CINCINNATI, Ohio – Trent Daavetilla netted the game-winning goal late in the third period to send the Kalamazoo Wings (27-20-2-3) to a 4-2 victory over the Cincinnati Cyclones (22-21-6-3) in front of 2,426 at U.S. Bank Arena on Monday afternoon.  With the win, Kalamazoo is now unbeaten in regulation play over its last seven games (6-0-0-1).

After several chances for both sides, Cincinnati drew first blood with just 30 seconds left in the opening period when Paul McIlveen slammed home a rebound past Wings netminder Riley Gill (W, 22 saves, 9-6-0) for his eighth goal of the season.  With that tally, McIlveen has now earned a point in five consecutive contests and gave the Cyclones a 1-0 lead through 20 minutes.

In a penalty-filled second period, Kalamazoo buried the only goal; just seconds after a Cyclones penalty had expired, Kory Karlander’s turn-around wrist shot eluded Cyclones goalie Brian Foster (L, 30 saves, 1-1-0) to knot the score at one with 15:23 gone.  Despite the tally, Cincinnati’s penalty-kill unit extinguished a total of six Kalamazoo power plays heading into the second intermission.

The third period saw more offense than either of the first two combined, as four goals were scored collectively.  The first came at 6:20 when Brian McGuirk sent home a wrist shot past Foster for a brief 2-1 Kalamazoo advantage.  Cincinnati answered back at the 10:42 mark as Samson Mahbod worked his way through the Wings defense and sniped one over the shoulder of Gill for the equalizer.  Just a couple minutes later, after Brock Sheahan got slammed into the back-wall without drawing a penalty, a loose puck came free to the Cyclones slot where Trent Daavettila was waiting; the fourth-year forward blasted in his 21st of the season to put Kalamazoo up for good, 3-2.  In the final minutes, Cincinnati pulled Foster in hopes of tying the game – however, Aaron Clarke chased down a loose puck at center ice and potted the empty-netter to cap off the scoring at 4-2.

The Cyclones Radio Network Three Stars of the Game are as follows:
1.    Trent Daavettila (1 goal, 1 assist, game winning-goal for Kalamazoo)
2.    Samson Mahbod (1 goal for Cincinnati)
3.    Brian McGuirk (1 goal for Kalamazoo)
                                                               
The defending Kelly Cup Champions will return to U.S. Bank Arena this Wednesday, February 23, when they continue their series against the Wings.  It will be another Wet Wednesday with $1 PBR and Miller High Life flowing all night long.  2010-11 single game and discounted group tickets are available now.  2011-12 season tickets go on sale to the general public on March 5.  For more information, call 513.421.PUCK (7825) or visit CyclonesHockey.com.

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