The Cincinnati Cyclones, the shared ECHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers and Nashville Predators, are off to a fast start in 2013-14. The Cyclones have reeled off four-straight wins to open the season and are currently holding down first place in the North Division.
Cincinnati started the campaign off with a 4-2 home victory over the Wheeling Nailers on October 19th. Cats’ prospect Anthony Luciani netted the game’s first two goals to propel the Cyclones to the win. Taylor Aronson and Paul Crowder provided the other scores for Cincinnati. Crowder’s empty-netter clinched things with 1:07 remaining in the game. Goaltender Scott Darling made 18 saves to post the win. Darling would end up being recalled by the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals. Josh Birkholz and Wade Megan added assists for the Cyclones.
Rob Madore started the next game, on October 24th, for the Cyclones and made 33 saves to backstop the club to a 3-2 overtime win over the visiting Toledo Walleye. Paul Crowder and John McFarland scored third period goals to even the game before defenseman Antoine Corbin netted the winner 1:36 into the extra frame. Luciani and Megan got the helpers on the overtime goal.
The Cyclones traveled to Fort Wayne, on October 26th, to begin a five-game road trip. Cincinnati picked up win number three with a 5-4 shootout decision over the Komets. Fort Wayne led 3-0 in the second period before Luciani got the Cyclones on the board. In the third period, McFarland and Brett Wysopal scored to knot the game at three apiece. The Komets regained the lead on a Brandon Marino tally before Cincinnati’s Barry Almeida replied late to send the game to overtime. Almeida and Crowder scored in the shootout, while Rob Madore stopped all four Fort Wayne attempts to pick up his second win of the season. Madore finished the game with 34 saves. Wade Megan picked up his third helper of the campaign by assisting on Luciani’s goal.
Cincinnati next visit would be to Toledo, for a tilt this morning against the Walleye. Rob Madore would get the start again and turn aside 27 shots to post his third-straight win. Wade Megan opened the scoring at the 2:05 mark with his first of the year, extending his scoring streak to four games. Anthony Luciani and Philippe Lefebvre set up the goal. Lefebvre fed Megan again a few minutes later to give the Cyclones a 2-0 lead. Toledo would convert on a first period power play, with Megan in the penalty box, to cut the deficit to one. In the second period, Jonathan Hazen would strike for his first of the season to restore Cincinnati’s two-goal advantage. The Walleye would stage a third period rally, as Richard Nedomlel and Trevor Parkes scored to forge a 3-3 tie. Cincinnati would not denied be however, as John McFarland would keep the Cyclones perfect by scoring shorthanded, with the assists going to Megan and Chris Reed, with 75 seconds remaining on the clock.
For complete Cyclones’ scoring stats click here
For goaltending stats click here