Cincinnati Cyclones Spin the Thunder in Circles

The Adirondack Thunder faced off against the Cincinnati Cyclones in a thrilling ECHL matchup, proving once again why this league never fails to deliver high-intensity hockey. The action ignited early in the first period with a gloves-off brawl between Cincinnati’s #62 Justin Portillo and Adirondack’s #36 Sean Gulka, setting the tone for a physical contest. Moments later, the Cyclones struck first when #26 Chris Dodero found the back of the net with 8:55 remaining in the period. The momentum continued for Cincinnati as #24 Lincoln Griffin capitalized on a power play, securing an insurance goal with assists from #46 Justin Vaive and #63 Braeden Kressler, giving the Cyclones a 2-0 lead heading into the second period.

Adirondack, however, was not ready to back down. Determined to close the gap, #44 Darian Skeoch, assisted by #20 Savva Smirnov and #24 Josh Filmon, put the Thunder on the board, cutting the deficit to 2-1. The Cyclones held firm defensively, successfully shutting down any further scoring opportunities from Adirondack throughout the second period to maintain their one-goal lead.

The third period reignited the intensity, with both teams battling fiercely to take control. Cincinnati extended their lead as #24 Lincoln Griffin netted his second goal of the night unassisted, pushing the score to 3-1. Adirondack answered back with a goal from #72 Ryan Francis, assisted by #22 Gustav Müller and #7 Adrien Bisson, bringing the game within reach at 3-2. Despite relentless pressure from the Thunder, including 12 shots on goal in the final period, the Cyclones’ defense held strong. Notably, the third period was the cleanest of the game, with neither team committing a penalty.

In the end, Adirondack’s late push wasn’t enough to overcome Cincinnati’s resilience, and the Cyclones secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory.