CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Wheeling Nailers defeated the Cincinnati Cyclones, 6-0, Saturday night to even their best of seven North Division semifinal series at three wins apiece. Reid Cashman scored a pair of first period goals to help pace the victory for Wheeling.
For the first time in Kelly Cup playoffs history, the visiting team has won six games in a series. Each team has now registered three wins in its opponent’s facility. The seventh, and decisive game, will be played at U.S. Bank Arena on Monday night (April 20) at 7:30pm.
The Nailers scored early, and often, in this tilt.
Wheeling exploded for four opening period goals to grab a commanding lead and decide the game early.
Defenseman Reid Cashman scored the first of his two goals in the term just 40 seconds into the game.
Billy Ryan and Bryan Ewing scored the other goals of the period for the Nailers. Tommy Goebel, Doug Krantz, Cashman, Ewing and Ryan all had two points in the period. The Nailers won the shots on goal battle in the period, 17-15. It was only the fourth time in 16 periods of the series that Wheeling outshot Cincinnati. The Nailers 2-0 lead was popped open after the Nailers scored twice on a five-on-three power play in a 45 second time frame. It was the sixth time this season that the Cyclones surrendered four or more goals in a period---the fourth time they have been victimized by Wheeling.
The Cyclones had plenty of opportunities in the second period, ringing a pair of shots off goal posts, having six power play chances—including 1:21 of five-on-three time—but were unable to score. The Nailers added to the lead when former Cyclone Erik Johnson scored a breakaway goal at 15:47. It was his first score of the postseason and it extended the lead to 5-0. The shots on goal again favored Cincinnati, 14-7.
The Nailers closed the scoring with a power play goal just 4:03 into the final frame, as Chris Snavely collected his second of the playoffs. The shots on goal in the third period favored Cincinnati, 12-9, in the period and 41-33 for the game.
The seventh game of the best-of-seven series will be Monday night (April 20). It will be played at U.S. Bank Arena. This will be a 7:30pm contest and will be carried on www.cycloneshockey.com. During last season’s Kelly Cup run, the Cyclones also played in a seventh game—in the North Division Finals, the club defeated Reading to advance to the American Conference Finals to battle South Carolina.
Cincinnati will play a game seven of a series for the third time in club history.
Tickets for the 2009-10 Cincinnati Cyclones season are now on sale. The Cyclones Sales Department can be reached at 513-421-PUCK, extension 3. For the latest news, notes and information on the team, visit: www.cycloneshockey.com . Ask about the Family Four Pack (four tickets, four hot dogs, four Pepsis, four Cyclones winter hats, four public skate passes at SportsPlus and a SportsPlus game card) for just $77!
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