Brian Foster, Cyclones Shutout Stingrays 2-0

NORTH CHARLESTON, South Carolina – Dustin Sproat’s 20th goal of the season and a 29-save effort from Brian Foster helped the Cincinnati Cyclones (27-25-6-3) pick up a 2-0 shutout win over the South Carolina Stingrays (33-26-2-2) at North Charleston Coliseum on Saturday night.  It was Foster’s first professional blanking and Cincinnati’s fifth of the season.

Just like in the series opener, Saturday’s game was scoreless through the opening stanza.  In fact, despite a combined six power play chances between the two teams through 40 minutes, there was still no score.  It was only the second time this year that the Cyclones have been involved in a scoreless tie through two periods.

Early in the third, Cincinnati’s penalty kill unit was forced to extinguish 90 seconds of a Stingrays’ two-man advantage, and kill it they did – limiting South Carolina to just one shot on that power play.  Then just a couple of minutes later, at 8:50, Sproat caught a pass from behind the net and wristed home the go-ahead and eventual game winning goal past Stingrays goalie Shane Owen (L, 23 saves, 7-6-1-1) making it 1-0.  As the final frame of regulation continued, South Carolina kept the pressure on; however, each time they got a chance, Cyclones netminder Brian Foster (W, 29 saves, SO, 5-3-0) was equal to the task.  In the final minutes, the ‘Rays pulled their goalie in hopes of tying the game, however, a pair of South Carolina’s players collided with each other at their own blue line – allowing Samson Mahbod to pick up the loose puck and bury his 10th goal of the year into the empty net, sealing a 2-0 win.

The Cyclones Radio Network Three Stars of the Game are as follows:
1.    Brian Foster (29 saves, shutout, winning goaltender)
2.    Dustin Sproat (Game winning goal, 1 assist for Cincinnati)
3.    Matt Scherer (5 shots for South Carolina)

Cincinnati will wrap up its three game stay in South Carolina tomorrow afternoon with a 4:00pm matinee at North Charleston Coliseum.  Fans can hear all the action on the Cyclones Radio Network beginning at 3:45pm.

The defending Kelly Cup Champions will return to U.S. Bank Arena on Friday, March 25 when they host the Toledo Walleye at 7:30pm.  It will be the final Kids Eat Free Night of the season, as all fans ages 2-12 will receive a FREE meal courtesy of John Morrell and Sunkist.  2010-11 single game and discounted group tickets are available now.  2011-12 season tickets are on sale NOW!  For more information, call 513.421.PUCK (7825) or visit CyclonesHockey.com.

Click here for tonight’s box score.