Cyclone Hockey’s penalty-kill unit got a workout this past weekend with Central Oklahoma.

The No. 9 Cyclones (32-9-3, 14-5-1 CSCHL) managed a 3-2 shootout win against the No. 11 Bronchos (25-14-3) on Feb. 14 but lost the following night, 6-3.

Throughout the series, the Cyclones struggled to keep their penalties in check, having 17 overall that resulted in 45 minutes spent in the box. This created 12 power play chances for the Bronchos, which they were able to convert into four goals.

With all these mistakes on the ice, Iowa State finished the regular season with a few question marks.

“It is hard to regain momentum when you get so many penalties,” said ISU coach Jason Fairman. “It just put us in a hole. It is going to happen, but it was two nights in a row we had to deal with penalties.  So maybe there is something I need to take a closer look at.”

Iowa State has posted an 85 percent penalty-kill percentage overall this season. This dipped to 67 percent in the series with the Bronchos.

ISU senior forward Mark Huber said this drop can have a huge impact on the game.

“It mixes up the line combinations and kind of changes the dynamic of the game,” Huber said. “I think that is the biggest thing. Like I said, I think we were a little off [Feb. 15]. For some reason there wasn’t very much spark.” 

Fairman said that although lately the Cyclones were taking steps forward in developing their game, he felt something was missing against the Bronchos. 

“We got out-played tonight,” Fairman said. “This was the most disappointed I am in our play since I have been a coach here.”

Even though Fairman thought Iowa State could have performed better, he was still puzzled by some of the officials’ calls. He said this led to frustration on the bench, which threw the Cyclones off their game.

“Every team has to deal with refereeing at some point of the season, you just have to battle through it,” Fairman said. “I didn’t even see where the penalties were. There were times I thought we were heading to the power play, and then we’re in the box.”

Next weekend, the Cyclones start playoff hockey when they travel to Lindenwood to compete in the Central States Collegiate Hockey League Tournament.

ISU junior goalie Matt Cooper believes the loss Central Oklahoma will only improve Iowa State’s chances of making a run in the postseason.

“It will be good for us,” Cooper said. “It is better to come off a loss, I think, than to just keep rolling. The playoffs aren’t going to be like the regular season. There’s a different game every night, and we are going to have to battle no matter what the circumstances are.”