Friday night games are carried on 1530-AM Homer, while all 72 regular season games can be heard on the club's website at: www.cycloneshockey.com. The next game on 1530 Homer will come Friday (February 5), when the Cyclones travel to Kalamazoo at 7:30pm.
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bags
(Person With Nothing Better To Do!)
USA
2224 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2010 : 07:19:44 AM
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That was the best game I've seen them play all year. From the opening
faceoff to the final horn, the team played hard the entire rink. South
Carolina never got started because we pressed them even in our own zone.
So many times we would come down,take a shot and then turn and go on defense.
Not last night. We pressed them and got turnovers but more important,Carolina
never got started cleanly. Thank you coach for starting Mayer instead of Smith.
It seems the third game in a row is the wall for our goalies. Maybe a two and two
rotation would be a good strategy for the goalies. Solid defense,solid offense,
another hat trick and solid goaltending made a great night. |
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Catch22
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
676 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2010 : 12:09:27 PM
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Lacroix is starting to look like the guy that had 46 goals last year. Looks like he didn't start well in the AHL this year and got a slow start with us, but he's been on fire lately.
I'm sure he was motivated against his old team last night, but he's looked motivated in every game lately. Isn't that two hat tricks in the last couple of weeks for him?
We have our fingers crossed that this lineup can stay intact for a while. Right now we're rolling 3 forward lines that can score on anyone and the defense is looking better than it has all year.
Someone asked me Wednesday what our "top line" was and after thinking about it for a minute I had to answer "All of them." Technically its Ehgoetz and Reynolds and whoever, but there isn't much dropoff (if any) to the other two.
Should be a huge benefit to the coach at home games to have Ehgoetz and Reynolds matched up against the opposition's top line and still get plenty of scoring from the other two.
I'm just waiting for the callup monster to attack again.
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Yes, I grew up playing hockey... In Alabama. |
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hrc666
(Loves To Post!)
1363 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2010 : 1:37:20 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Catch22
Lacroix is starting to look like the guy that had 46 goals last year. Looks like he didn't start well in the AHL this year and got a slow start with us, but he's been on fire lately.
I'm sure he was motivated against his old team last night, but he's looked motivated in every game lately. Isn't that two hat tricks in the last couple of weeks for him?
We have our fingers crossed that this lineup can stay intact for a while. Right now we're rolling 3 forward lines that can score on anyone and the defense is looking better than it has all year.
Someone asked me Wednesday what our "top line" was and after thinking about it for a minute I had to answer "All of them." Technically its Ehgoetz and Reynolds and whoever, but there isn't much dropoff (if any) to the other two.
Agreed on Lacroix. He's a force at this level. He's not the greatest passer that I've ever seen, but he's got a super shot and enough speed to make things happen.
This team's scoring is so evenly distributed that opponents can't really key on anyone to shut down. Although most of the guys aren't quite point per game players, they're close. Eghoetz, Reyonolds, Sproat, Pierce, Voakes, Lacroix, Kilpatrick fit that bill. Imagine this team with Van Guilder and Mueller on it. I keep waiting for the offense to start averaging four goals per game. With an improved power play of late, I think that's going to be a reality soon.
The defense is very sound. The Cyclones give up very few odd man rushes and the forwards are, on the whole, dilligent in their back checking. If Mayer can reduce the 4 shot 3 goal performances, then I say look out come playoff time.
The Cyclones easily handled (as did Wheeling) the league's highest point total team. No team in the league is dominant. I define a dominant team as one which outscores its opponents by about 1.25 goals per game-about 100 over the course of a season. For example, our KC team outscored opponents by 114 goals during the regular season-an average of almost 1.6 per game. This season, Elmira (who is currently outside the playoffs) has the highest goals differential (36 in 44 games-about .8 per game).
We've got a realistic chance to win it all this year. I can't see anyone shutting us down offensively. Our chances probably hinge upon our rookie goaltenders. More hair loss for Weber
Eghoetz set the recored for most career points for the current Cyclones franchise last night, I think. That's a great achievement. Congrats to the Captain! |
"The only way David Desharnais will see an NHL game is if he buys a ticket".
--donnie hockey
"David Desharnais will be invisible during 5 on 5 hockey. IN THE AHL"
--donnie hockey
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Edited by - hrc666 on 02/05/2010 1:45:38 PM |
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fangers
(The Next Level!)
USA
262 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2010 : 1:38:01 PM
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| Pretty cool thing for Cyclones fan Justin Axelson...was SC's EBUG last night. |
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elvis77
(Loves To Post!)
1435 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2010 : 1:44:58 PM
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Catch22, good point on the lines. It's not that the Cyclones 3 lines could play as top lines on other teams but the fact that all 3 are capable of putting up points makes the team very tough to match up against. The last time the squad was that balanced was 07-08 and we all know what happened that year.
As far as call-ups go I'm not too concerned. They will happen but with as balanced as the team is up front there are unaffiliated guys from other teams (Ben Gordon for example)that have 20 or more so points than most of the Cyclones forwards and they are getting the looks as of now. Factor in that Ian McKenzie and Mark Van Guilder are in Milwaukee and the team should only get better as the parent clubs get healthy.
Personally I can't wait for the game when Morehouse, Benson and Del Monte are healthy and active. That would be a great line to send out in the last 30 to 45 seconds of a game that is well in hand to keep the opposition honest.
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-oscar
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Catch22
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
676 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2010 : 2:19:55 PM
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Right now, there isn't room for Morehouse, Benson AND Delmonte in the lineup.
Thats a very good problem to have.
Sproat, Pierce, Ehgoetz and Reynolds have played well all year. With Lacroix, Kilpatrick and Voakes now warming up... Yeah. That right there is a good looking hockey team.
If the rest of the league isn't a little scared right now, they ought to be. |
Yes, I grew up playing hockey... In Alabama. |
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jung46n2
(The Next Level!)
169 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2010 : 3:00:32 PM
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The difference between last night's game compared to a lot of other games this year was quick decision making at both ends of the ice. Just keep the puck moving!
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ClonesFanNKY
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
552 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2010 : 12:22:36 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by fangers
Pretty cool thing for Cyclones fan Justin Axelson...was SC's EBUG last night.
Who's that? |
Bring the Pain |
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