The Maine Mariners and Cincinnati Cyclones face off to start the game during their ECHL matchup in Portland, Maine on Friday, February 8, 2019. Photo by Chris Lessner (click to enlarge)
PORTLAND, Me- The Central Division leading Cincinnati Cyclones came storming into Cross Insurance Arena on Friday with the second best record in the East Coast Hockey League, losers of just one game in their past 10 contests. They made a big statement in the first period against the Maine Mariners, scoring seven goals in the opening 20 minutes and cruising to an 8-1 win.
Cincinnati forward Brady Vail got things started in the first at 2:04 on the powerplay, followed by a Judd Petterson even strength goal just 38 seconds later. Myles Powell kept it going at 5:46 scoring shorthanded, and Vail scored again 1:43 later to make it 4-0. The Cyclones put up the four goals in just a span of 5:27. Cincinnati (31-8-3) had another flurry of goals late in the period. Devante Stephens scored at 17:45, followed 33 seconds later by Vails third of the period for the hat trick, and then Ben Johnson added one 1:27 after Vails third goal to make it 7-0.
Maine (22-23-1) got a second period powerplay goal by Greg Chase at 2:04 for their only highlight of the night. Pascal Aquin added a third period goal for Cincinnati. Aquin ended the night with five points, with a goal and four assists. Ed Minney took the loss in net for the Mariners playing a bulk of the time, giving up three goals on 20 shots in 42:40 of action. Connor LaCouvee played the other 17:20, and allowed five goals on just 13 shots. Jonas Johansson stopped 27 of 28 shots for the win in the Cyclones net. Maine falls to just 3-8 in their past 11 games, and 4-11 since the first game of 2019 back on January 4th.
The Maine Mariners are in their first season in the ECHL in Portland, Maine. The Mariners are the Double A affiliate of the New York Rangers, while their opponent Friday night Cincinnati is an affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. Maine is currently in 11th place in the Eastern Conference standings, five points back of a playoff spot with 26 games remaining in the ECHL regular season.
