A back-and-forth, playoff-like game saw Matt McLeod score with 30.9 seconds remaining to lift the Cyclones to a 5-4 victory over the Newfoundland Growlers Sunday evening.
The Cyclones are 36-31-3-0 and snap a three game winless skid. They remain in a playoff spot heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
- Zach O'Brien got the scoring started less than five minute into the play off a drop pass from Ben Finkelstein, shooting the puck by Sean Bonar to make it 1-0.
- The Cyclones followed with three straight goals, all coming off the stick of Craggs. His first came 12:57 into the first, racing down the left wing to pick a corner and beat Chase Perry, tying the game at one. Craggs scored again before intermission on a shot from the right circle less than three minutes later.
- Craggs found the back of the net for a third straight time during a shorthanded sequence where the talented forward streaked down the ice on a breakaway. Craggs has 12 goals on the season with Cincinnati and scored his first career hat trick.
- Newfoundland cut the lead in half with a goal from Isaac Johnson midway into the second period.
- The Growlers tied the game on a power play goal from Jeremy McKenna early in the third, as Justin Vaive was in the box for holding.
- Zack Andrusiak got the response Cincinnati needed, collecting a pass down low from Jesse Schultz to slam his 29th goal of the season by Perry and make it 4-3 with less than 10 minutes left.
- After being scratched the previous two night, rookie defenseman Brennan Kapcheck tied the game up for Newfoundland, crashing the net to stuff a loose puck by Bonar, making it 4-4 with 3:27 to play.
- Bonar made multiple saves after Kapcheck's goal, and eventually a puck was sprung to Matt McLeod, who burst down the gut of the ice and sent a shot on the legs of Perry that trickled underneath the net minder and in with just 30.9 seconds remaining, giving the 'Clones the 5-4 win.
Cincinnati's last remaining regular season games come against the Indy Fuel this Friday and Saturday, with the first being the final home game of the regular season for the Cyclones.
Stay tuned all season for updates on important events, player signings, promotion and ticketing information and MORE! Call (513) 421-PUCK for tickets and more information, and stay on top of all the latest team updates and information on Facebook, Twitter (@CincyCyclones), and Instagram, along with our website, www.cycloneshockey.com!
