PEKAR SCORES FIRST ECHL GOAL IN 4-3 OT LOSS TO IOWA
In upset fashion, Brendan Robbins scored 4:58 into overtime, guiding Iowa to a 4-3 overtime win over the Cyclones Saturday night at Xtream Arena.
The Cyclones took their first road loss of the season after beginning the year 5-0 away from home, but still managed to grab a standings point for the 12th time 13 games. Cincinnati is 10-1-1-1 on the season, while Iowa improves to 2-8-2-1.
- The Cyclones jumped out to a 1-0 lead for the eighth time this season, thanks to a goal from Louie Caporusso to the right of the net. Caporusso caught a pass from behind the goal of Iowa's Corbin Kaczperski to slam home his sixth of the season 12:28 into the frame.
- Iowa's Kevin McKernan tied the game early in the second, beating a sprawling Mark Sinclair who had made multiple split-second saves to that point, before McKernan found a way to solve him 3:11 into the middle period.
- Cincinnati and Iowa then traded goals later in the second to enter the third tied at two. Phil Lagunov gave the 'Clones a 2-1 lead with his second of the season on a backhand tuck by Kaczperski in the crease, but the 'Landers answered late in the frame on a power play goal from Tyler Busch. The power play goal was only the second the Cyclones have allowed on the road this season.
- Matej Pekar scored his first goal as a Cyclone 1:24 into the third of a pass sent his way while crashing the net. Pekar angled his skate to redirect the puck into the goal, giving Cincinnati a 3-2 lead.
- A pair of power play opportunities for the Cyclones followed the goal by Pekar. Cincinnati at one point led in third period shots, 11-1, pressuring Kaczperski and the Iowa defense relentlessly, but the Heartlanders managed to stay within a goal for Cole Stallard to knot the game up late in the third.
- Robbins overtime finish came as the forward carried the puck to the front of Sinclair's crease, then sailing a backhand into the goal for the game winner.
- Sinclair finished the game with 24 saves and has made 103 over the past three games.
- The Cyclones conclude their three game road trip Sunday afternoon with a rematch against the Heartlanders.
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