Cincinnati, Ohio – The Evansville IceMen were unable to leave Cincinnati with a win after falling decisively to the Cyclones on Friday night. Cincinnati Forward John McFarland scored three goals, completing the second hat-trick given up by the IceMen this season.
The Cyclones broke Evansville’s trend of strong special teams play, going 3-for-6 (50%) on the power play, and killing off all IceMen man advantages, holding Evansville’s power play to 0-for-3.
Cincinnati’s scoring ways were set early, tallying their first goal just 56 seconds into the opening period. McFarland’s first goal of the game was assisted by Cincinnati Center Michael Pelech and Right Winger Mathieu Aubin. McFarland’s opening marker came off a blue-line turnover committed by IceMen Forward Nathan Moon.
Scoring Cincinnati’s second of its three opening period goals was Forward Josh Shalla 7:39 into the frame. Assists on Shalla’s third goal in two games against Evansville were McFarland and Pelech, each earning their second points within the opening eight minutes of the game. Shalla is now tied for the goals lead for Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Forward Francois Bouchard gave the Cyclones a 3-0 lead that lasted the entirety of the first period. Bouchard’s fourth goal of the season came on the power play, 18:31 into the period. Earning the first assist on the goal was Cincinnati Defenseman Maury Edwards.
Two more goals were added by the Cyclones in the second period, giving Cincinnati a commanding 5-0 lead heading into the third period. Edwards earned his first goal of the season with a power play marker 6:41 into the second period and was voted the game’s third star, finishing with two points (1G, 1A).
McFarland found the back of the net 13:45 into the second period for the second time on the night. Assisting on the fifth Cincinnati goal of the game was Pelech and Aubin, who would also assist on McFarland’s hat-trick, power play goal that came 5:58 into the third period. McFarland ended the game as the first star, accounting for four points (3G, 1A) and concluding with a +3 rating. Pelech received the game’s second star honor, accumulating four points (4A) and a +3 rating.
Putting the IceMen on the board and avoiding the shutout was Center Jason Dale 12:14 into the third period. Dale’s third lamp-lighter of the season was assisted by IceMen Defenseman Daniel Tetrault.
The final twelve minutes of the game was flurried with altercations. IceMen Defenseman Matt Gens and Forward Jim McKenzie both received ten-minute misconduct penalties at the 8:21 mark of the final period. Just 32 seconds later, Cincinnati’s Pelech convincingly high-sticked IceMen Right Winger Dan Gendur. Evansville’s Moon retaliated the infraction and joined Pelech in the penalty box. And with just 8 seconds remaining in regulation, Evansville’s McKenzie received an instigation penalty after getting involved in an altercation with a Cyclones player.
Receiving the loss in his IceMen debut was Goaltender Allen York, who was pulled during the second intermission. York allowed five goals on 23 shots faced. Relieving the new-coming IceMen goalie was Paul Karpowich, who saved 9-of-10 shots faced in the third period.
The winning goaltender was Cincinnati’s Magnus Hellburg, who compiled a .963 save percentage. He saved 26-of-27 shots faced. Hellburg made his first start for the Cyclones in the victory.
Evansville was outshot on Friday night, 33-27, and were outshot during the two-game series in Cincinnati, 64-48. The IceMen have the fewest shots on goal in the ECHL.
The IceMen power play suffered in the two games against Cincinnati, going 1-for-8, a 12.5% success rate. Evansville’s penalty killing unit fought off nine of Cincinnati’s twelve power play opportunities in the two games. Cincinnati dominated the total goal output between the two meetings, outscoring Evansville, 10-2.
Evansville falls to 21(6-14-1)13 overall, going 5(1-4-0)2 during their five-game road trip. The IceMen now have a combined road record of 11(4-6-1)9 on the season. The Cyclones improve their first-place record in the North Division to 18(12-4-2)26 for the 2012-13 campaign.
The IceMen return home tomorrow night, Dec. 1 as they welcome the Kalamazoo Wings to the Ford Center for the second time. The game starts at 7:15 p.m. and will be broadcasted on ‘Magic 98.5’ FM and 1400 AM WEOA.
