Click here for tonight's game note packet

DATE: Saturday, March 16, 2013
TIME: 7:05pm ET
SITE: Sovereign Center - Reading, PA
WEBCAST: CyclonesHockey.com (America One)
RADIO: FM 100 The FAN (100.3 FM)

NHL AFFILIATES
Cincinnati Cyclones: Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators
Reading Royals: Washington Capitals

NEXT HOME GAME
Friday, March 29 vs. Evansville - 7:30pm
CINCINNATI'S LARGEST FISH FRY

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP: After officially securing a Kelly Cup Playoff bid last night in Trenton, the Cyclones set their sights on the Reading Royals tonight in a battle for first place in the East. Cincinnati could also clinch the North Division title tonight if they can earn a win. The Royals, though, have taken both of the meetings with Cincinnati this season. Since 2006, the Clones have amassed a 31-18-5-4 record in regular season action.

SCOUTING THE ROYALS: Larry Courville’s club has won five of their last six games and have pulled into a tie with the Cyclones atop the Eastern Conference headboard. During the recent six game surge, they’ve outscored their opponents by a total of 24-8. Yannick Tifu leads the Royals offensively, posting 63 points (24 goals, 39 assists) in 65 games. Rookie David Vallorani has enjoyed a solid start to his pro career, earning 52 points in 61 contests thus far in 2012-13. Former Kalamazoo Wings backstop Riley Gill has landed in Reading and has started in the team’s last eight games, picking up a pair of shutouts in that span. This season, Gill is 6-2-0 with a stingy 1.26 goals-against average.

Tempo Setters: A common thread in Cincinnati’s road success has been the early lead. Of their 19 victories away from U.S. Bank Arena, the Cyclones scored the game’s first goal in 16 of them. Overall, Jarrod Skalde’s team has notched the opening goal in 31 of their 64 games…the third most in the ECHL.

Shooting Gallery: The Cyclones have really ramped up the shots on net totals. They have registered 33 shots or more in each of their last seven games and are now averaging 31.35 per game. Cincinnati is 28-7-3-1 when outshooting its opponents.

Seed--Team--Games Left--Pts
X 1--CIN--7--88
X 2--REA--7--88
3--GWT--5--81
4--FLA--8--77
5--ELM--8--75
6--GRN--7--75
7--SC--6--75
8--TOL--8--73
================
9--KAL--9--69
10--WHL--9--65
(X = clinched playoff spot)

SEASON SERIES (3 TOTAL, 1 REMAINING)
Nov. 16 Reading 4 at Cincinnati 2 Final
Jan. 18 Cincinnati 1 at Reading 4 Final
Mar. 16 Cincinnati at Reading 7:05pm EDT