The Cincinnati Enquirer

COLUMBUS - Ilja Bryzgalov blocked 30 shots and Todd Reirden scored in the first period to help the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks tie the Syracuse Crunch 1-1 Saturday in the AHL at Nationwide Arena.

Reirden tallied his third goal of the season and first on the power play 14:51 into the opening period for Cincinnati, which is unbeaten in its last four games (2-0-2-0).

Rob Valicevic collected an assist on Reirden's goal to extend his point streak to a season-high five games.

Mathieu Darche scored the game-opening goal with a power play strike 6:45 into the contest for Syracuse, which is winless in its last two games (0-1-1-0).

Karl Goehring stopped 28 of 29 shots in the stalemate.

Mighty Ducks	1	0	0	0-1
Syracuse	1	0	0	0-1

First period: 1. Syr, Darche 21 (Davidson, Nedorost), 6:45 (ppg). 2. Cin, Reirden 3 (Yarema, Valicevic), 14:51 (ppg).

Shots: Cin 13-6-6-4=29; Syr 9-8-10-4=31. Power plays: Cin 1-for-3; Syr 1-for-4. Goalies: Cin, Bryzgalov (31 shots, 30 saves; record 5-16-7); Syr, Goehring (29-28; 10-12-2).

A: 5,593. Records: Cin 15-22-10-4; Syr 16-27-6-3.

ECHL: Cyclones beat Dayton

FAIRBORN, Ohio - The Cincinnati Cyclones won their second consecutive road game with a 4-2 victory over the Dayton Bombers before 8,077 at Nutter Center.

Cincinnati struck first when defenseman Steve Gallace converted a power play goal at 17:14 of the first period. The play developed when the Cyclones executed a perfect passing combination between Matt Noga, Evan Cheverie, and Gallace, who ended a 17-game goal drought with the marker.

In the second period, the Cyclones built a 3-0 lead on goals from Mike Casselman just 14 seconds into the middle period and a power play goal from Joe Cardarelli at 13:05.

The Bombers would break the shutout bid of Gregg Naumenko when Blair Stayzer scored at 15:10 of the second period to cut the deficit to 3-1.

In the third period, Bob Crummer added Cincinnati's 4th goal at 12:26, which was offset by Dayton's shorthanded goal in a five-on-3 disadvantage by Ryan Vince at 18:52.

The Cyclones embark on a four-games-in-five-nights southern-swing through South Carolina and Georgia this week. The trip begins with a game at the Columbia Inferno at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Cyclones	1	2	1	- 4
Dayton	0	1	1	-2

First period: 1. Cin, Gallace 9 (Cheverie, Noga) ppg, 17:14.

Second period: 2. Cin, Casselman 11 (Cheverie) :14; 3. Cin, Cardarelli 23 (Labenski, Gaucher) ppg, 13:05; 4. Day, Stayzer 5 (Ling, Cummings) 15:10.

Third period: 5. Cin, Crummer 10 (Brand) 12:26; 6. Day, Vince 18 (Slukynsky, Thompson) shg, 18:52.

Power plays: Cin 2-for-8; Day 0-for-4. Goalies: Cin, Naumenko (3-2-1 record: 31 saves, 32 shots); Fukufuji (14-15, 3rd). Day, Bendera (13-15-4; 31-35). Att: 8,077.

Ducks center award candidate

Tony Martensson has moved into contention for the Dudley "Red'' Garrett Memorial Award as top AHL rookie.

The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks' center has made big strides in the rookie scoring race since Christmas. He now has 34 points including a team-leading 13 goals in 49 games.

"(Martensson) is our best playmaking center in Cincinnati,'' said Chuck Fletcher, director of hockey operations for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. "He sees the ice well, he's a good passer and a good skater. He just has good offensive instincts.''

Martensson, 22, from Upplands Vasby, Sweden, was Anaheim's ninth choice (224th overall) in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. The 6-foot, 189-pounder spent the past two seasons playing for Brynas IF Gavle of the Swedish Elite League, recording 24 goals and 28 assists in 100 games.