vs.
KALAMAZOO WINGS (18-19-3-1)
Click here for today's game note packet
DATE: Saturday, January 26, 2013
TIME: 7:30pm ET
SITE: U.S. Bank Arena - Cincinnati, OH
WEBCAST: CyclonesHockey.com (America One)
RADIO: None
NHL AFFILIATES
Cincinnati Cyclones: Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators
Kalamazoo Wings: Vancouver Canucks
NEXT HOME GAME (After Tonight)
Thursday, January 31 vs. Toledo Walleye - 7:30pm
THIRSTY THURSDAY / GREEK NIGHT
TONIGHT'S MATCHUP: After exploding for a season-high seven goals last night against Evansville, the Cyclones hope for a repeat performance against another division rival as they welcome in the Kalamazoo Wings. Although the Wings took the last meeting between the two clubs on New Years Eve, Cincinnati leads the season series by a 3-1 count. Not surprisingly, though, each game has been decided by a single goal.
TONIGHT'S PROMOTION: Garrett Wilson Kids Jersey T-Shirt Night - The first 1,500 fans ages 2-12 will receive a Cyclones Kids Jersey T-Shirt of Cyclones forward Garrett Wilson courtesy of Rumpke!
SCOUTING THE WINGS: After last night’s road win in Toledo, Nick Bootland’s club has strung together points in three straight games and sit 14 points back of Cincinnati coming into the game. With Eric Kattelus in the AHL and Kory Karlander on the 21-day IR, Aaron Clarke is all alone atop the Wings scoring list. In 41 games this season, he has posted 14 goals and 18 assists. Veteran defenseman Sam Ftorek is second on the team in scoring with 25 points (4 goals, 21 assists) and ranks fourth among active ECHL rear guards. Tonight, 10th-year goaltender Joel Martin will play in his 26th consecutive game for Kalamazoo. He has collected a 16-16-3-1 mark this season with a 2.68 goals-against average. Against Cincinnati in 2012-13, Martin is 1-2-0-1 with a 3.19 GAA.
Natural Born Killers: The penalty kill for Cincinnati has been nearly-automatic this season. They have extinguished 84.8% of their opponents power plays in 2012-13 - good for the fourth best unit in the ECHL. At home, the Clones are even more difficult to beat - posting the second best kill rate in the league (89.3%).
Defense Wins: One of Cincinnati’s biggest assets this year has been its team defense. They have allowed the third fewest total goals of any team in the ECHL (115) and the fourth fewest average goals per game (2.67). The Cyclones have allowed three goals or less in 29 games this year.
SEASON SERIES (8 TOTAL, 4 REMAINING)
Oct. 31 Kalamazoo 2 at Cincinnati 3 Final
Nov. 2 Cincinnati 5 at Kalamazoo 4 Final
Dec. 7 Kalamazoo 3 at Cincinnati 4 Final SO
Dec. 31 Cincinnati 2 at Kalamazoo 3 Final
Jan. 26 Kalamazoo at Cincinnati 7:35 pm EST
Feb. 18 Kalamazoo at Cincinnati 2:00 pm EST
Mar. 1 Cincinnati at Kalamazoo 7:30 pm EST
Mar. 2 Kalamazoo at Cincinnati 7:35 pm EST