Cyclones Kick Off Four-Game Week With Big Win Over Iowa

The Cincinnati Cyclones started off a four-game week on a positive note, picking up a convincing 4-1 victory over the Iowa Heartlanders Tuesday night at Heritage Bank Center.

It was just the fourth win of the season for the Cyclones (4-15-3), who took down one of the top teams in the ECHL in Iowa, who fell to 13-7-3 following the loss.

Cincy took control of the first period, outshooting the Heartlanders 14-3. Chas Sharpe got his club on the board from the top of the right circle that beat Iowa goaltender Kyle McClellan low blocker.

It was Sharpe’s team-leading seventh goal of the season, with Ty Voit and Josh Burnside picking up assists.

Voit would score his own goal just 51 seconds into the second period on a breakaway, taking a pass from Jacob Frasca and firing a forehand-backhand shot past McClellan for a 2-0 lead.

Landon Cato increased the Cyclones lead to 3-0, rifling one in from the far circle at the 7:32 mark of the middle frame. It was Cato’s first professional goal, with Kyle Bollers and Dante Sheriff getting helpers.

Cincy scored its final goal on a power-play to cap off a three-goal second period. Lincoln Griffin was set up by Sharpe and Mathieu Gosselin along the perimeter. It was Griffin’s fifth goal of the season and the ninth assist of the campaign for Gosselin, best on the team. Gosselin also leads the club in points with 12.

The Cyclones came into Tuesday sporting a 3-0-0 record when leading after the second period. The lead would hold up on this night, although Iowa finally got on the board 36 seconds into the third. Nico Blachman tallied his third of the year on a bouncer to cut the Cyclones lead to 4-1, which would be the final score. Adam Goodsir and Ryan Miotto assisted.

Jon Gillies was excellent in net for Cincinnati, stopping 19 of 20 shots to earn his first win of the season and first wearing a Cyclones uniform. McClellan stopped 23 shots in the loss, snapping his three-game winning streak.

The Cyclones and Heartlanders face off again Wednesday night at Heritage Center in the second of a back-to-back. Puck drop is set for 7:35 Pm ET.