For Immediate Release: March 15, 2017
Game 63 (Road Game 30)
Vs. Alaska Aces (30-21-3-6, 69pts)
Wednesday, March 15, 2017 - 11:15pm ET
Sullivan Arena - Anchorage, AK
Overview: The Cyclones begin the final leg of their western journey on Wednesday in Alaska. Cyclones split their two games over the weekend with the Idaho Steelheads, and still hold down the fourth and final playoff spot in the ECHL’s South Division. They currently sit one point back of the Orlando Solar Bears for third, and are one up on South Carolina in fifth.
Saturday Night Recap: The Cincinnati Cyclones (32-26-4-0) fell to the Idaho Steelheads, 5-3, on Saturday night. Forwards Shawn O’Donnell, Nick Huard, and Jordan Sims tallied the goals for the Cyclones. Idaho outshot the Cyclones, 37-35 on the night, with goaltender Joel Rumpel stopping 32 in the loss.
Friday Night Recap: The Cincinnati Cyclones (32-25-4-0) picked up a 5-2 win over the Idaho Steelheads on Friday night. Forward Shawn O’Donnell tallied a pair of goals, while forwards Nick Huard, Brandon McNally, and Shane Walsh potted lone markers for the Cyclones, who have now won nine of their last 11 games. The Cyclones were outshot, 35-21 on the night, with goaltender Joel Rumpel stopping 33 to collect his fourth-straight win.
Last Saturday Night Recap: The Cincinnati Cyclones (31-25-4-0) earned a 3-2 win over the Adirondack Thunder on Saturday night. Forwards Jordan Sims and Seth Ambroz, along with defenseman Jonathan Diaby scored the goals for Cincinnati. It was another stellar performance for Cyclones goaltender Joel Rumpel, who turned aside 51 of the 53 shots he faced to collect the win.
Previewing Alaska: The Aces enter Wednesday 4-3-1-0 in their last eight, and are coming off of a 3-2 overtime loss to the Colorado Eagles on Sunday afternoon. Like Cincinnati, the Aces are in a battle for playoff positioning, currently sitting in fourth in the Mountain Division, just four points ahead of Utah. They are led offensively by forward Stephen Perfetto who has accounted for 64 points (27g, 37a) in 48 games played. He is followed by forwards Peter Sivak (32g, 27a), and Tim Coffman (26g, 31a) who round out the top three. In goal, Kevin Carr leads the way with a 16-15-2-2 record, along with a 3.11 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage in 37 games played.
Inside the Series: Wednesday marks the first of the three-game series this week between the Cyclones and Aces, and the first trip to Alaska for Cincinnati since the 2014 Kelly Cup Final. The two teams met once last season in Cincinnati, with the Cyclones taking a 3-1 decision on November 17.
Next Game Preview: The Cyclones continue their three-game series on Friday night at 11:15pm ET.
NEED-TO-KNOW
Climbing the Ladder: The Cyclones have won nine of their last 12 games, and are 14-5-0-0 in their last 19 games overall. Cincinnati currently holds fourth and final playoff spot in the ECHL’s South Division, and are only one point back of third. The offense has been on display for Cincinnati over the last 18 games, totaling 56 goals and outscoring the opposition 48-25 in their 14 wins.
Backstop to Success: Goaltender Joel Rumpel has won four of his last five starts for the Cyclones, turning out a 1.80 goals-against average and a .956 save percentage. He has recorded a pair of shutouts in that time, and has faced 35 or more shots in four straight starts.
Leading By Example: Forward Shawn O’Donnell netted a pair of goals and an assist in Friday’s 5-2 win over the Idaho Steelheads, and followed that up with a goal and a pair of helpers in Saturday’s 5-3 loss to the Steelheads. He has tallied five goals and eight assists over his last eight games, and is currently riding a five-game point streak where he has four goals and five assists.
Starting to Simmer!: Forward Jordan Sims has points in six of his last seven games, totaling three goals and five assists in that time. Overall, Sims has seven goals and 19 assists in his last 20 games, and has moved into the team scoring lead with 14 goals and 27 assists.
Holding the Lead: The Cyclones enter the week with a 21-1-3-0 record when leading after one period, and a 24-1-2-0 mark when ahead after 40 minutes.
Defensive Front: The Cyclones currently boast one of the top defenses in the ECHL, as they currently rank sixth in goals allowed per game with 2.92.
Power Surge: The Cyclones power play has played a major role recently, having converted on 17 of their last 67 man-advantage opportunities over the last 11 games (25.3%).
Stay Connected!: Follow the latest news on Twitter (@CincyCyclones), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and more! Also, for all of the latest news and notes, head over to www.cycloneshockey.com.
The 2016-17 season is underway, and the Cincinnati Cyclones want you along for the ride as they march towards another Kelly Cup Championship! 2016-17 single game tickets and packages along with group and Season Ticket Packages are available NOW! Call (513) 421-PUCK to reserve your seats. Fans can also get the latest team updates on Facebook, Twitter (@CincyCyclones), and Instagram, along with our website, www.cycloneshockey.com!
