Saturday, February 19, 2000
Cleveland 3, Cyclones 2
Lumberjacks outmuscle Cincinnati
BY JOHN P. WISE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Students showing a college ID got in cheap to the Cyclones' game Friday night, but it was the Firstar Center penalty box that looked more like a fraternity party in Cincinnati's 3-2 loss to Cleveland.
Three separate times, a total of eight would-be skaters were serving simultaneous penalties.
Several fights highlighted the list of offenses that sent four of each team's players to the penalty box at once in each period.
Few Bengals-Browns games have seen this many scuffles.
“They're an aggessive team,” Cyclones center Todd Simon said. Cincinnati is nearing the end of a stretch of nine games in 14 days. The tired team met an angry Cleveland team, sporting a season-worst five game winless streak. “Intimidation was probably part of their game plan (Friday). And there's a good rivalry between us.”
Other than the physical nature of the game, most agreed it was a good one nonetheless.
“Except that we didn't win it,” Cyclones coach Ron Smith said. “(Cleveland's) a fresh team trying to get out of a losing streak. A good way to do that is come out swinging.”
With 4:20 left, Jeff Paul smashed a slap shot past Cyclones goalie Jean-Marc Pelletier from above the right circle for the game-winner.
Third-place Cleveland also got goals from Casey Hankinson and Jeff Christian in the opening period.
Brian Felsner and Len Esau scored for Cincinnati, fresh off a 3-2 road trip that pushed the team ahead of Milwaukee for fourth place. Esau's goal required some splendid stickwork after he picked up a loose puck near the blue line. He skated past a pair of Cleveland defenders and launched a slap shot from the top of the right circle. His sixth goal of the year tied the game, 2-2, early in the third period.
Cincinnati returns to fifth place, as Milwaukee defeated Detroit Friday. But the Cyclones can continue the game of leapfrog with a win at Michigan tonight, while Milwaukee is idle.
The Cyclones then return to Firstar Center for an afternoon rematch with Cleveland. Face-off is 2 p.m.
“Every team in the conference has a tough stretch in the schedule at some point,” Simon said. “It's just our turn right now.”
Cleveland ....... 2 0 1—3
Cincinnati ....... 1 0 1—2
First period: Cle, Hankinson 5 (Perrott, Pepperall) 1:19; Cin, Felsner 11 (Kuznik, Ustorf) 5:53; Cle, Christian 21 (Longo, Harkins) 10:38.
Second period: None.
Third period: Cin, Esau 6 (unassisted) 2:28; Cle, Paul 4 (Paek, Harkins) 15:40.
Shots on goal: Cle, 10-12-10=32; Cin, 10-7-5=22. Goalies: Cle, Lamothe (20 saves); Cin, Pelletier (29). Power plays: Cle, 0-for-1; Cin, 0-for-3.
Attendance: 9,537.
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