On Friday it was Mr. Clutch, Allen Raushel.

On Saturday it was a third-period offensive explosion.

What do they have in common? Both saved Cyclone Hockey from crushing losses to Central Oklahoma and propelled the Cyclones to a 4-3 overtime victory and an 8-4 win, respectively.

On Saturday the Cyclones led 2-0 after the first period, before Central Oklahoma came back with three goals of its own in the second period to take the lead. The Cyclones tied it up, then erupted for five third period goals to coast to a win.

“I told them between periods they are yet to prove to me that they could be a team that wins third periods like our previous teams,” said coach Al Murdoch. “That was a very good example of the type of hockey Cyclone Hockey has played for years. We win third periods because we are stronger physically and mentally and we win on Saturday nights, especially third periods before going away.”

Friday’s game had shown the same lapse that occurred on Saturday. Leading 3-0 in the third period, it looked as though the Cyclones would cruise to a win. Central Oklahoma, however, scored on a penalty shot with 8:53 remaining and again just 47 seconds later.

“The penalty shot was a huge momentum swing,” Raushel said. “Then they got another one and they were rolling and it’s kind of like quicksand – you just gotta pull yourself out of it.”

Central Oklahoma then scored with just 2:40 remaining completing the comeback, and sending the game into overtime.

“Right before the [overtime] period started I said, ‘We got another gut-check boys. Last time we came from behind and this time we let them come from behind; we just have to show what we have,” Raushel said.

Central Oklahoma had all the momentum in the world heading into overtime, but the euphoria of the comeback was shortlived. Moments into overtime, Mike Murtaugh dished to Raushel who put home the game winner just 24 seconds into the period.

In the last week, Raushel has turned into the player the Cyclones look for to step up late in games. He had the game winner last Saturday in a shootout against North Dakota State, and the game-winning goal this weekend.

“It just seems like every time we have a shootout or an overtime he just pursues the goal and he kind of got the nickname Mr. Clutch,” Murtaugh said. “It’s nice to have him in the lineup, I can just give him the puck and he’ll finish it for us.”

Despite winning both games, the Cyclones did relinquish two multi-goal leads, something the young team needs to avoid in the future.

“I like the fact that we keep coming out on top in these situations, but I think it’s a learning experience,” Murtaugh said. “Some of the guys aren’t used to this kind of talent and it’s a little bit of an adjustment.”

Regardless, the Cyclones (5-1) still came out of the weekend with a sweep, and now take a five-game winning streak on the road to play Michigan-Dearborn.