Las Vegas Hits Jackpot Once, Beats Cyclones 1-0
Source: Las Vegas Wranglers
May 26, 2008 - 6:47:06 AM
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Adam Miller's fourth goal of the postseason with 4:20 to play in the third period was the lone score in a 1-0 win for Las Vegas over the Cincinnati Cyclones on Sunday night. The triumph by the Wranglers knots the series at one win apiece as the next three games are played in Las Vegas. Kevin Lalande stopped all 27 shots to collect his second shutout of the playoffs. Cedrick Desjardins turned in a 20 saves in the defeat.
This was the second game of the best of seven Kelly Cup Finals. The third game will be held at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Thursday night at 10:05pm (ET). It is the first time in 35 years that a Cincinnati pro hockey team has competed in it's league finals. The last team to compete for a championship was the 1973 Cincinnati Swords, which captured the AHL's Calder Cup in five games over Nova Scotia.
UPDATE: The crowd of 6897, gave the Cyclones a total of 15,573 for the weekend-the largest opening two game total in Kelly Cup Finals play since 14,801 saw the opening round at Florida in 2004. The total also pushed Cincinnati to 41,567 fans at U.S. Bank Arena for the Kelly Cup playoffs-the 19th highest single season playoff total in ECHL history.
There was no scoring in either of the first two periods, with Cincinnati holding a 9-6 shot advantage in the first period and Las Vegas holding a 9-7 shot edge in the middle frame. Cincinnati outshot the Wranglers, 11-6, in the third period and held the edge for the game at 27-21.
The teams are competing for the Kelly Cup, presented annually by the ECHL to its playoff champion. This is the 20th season of operation for the ECHL and the Cyclones first trip to the Finals series. Cincinnati swept Johnstown in four games, knocked off Reading in seven games and defeated South Carolina in five games to reach this series. Las Vegas dropped Stockton in six games, Alaska in five games and swept Utah to reach the Kelly Cup Finals. It is the first-ever Finals trip for the Wranglers as well.
The series marks the first time in ECHL history that two John Brophy Trophy winners (ECHL Coach of the Year) have faced one another for the championship. Cyclones Head Coach Chuck Weber won the award this season and Glen Gulutzan of Las Vegas captured the award in 2005-06.
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