Cincinnati Cyclones Chase Reading Royals Off Ice, Take 5-4 Win - ECHL

MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com - CINCINNATI – The Cincinnati Cyclones parlayed a pair of first period goals from David Desharnais and a pair of assists from Mathieu Aubin in a 5-4 win over the Reading Royals, Friday night. The win ran Cincinnati ’s unbeaten in regulation stretch at home to 20 games (18-0-2).

The Cyclones opened the first period with a three goal attack. Rookie David Desharnais deked out goaltender Terry Denike at 5:34 to pick up his 15^th goal of the season off a feed from James Sixsmith. Desharnais picked up his second of the night and 19^th of the year at 13:02. Waiting at the left goalpost, Desharnais re-directed a shot from the slot by Jason Deitsch, while Mathieu Aubin started the play off the left half wall to register the power play goal. At 16:51, Barret Ehgoetz collected his 15^th goal of the season burying a shot over Denike from Scott Reynolds and Aubin.

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For Desharnais, it marked the 25^th consecutive game that he has registered a point—the longest stretch in the ECHL this season. During this run, Desharnais has eight goals and 34 assists for 42 points and has since taken over the ECHL’s scoring lead with 76 points. It also marked the 29^th time this season that Cincinnati has scored three or more goals in a period.

In the second period, just 58 second in, rookie Billy Irish-Baker pulled the trigger from the left point and snuck a shot between the legs of Denike for his eighth goal of the season. Barret Ehgoetz won a faceoff to Irish-Baker, who snapped off the shot. The shots on goal in the middle frame were tied at three apiece.

The Cyclones extended their lead to 5-0, when Matt Syroczynski picked up his 25^th goal of the season at 2:46. Desharnais and Alexandre Dulac-Lemelin had the assists. Reading scored the final four goals of the game, the first from Brock Hooton (shorthanded) at 6:06. Dany Roussin netted his 19^th on the power play at 11:16. Vladimir Dravecky bagged his second at 16:45 and Joe Zappala had his 15^th at 19:07 to make the final, 5-4.

Max Daigneault stopped 22 shots in picking up his eighth win of the season.

The Cincinnati Cyclones are 35 games above .500 for the first time in team history, with a 44-9-3 record and sole possession of first place in the North Division—20 points ahead of second place Reading and Elmira . The win gives Cincinnati a 28-3-1 record since December 15. Reading is 33-19-5. The 44 wins are the most ever by the club.

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