CINCINNATI, Ohio – Rob Slaney posted a three-point night including the game-winning goal at the 2:36 mark of overtime, giving the Cincinnati Cyclones (15-12-0-4) a 5-4 triumph over the Wheeling Nailers (19-13-2-1) in front of 5,545 at U.S. Bank Arena on Saturday night.
Similar to the first meeting between the two teams a week ago, the Nailers raced out to a 2-0 lead early in the first period. Joe Tolles finished off a turnover by burying his first professional goal at the 2:20 mark followed by a power play tally from Mikael Bedard at 10:16. Despite outshooting Wheeling 11-6 in the opening stanza, the Cyclones trailed 2-0 at the first intermission.
Cincinnati roared to life in the middle frame, potting three straight goals to take a 3-2 lead. Anthony Luciani slammed in a rebound past Nailers netminder Patrick Killeen (L, 32 saves, 10-9-2-1) at the 1:21 mark to open the Cyclones scoring. Mike Pelech followed with a goal of his own with 6:30 gone after a scramble in front of the net, knotting things at two. Garrett Wilson gave Cincinnati the one-goal edge with a one-timer tally at 12:35. Wheeling answered back to tie the game on another power play, as Peter Lenes backhanded a shot over the shoulder of Cyclones goalie Chet Pickard (W, 25 saves, 6-8-0), making it 3-3 after 40 minutes.
Early in the third period, the Cyclones pulled ahead for the second time in the game as Rob Slaney received a tape-to-tape pass from Dan Eves out of the corner and lit the lamp for a 4-3 edge. However, Wheeling’s Lenes capped off a strong night offensively with his second tally of the night at the 16:34 mark to once again even the score at four apiece. Neither team could pot the game-winner in regulation, so the contest was decided in overtime.
The Cyclones controlled the play early in the extra session, setting up another scramble in front of the Wheeling net. While Killeen was able to make an initial save on Taylor Aronson’s point blast, Slaney scooped up a rebound and deposited his second goal of the night, the game-winner, 2:36 into overtime. The Cyclones earned their first overtime victory by a 5-4 final score.
The Cyclones Radio Network Three Stars of the Game are as follows:
First Star: Rob Slaney (2 goals, 1 assist for Cincinnati)
Second Star: Anthony Luciani (1 goal for Cincinnati)
Third Star: Peter Lenes (2 goals, 2 assists for Wheeling)
The same two teams will do battle again tomorrow afternoon at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, West Virginia at 4:05pm.
The Cyclones will return to U.S. Bank Arena next Friday night, January 20, when they welcome in the Chicago Express at 7:30pm.
