The Wausau Cyclones traveled to West Bend for the second and final time this season and came away with a split with the Power. The Power took game one on Saturday with a 5-2 win and Wausau was able to score with just :33 remaining on Sunday to grab the 4-3 victory.
Saturday both teams were off to a slow start with no scoring in the first period. Wausau started the scoring at the 6:35 mark of the second period on a power play goal. Justin LaGrow answered for the Power at the 10:03 mark to tie the game 1-1. He was assisted by Matthew Ebersole and Jacob Renbarger. The Power then took advantage of a 5-minute major head contact penalty by Gage Vierzba scoring twice. Patrick Toomey, assisted by Mike Dalaly and Blake Keller and Matthew Ebersole, assisted by Dalaly and Toomey were able to capitalize on the major penalty bringing the score to 3-1 after two periods.
Max Mudge added to the Power lead at the 3:34 mark of the third period off assists from Toomey and Odin Klebba. Jack Wojnowski scored from long range at the 9:02 mark off assists from Toomey and Luke Nemeth to bring the lead to 5-1. Wausau was able to get one more goal at the 18:46 mark bringing the final margin of victory 5-2.
Adam Prokop stopped 35 of 37 shots in the Power net.
The Ally Three Stars of the Game were Matthew Ebersole, Adam Prokop and Patrick Toomey. The Versi-Foam Hard Hat Player of the Game was Tommy Kundinger.
In Sunday’s afternoon match up, penalties proved to be the difference maker in the 4-3 Power loss. Like Saturday, the first period remained scoreless for both teams. Wausau got the scoring started again, with goals at the 5:38 and 7:11 mark of the second period to take a 2-0 lead. Connor O’Neal got the Power on the board when he tipped a shot from Tommy Kundinger. Owen Drake also assisted the Power’s first goal. Max Erstad tied it up at the 13:57 mark off assists from Riley Planey and Blake Keller bringing the game to a 2-2 tie after two periods of play.
The Power took the lead at the 4:52 mark of the third period when Jack Wojnowski again shot long range and going top shelf past Wausau goalie Mitch Miscevich. He was assisted by Luke Nemeth and Odin Klebba. The rest of the scoring was from Wausau, both on Power play goals at the 13:01 and 19:27 mark to take the 4-3 win. Brett Holmer saved 27 of 31 Cyclones shots. The Versi-Foam Hard Hat Player of the Game was Liam Fraser.
The Power remains in 4th place in the Central Division with a 19-11-2-1 record.
The Power’s next games are at home at Kettle Moraine Ice Center Saturday, January 21 at 6:00pm and Sunday, January 22 at 12:15pm when they take on the Rochester Grizzlies. Saturday is Scout and Youth Hockey Night. All girl and boy scouts and youth hockey players get in free when wearing their uniform.
Both games will be broadcast on Hockey TV.
