CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Cincinnati Cyclones (19-17-5-2) buried three goals in the third period while goalie Chet Pickard made 28 saves to earn his second career shutout, beating the South Carolina Stingrays (24-18-1-1) by a 5-0 score in front of 2,644 at U.S. Bank Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Scott Reynolds potted the first and only goal of the opening frame when he slammed home a rebound past Stingrays goalie Jared DeMichiel (L, 22 saves, 13-8-0-0) at the 12:24 mark, giving the Cyclones a 1-0 lead after the opening stanza.
Midway through the second period, Sam D’Agostino picked up his ninth goal of the year as his laser-accurate wrist shot beat DeMichiel for a 2-0 lead. Cyclones netminder Chet Pickard (W, SO, 28 saves, 6-9-2-0) turned aside 17 shots through the first two periods to keep the Stingrays off the scoreboard heading into the second intermission.
Eerily similar to Friday night, the Cyclones offense came alive in the third period. Mathieu Aubin, Adam Comrie, and Barret Ehgoetz each tallied goals for Cincinnati in the final frame – the last two on the power play – to give Jarrod Skalde’s team a 5-0 lead. Pickard continued to stand tall in the final minutes, turning aside another 11 shots in the third period to preserve his first shutout of the season. It’s the fourth time this year that the Cyclones have shutout their opponent.
The Cyclones Radio Network Three Stars of the Game are as follows:
1. Chet Pickard (Winning goalie, shutout, 28 saves for Cincinnati)
2. Barret Ehgoetz (1 goal, 2 assists for Cincinnati)
3. T.J. Fast (3 assists for Cincinnati)
The defending Kelly Cup Champions will return to U.S. Bank Arena this Wednesday, February 2 when they wrap up their three game set with the Stingrays at 7:30pm. It will be another Wet Wednesday featuring $1 PBR and Miller High Life. 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.
Pickard, Cyclones Blank Stingrays 5-0
