Monday, January 24, 2000
Cyclones win 4th straight
BY JOHN P. WISE
Enquirer contributor
The Cyclones began the second half of the IHL season Sunday night at Firstar Center, and they showed they can beat teams other than patsies Detroit and Michigan.
Cincinnati earned a 2-1 shootout victory against Utah, the Western Conference's second-place team. Stefan Ustorf, the last shooter, broke a 3-3 deadlock in the overtime shootout when he beat Utah goalie Mike Buzak. The Grizzlies had won seven of their last nine games.
“I think we beat the best team in the league,” said coach Ron Smith, whose Cyclones have won four straight. “That was a well-played game.”
Friday and Saturday, Cincinnati beat Detroit and Michigan, the two teams below the Cyclones in the Eastern Conference. Until Sunday, Cincinnati was only 10-16-3 against everybody else in the IHL.
The winners got a second-period, power-play goal from Todd Simon and rode the shutout of goalie Marc Magliarditi until midway through the final period. That's when Paul Kruse scored on a rebound to tie the game.
“Shootouts definitely make you nervous, but it's a fun nervous,” Magliarditi said. “The tie already gives your team a point, but you have the chance to beat the shooter and give your team an extra point.”
Utah ....... 0 0 1 (0)—1
Cincinnati ....... 0 1 0 (1)—2
First period: None.
Second period: Cin Simon 9 (Morgan, Dionne) 8:09 (ppg).
Third period: Utah Kruse 1 (Brady, Neaton) 8:20.
Shootout goals: Utah Purves, Tallaire, Bonneau; Cin Willis, Felsner, Simon, Ustorf. Shots on goal: Utah 11-12-13=36; Cin 8-8-9=25. Goalies: Utah Buzak (24 saves) Cin Magliarditi (35). Power plays: Utah 0-for-5; Cin 1-for-5.
Attendance: 6,382.
CLONES' MOVES: Cincinnati continues to tweak its roster for a playoff run in the season's second half. Days after acquiring IHL All-Star Game MVP Brian Felsner from Houston, the Cyclones Sunday got two more players who are expected to contribute immediately.
Center Byron Ritchie and goalie Jean-Marc Pelletier will join the team this week, as part of the deal that sent NHL star Keith Primeau from Carolina to Philadelphia.
Ritchie starred for New Haven of the AHL last year. He has appeared in 26 games for the Cyclones' NHL parent club, Carolina, this year. Pelletier posted a 14-10-0 record with the Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL; he played in that league's All-Star Game last week.
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