Cyclones Game Preview - Cincinnati at Toledo

Cyclones Game Preview - Cincinnati at Toledo

CINCINNATI CYCLONES (12-9-0-3)
vs.
TOLEDO WALLEYE (13-13-0-1)
  

 
Click here for tonight's game note packet

DATE: Friday, December 30, 2011
TIME: 7:00pm ET
SITE: Huntington Center - Toledo, OH
RADIO: Cyclones Radio Network (1050-AM)
WEBCAST: CyclonesHockey.com (America One)

NHL AFFILIATES
Cincinnati Cyclones: Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators
Toledo Walleye: Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks

NEXT HOME GAME
Wednesday, January 4 - 7:30pm vs. Greenville Road Warriors
WET WEDNESDAY - Fans 21+ can enjoy $1 PBR and Miller High Life!

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP: After posting their best offensive output in nearly three years on Tuesday night, the Cyclones will take their four-game winning streak into Toledo where they face the Walleye for the final game of the 2011 calendar year. The Clones have a 3-2 edge in the 2011-12 season series, but the teams have been tremendously even over the years; since 2006, Cincinnati has earned a 22-22-1-1 record against their I-75 rivals.

SCOUTING THE WALLEYE: Nick Vitucci’s club has enjoyed a resurgence of late, stringing together three consecutive victories. They have been a tough team to beat at the Huntington Center this year, going 8-6-0-1 in 2011-12. Like many ECHL teams this time of year, the Walleye have been bitten by the call-up bug; Evan Rankin, Chris DiDomenico, and Harrison Reed are all at the AHL level. In their absence, Kyle Rogers is Toledo’s active points leader with 17 points in 27 games. Defenseman Bryan Rufenach ranks sixth among ECHL rear-guards in points (16) and second among “D” in goals (9). Thomas McCollum will be in net for the Walleye, who is 0-1 vs. Cincinnati this season.

About Tuesday Night vs. Kalamazoo: Anthony Luciani earned his first-career hat trick while Mathieu Aubin enjoyed a five-point night as the Cyclones flew past the Wings by an 8-5 final score in front of 5,525 at U.S. Bank Arena. It was the first time since January 14, 2009 that the Cyclones have put eight goals on the board in a single game. In addition to Luciani and Aubin, Dan Eves, Ryan Annesley, Evan Trupp, and Mike Pelech all earned multi-point efforts.

Pelech the Point Machine: Cyclones center man Mike Pelech is on pace for, by far, his best season ever. He has registered a point in 10 of his last 12 games and is tied for second on the team in scoring. He is on pace for a 69-point campaign.

3rd Period Masters: Cincinnati has found great success in the third period, outscoring their opponents 28-22 in the final frame of regulation. It is the third-fewest third period goals allowed in the ECHL. They have also allowed the fewest third-period shots in the league (203).

Another Milestone for Mathieu: On Tuesday night, Mathieu Aubin eclipsed 100 professional goals with a two-goal effort against Kalamazoo. He now has 101 goals as a pro, 75 of them coming in a Cyclones jersey.

“Lucky Luciani” Ranks Up: After a hat trick Tuesday night and back-to-back multi-point games, Cyclones rookie Anthony Luciani remains among the ECHL’s top first-year players. Luciani is tied for second on the team with seven multi-point games and 6th in the league in rookie scoring. He has 22 points in 21 games.

SEASON SERIES (13 Meetings - 8 Remaining)
Nov. 15 Toledo 2 at Cincinnati 4 Final
Nov. 20 Cincinnati 3 at Toledo 6 Final
Nov. 25 Cincinnati 2 at Toledo 3 Final
Dec. 9 Cincinnati 4 at Toledo 3 Final
Dec. 10 Toledo 2 at Cincinnati 3 Final
Dec. 30 Cincinnati at Toledo 7:00 pm EST
Feb. 1 Toledo at Cincinnati 7:35 pm EST
Feb. 8 Toledo at Cincinnati 7:35 pm EST
Feb. 11 Cincinnati at Toledo 7:00 pm EST
Feb. 12 Cincinnati at Toledo 4:00 pm EST
Feb. 26 Cincinnati at Toledo 4:00 pm EST
Mar. 4 Cincinnati at Toledo 5:30 pm EST
Mar. 30 Toledo at Cincinnati 7:35 pm EDT