Houser, Cyclones Blank Gladiators 5-0
CINCINNATI, Ohio – Goaltender Michael Houser earned his first professional playoff shutout by turning aside 23 shots as the Cincinnati Cyclones (6-3 playoffs) defeated the Gwinnett Gladiators (5-2 playoffs) by a 5-0 final score in front of 1,728 at U.S. Bank Arena on Wednesday night. The victory gave Cincinnati a 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semifinals.
After a first period in which neither team was able to light the lamp, the Cyclones broke the deadlock just 2:49 into the middle frame. With Gwinnett down a man due to a hooking violation by Sacha Guimond, John McFarland skated across the blue line, through several defenders, and into the slot. He fired a wrist shot by goaltender Louis Domingue (L, 31 saves, 5-2) to give the Cyclones a 1-0 edge. Captain Mathieu Aubin made it a two-goal game at the 14:11 mark on another power play, when he launched a slap shot from the top of the left circle and into the back of the net. Less than two minutes later, Trevor Lewis fed the puck from behind the goal to a waiting McFarland who knocked a one-timer through Domingue’s legs from the top of the crease for his second tally of the night. Cincinnati carried their 3-0 lead into the second intermission.
The Cyclones added some insurance goals in the final stanza. Mike Pelech picked up a loose puck in front of the Gwinnett goal after an Aubin shot; Pelech flashed some stick handling moves to fool Domingue, and lifted the puck over the net minder’s right leg. McFarland earned a secondary assist on the score for his third point of the contest. Then, at 12:24, David Pacan finished off a beautiful odd-man rush with Trevor Lewis by burying his sixth goal of the postseason. Pacan’s lamp lighter capped off a 5-0 game. And thanks to a stellar night for Michael Houser (W, 23 saves, 6-3), he earned his first career playoff shutout.
The Cyclones Radio Network Stars of the Game are as follows:
First Star: Michael Houser (Shutout, 23 saves, Winning Goaltender)
Second Star: John McFarland (2 goals, 1 assist, Game winning goal)
Third Star: Mathieu Aubin (1 goal, 1 assist for Cincinnati)
The Cyclones and Gladiators will continue their best-of-seven series at U.S. Bank Arena on Friday, April 24 at 7:30pm for Game 4, featuring $3 Summer Shandy beers!! Call 513.421.PUCK or visit CyclonesHockey.com to reserve your seats! On-air coverage of the action can be heard on the Cyclones Radio Network (FM 100 The FAN, America One, CyclonesHockey.com) starting at 7:15pm. Fans can also get the latest team updates throughout the season on Facebook and Twitter (@CincyCyclones).
