Cyclones rally to beat Wheeling in OT, 5-4

WHEELING, W.Va — Cincinnati scored two goals in the final seven minutes to force overtime and Matt McLeod scored in the extra frame to give the Cyclones a 5-4 comeback win over the Wheeling Nailers on Sunday afternoon.

Zack Andrusiak continued his scoring streak, scoring his fourth goal in as many games 11:31 into the first. After Wheeling goaltender Taylor Gauthier turned aside his initial shot, Andrusiak recovered the puck for a second attempt that found the back of the net and a 1-0 Cincinnati lead.

Wheeling would tie the game as Bobby Hampton would get a shot past Beck Warm with 3:30 to play in the first.

The Nailers would dominate the second period, building a 3-1 lead thanks to a power play goal by Matt Alfaro and Tyler Drevitch scoring midway through the period.

Matt Berry would get a goal back for Cyclones at the 17:56 mark of the second. The veteran winger floated the puck through some traffic to beat goalie Taylor Gauthier to make the score 3-2 as the teams went into the final intermission.

Wheeling's Cedric Desruisseaux extended the Nailers lead back to two on a power play goal 12:19 into the third, as his shot got through the legs of Warm.

Shortly after, Cincinnati would go on the power play when Sean Allen would draw a penalty.

Andrusiak would ignite the rally, taking a loose puck behind the goal and skating to the right side before burying the puck past Gauthier to cut the deficit to one.

Justin Vaive followed up two minutes later, crashing the crease and striking through the Nailers' defense to tie the game up with 4:14 left and send the game into overtime.

The Cyclones would complete the comeback 2:24 into the extra period, as Louie Caporusso would skate through center ice before dishing the puck to McLeod. The speedy winger raced into the right wing and sent the puck between Gauthier's legs, to give Cincinnati a 5-4 comeback win.

Cincinnati is now 15-4-2-2 on the season and have won all four meetings against the Nailers. The Cyclones four-game road trip continues on Wednesday when they face the Kalamazoo Wings.