WHEELING, West Virginia – Mathieu Aubin buried his first game-winning goal of the season with just 58 seconds left in regulation to lift the Cincinnati Cyclones (16-14-5-2) to a thrilling 3-2 win over the Wheeling Nailers (20-15-0-2) at WesBanco Arena on Saturday night.
Cincinnati drew first blood as, at the 13:26 mark, Christiaan Minella collected a loose puck and potted his ninth goal of the season past Nailers goalie Patrick Killeen (L, 26 saves, 15-8-0-1) to give his team a 1-0 lead. However, not even two minutes later, Ben Street tipped home his 18th of the season past Cyclones netminder Chet Pickard (W, 26 saves, 4-7-2-0) to knot the score at one through the opening stanza.
In the second period, Mathieu Aubin added to his team-leading numbers when he buried his 11th goal of the year on a rebound during a Cyclones power play. Thanks to some great team defense and an outstanding period by Pickard, Cincinnati took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission.
Unfortunately in the third period, Wheeling used a power play to perfection as Street wristed home his second of the night to tie the score at two with less than ten minutes to play. However, with just 58 seconds left in regulation, Dustin Sproat caused a turnover behind the Wheeling net and fed Aubin who was camped out in front; He then lifted a laser-accurate wrist shot past Killeen for the eventual game-winning goal. The Cyclones held on to win 3-2 and are now 12-1-3 when leading after two periods.
The Cyclones Radio Network Three Stars of the Game are as follows:
1. Mathieu Aubin (GWG for Cincinnati)
2. Ben Street (2 goals for Wheeling)
3. Brian O’Hanley (2 assists for Cincinnati)
The defending Kelly Cup Champions will return to U.S. Bank Arena on Tuesday, January 18 when they will once again battle the Wheeling Nailers at 7:30pm. It will be the final Big Beer Tuesday of the season, meaning $2 24-ounce Molson and Labatt Blue will flowing all night long in addition to $1 City Barbeque pulled pork sandwiches. Discounted ticket packages and single game tickets for the 2010-2011 season are available now. For more information, call 513.421.PUCK (7825) or visit CyclonesHockey.com.
Click here for tonight's box score.