Shorthanded goals, a power play game-winner, and a perfect penalty kill served as the recipe for a 4-3 Cyclones win on the road against the Indy Fuel Saturday night.
The 'Clones jump to 14-4-2-2 on the season and sit just three points back of the Fuel for first in the Central Division standings. Cincinnati also has three fewer games played than Indy.
- Indy's Matthew Barron netted the game's opening goal on Teddy Bear Toss Night in Indy, striking 2:01 into the game. Despite the early goal against, it would be Cincinnati getting the last laugh through the opening period. Kohen Olischefski was assessed a hooking minor at 12:52, but the 'Clones scored twice while shorthanded.
- Josh Passolt swept a puck away from the Fuel for a 2-on-1, ending with a slot pass to Polino (6) for the game tying goal 13:03 into the first. Another odd man rush developed 80 seconds later, with Matt McLeod (5) collecting a pass to the goal from Lincoln Griffin, beating goaltender Zach Driscoll and lifting the Cyclones to a 2-1 lead.
- Olischefski (2) added to the lead less than three minutes into the second period, crashing the crease and giving the 'Clones a 3-1 lead. Cincinnati heavily outshot the Fuel, 16-4 in the second, but Indy managed to get back within a goal 10:05 in, with Chad Yetman's slot drive going by Mark Sinclair.
- Zack Andrusiak (4) continues to swing a hot stick, scoring his third goal in as many games 4:42 into the third period. While on the power play, the winger cruised into the right face-off circle and ripped a wrist shot by Driscoll, giving the Cyclones a 4-2 lead. Chad Yetman would later put Indy back within a goal on a penalty shot, but Cincinnati bunkered down to fend off anymore resiliency from the Fuel.
- Sinclair made 11 stops in the third and 25 throughout the contest, as the rookie net minder improves to 6-1-1-1 this season.
- The weekend closes out in Wheeling, West Virginia, as the Cyclones venture east to face the Nailers Sunday afternoon.
