For Immediate Release: April 8, 2016
Vs. Quad City Mallards (36-28-4-2, 78 PTS)
Friday, April 8, 2016 - 8:05 pm ET
iWireless Center - Moline, IL
Overview: The Cyclones head to Quad City for the second to last game of the 2015-16 regular season. Cincinnati is coming off of a 7-3 loss at the hands of the Toledo Walleye last Saturday night, and sit in seventh place in the Western Conference playoff standings, three points back of the Utah Grizzlies in sixth. Cincinnati is one point ahead of the Mallards, and a win on Friday will guarantee the Cyclones at least the seventh spot in the 2016 Kelly Cup Playoffs.
Saturday Night Recap: The Cincinnati Cyclones (35-26-5-4) were defeated by the Toledo Walleye on Saturday night’s regular season home finale by a score of 7-3. Defenseman Garrett Noonan lit the lamp once and forward Tommy Mele scored twice for the Cyclones, who sit in seventh place in the Western Conference with two games left to play in the regular season. The Cyclones outshot Toledo, 32-25, with goaltender Andy Iles coming away with 18 saves in the defeat.
Friday Night Recap: The Cincinnati Cyclones (35-25-5-4) fell to the Evansville IceMen, 5-3, on Friday night. Forward Nick Huard tallied a pair of goals, while defenseman Cody Carlson chipped in one for Cincinnati. The Cyclones outshot the IceMen, 51-25, with 20 saves from goaltender Andy Iles in the loss. Despite the loss, the Cyclones have clinched a spot in the 2016 Kelly Cup Playoffs by way of the Tulsa Oilers falling to the Quad City Mallards Friday night.
Thursday Night Recap: The Cincinnati Cyclones (35-24-5-4) displayed an offensive explosion on Thursday night, scorching the Indy Fuel by a final of 6-1. Forwards Branden Gracel, Christiaan Minella, Jack Downing, Tommy Mele, and Nick Huard, along with defenseman Brett Wysopal, had the goals for the Cyclones. Cincinnati was outshot by Indy, 27-29, with goaltender Andy Iles stopping 28 shots in the victory.
Previewing Quad City: The Mallards are in a battle for the eighth and final playoff spot with the Tulsa Oilers, and can clinch the final Western Conference spot with a point or a Tulsa loss on Friday. The Mallards have won three in a row and five of their last seven, and are coming off of a 4-1 win over the Ft. Wayne Komets on Wednesday night. They are led by forward Matt Neal who has accounted for 49 points (17g, 32a) in 65 games played, followed by forward Olivier Archambault who is right behind him with 48 points (20g, 28a). Team goals leader Matt Carey rounds out the top three scorers with 44 points through 47 games (24g, 20a).
Inside the Series: This will be the tenth of 11 meetings this season between the Cyclones and Mallard, with Cincinnati holding a 5-3-0-1 edge in the first nine games. Cincinnati has won two of the last three meetings, and are outscoring the Mallards, 26-22, this season. Cyclones forward Jack Downing leads all scorers with 11 points (4g, 7a) through the first nine games.
Next Game Preview: The Cyclones will finish out the 2015-16 regular season schedule on Saturday night against the Mallards at 8:05pm ET.
Yogan Returns: Forward Andrew Yogan, has been released from his PTO with the St. John’s Ice Caps of the American Hockey League (AHL), and has been returned to the Cyclones. This was the fourth AHL stint for Yogan, who also saw two separate stints with the Syracuse Crunch, and one with the Iowa Wild. Yogan has been one of the offensive leaders for the Cyclones this season, tallying 14 goals and dishing out 26 assists for 40 points in 32 games played. The 24-year-old has seen action in 39 AHL games this season, accounting for six goals and 12 assists.
Playoff Bound: Despite losing to the Evansville IceMen last Friday night, the Cyclones have clinched a spot in the 2016 ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs. Cincinnati clinched their spot by way of holding a tiebreaker over the Tulsa Oilers, who also lost their game with the Quad City Mallards on Friday. This will be the eighth time since returning to the ECHL prior to the 2006-2007 season that the Cyclones will be participating in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Cincinnati won the Kelly Cup in 2008 and again in 2010, and made a third trip to the Kelly Cup Finals in 2014.
Staying Hot: Forward Tommy Mele accounted for a pair of goals and an assist on Saturday’s 7-3 loss to the Toledo Walleye, and has totaled six goals and four assists over his last nine games played. The Bronx, NY, native is enjoying a career season, achieving new career highs in goals (27), assists (22), and points (49).
Get DOWN With Your Bad Self: By way of his goal in Thursday night’s 6-1 win over the Indy Fuel, forward Jack Downing moved into a tie for fifth-most goals in a single season in Cyclones history with Thomas Beauregard (2007-08) with 31. With two games left in the regular season, Downing still has the opportunity to move up on the list, as Jean-Michel Daoust, (2006-07) is just ahead of the New Canaan, CT native with 32. Downing also has amassed 232 shots on goal this season, which is the second-most in a season in team history, behind Beauregard’s 275 total in 2007-08.
A New Benchmark: With a goal in Thursday night’s 6-1 win over Indy, forward Christiaan Minella set a new career-high with his 14 goal of the season. The goal also brought his point total to 22, tying his career-high which he set during the 2011-12 season while with the Wheeling Nailers (8g, 14a).
Single Game Playoff Tickets On Sale: The Cincinnati Cyclones have announced that single game tickets for the first round of the 2016 ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs are now on sale. The Cyclones clinched their spot in the ECHL’s second season on Friday night, and this will be the eighth time since returning to the ECHL prior to the 2006-2007 season that the Cyclones will be participating in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Cincinnati won the Kelly Cup in 2008 and again in 2010, and made a third trip to the Kelly Cup Finals in 2014. The Cyclones will be hosting Game 3 and Game 4 of the first round, as well as Game 5 if necessary. Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday, April 20, while Game 4 and Game 5 will be played on Friday and Saturday, April 22 and 23, respectively. All games will start at 7:35pm ET at U.S. Bank Arena. The team has also announced a pair of promotions for the first round of the playoffs, including $1 beers for Game 3, and $1 John Morrell hot dogs for Game 4. Cyclones playoff tickets start at $16.00 for rows two and higher, and $29.50 for all first row seats.
Cyclones Announce Playoff Ticket Packages: The Cincinnati Cyclones have announced ticket packages for the upcoming 2016 ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs. Cyclones playoff packages start at $256 per seat and include all 16 potential playoff games. Current 36-game full-season ticket holders already have games one and two of the 2016 playoffs included in their season ticket packages, therefore 14-game plans are available starting at $224 per seat. Single game tickets will be announced at a later date, once the Cyclones officially clinch a spot in the 2016 Kelly Cup Playoffs. The Cyclones currently hold down fifth place in the ECHL’s Western Conference. Under the current ECHL playoff format, the top eight teams from both the Eastern and Western Conference receive playoff berths, and all rounds are a best-of-seven format with a potential of four rounds in total.
The 2016 Kelly Cup Playoffs are right around the corner! YOUR Cyclones are on the march towards another Kelly Cup Championship, and want you along for the ride! Be sure to check out one of our 2016 Kelly Cup Playoff Ticket Packages, available NOW! Call 513.421.PUCK to reserve your seats. Fans can also get the latest team updates on Facebook, Twitter (@CincyCyclones), Instagram, and our website, www.cycloneshockey.com!