Tempers flare as Cyclones sweep Everblades with 6-5 shootout victory

Matt Pierce netted two goals in regulation and a SO goal

The Cincinnati Cyclones (14-13-5-2) finished off the Florida Everblades for the third straight game in Estero, FL with a blood boiling 6-5 Shootout victory. 80 total penalty minutes, two game misconducts and 11 goals set the tone for the series finale.

Just as last night started, Florida jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Alexandre Imbeault scored his team-leading 18th goal of the season by beating Cyclones goalie Marc Cheverie. However, Cincinnati responded with a pair of goals of its own; the first one came at 5:12 when T.J. Fast stepped out of the corner and sniped a wrist shot over the glove-side shoulder of Everblades goalie Bobby Goepfert to knot the score.  Then, at the 16:58 mark, Matt Pierce finished a strong shift by scoring a similar goal just outside the right circle to give the Cyclones a 2-1 lead through the opening frame.

In the second period, in a simple word it was physical. 11 penalties were called during the period, most of which were called after the play had been whistled down. The Cyclones padded their lead at 8:08 when Brian O’Hanley blasted home his sixth goal of the year on the power play, making it 3-1.  However, on a Florida power play, Bobby Raymond batted home a one-timer with just 21 seconds left to pull his team within a goal, 3-2 at the second intermission.

The third period was a shooting gallery for both clubs.  Cincinnati temporarily extended their lead when Pierce tallied his second of the night only 32 seconds in, making it 4-2.  The Everblades raced back with goals from Francis Lemiuex and Imbeault only one minute apart to tie the score at four.  At exactly the 15:00 mark, Sam D’Agostino poked home his 8th of the season for the go-ahead goal underneath a sea of bodies to push the Cyclones out front again, 5-4.  Unfortunately, though, with just 1:03 left in regulation Bobby Raymond followed with a similar tally to once again even the score and send the teams in to overtime tied at 5-5.

ALL-STAR, Brian O'Hanley scored the SO Winner

The Cyclones got opportunites in the OT frame, thanks to a Florida Everblades penalty but could not find the net. So the game was sent to the shootout where the Cyclones stood at 1-2 this season. Matt Pierce, and Mathieu Aubin lit the lamp for Cincinnati while Florida’s Imbeault and Ernie Hartlieb found the net as well.
It came down to round 6 of the shootout as David Fischer was easily stopped by Marc Cheverie and entered Cyclones All-Star, Brian O'Hanley. Brian fired a wrister under the blocker of Goepfert to give the Cyclones a 6-5 win and the sweep of Florida.

The Cyclones with the victory, narrowed the point race with Wheeling to one point as the Nailers fell tonight in OT to the Reading Royals. The Cyclones are back at U.S. Bank Arena on Wednesday when they place host to the last place, Kalamazoo Wings who have defeated the Cyclones in all five contests this season.