Newcomers Craig Duncanson and Shawn Evans wasted no time making their presence felt with their new team Thursday.
The duo, who were traded to the Cyclones Monday from the Fort Wayne Komets, helped lead Cincinnati to a 4-2 win over the Michigan K-Wings at the Gardens.
Duncanson assisted on Don Biggs' goal 1:38 into the game, and Evans helped Scott Morrow on a goal 35 seconds later to jump start the Cyclones offense.
Mike Stevens scored two goals and assisted on another as the Cyclones won their second straight to claim sole possession of third place in the Northeast Division behind leaders Detroit and Orlando.
Goaltender Todd MacDonald
saved 21 shots for his ninth win of the season.
Duncanson played for Cyclones coach Ron Smith in Binghamton of the American League in 1993 along with Biggs and Stevens.
''This was deja vu for me,'' Smith said of the reunion. ''The thing with Craig is he is such a smart player. Right away he brought a voice to the bench, talking it up and being a real pro.''
Duncanson said he was glad to go from a last-place team in Fort Wayne to a possible contender in Cincinnati.
''We had a lot of fun that year, and we scored a lot of goals,'' he said. ''Any guy who comes in and plays left wing with Don and Mike is going to look good.''
Biggs' goal was his 100th as a
Cyclone, and his first in 10 games.
Duncanson took a clearing pass from Stevens just outside the Cyclones' offensive zone and slipped a pass to Biggs, who went top shelf on K-Wings goaltender Manny Fernandez.
''Our lined played like we knew where each other was going to be all night,'' Biggs said. ''And scoring that goal took some pressure off me, and it was nice to get it early.''
Cyclone Mike Casselman, out since Jan. 31 with a knee injury, is expected back this weekend.
Michigan 0 2 0 - 2
Cincinnati 3 1 0 - 4
First period: 1. Cin., Biggs 16 (Duncanson, Steven s) 1:38; 2. Cin., Morrow 11 (Thomas, Evans) 2:13; 3. Cin., Stevens (Biggs). Penalties: none.
Second period: 4. Mich., Brady 8 (Elynuik, Der. Smith) 6:46; 5. Mich., Elynuik 16 (Brady, Peacock) 11:47; 6. Cin., Stevens 20 (DiPietro) 16:51. Penalties: Mich., Cote (boarding) 8:07; Mich., Berry (holding) 9:23; Mich., Cote (fighting) 12:11; Cin., Dandenault (fighting) 12:11; Cin., Stevens (interference) 14:24.
Third period: no scoring. Penalties: Cin., Duncanson (holding) 5:16; Cin., Bergeron (holding) 13:26.
Shots: Cin., 17-13-8-38; Mich., 5-8-10-23. Penalties: Cin., 4-11; Mich., 3-9. Goaltenders: Cin., MacDonald 21-23; Mich., Fernandez 34-38. Attendance: 4,271. Time: 10:11.
