Coming off a home sweep, Iowa State came into its series against Central Oklahoma hoping to rebound. With a game one 7-3 final and a game two 5-3 final, the Cyclones continue their season in the loss column.
This match held extra significance with Head Coach Jonas Hostovecky facing his former team.
One-sided success on the power play
The Cyclones were once again met with their weakness: penalty trouble. Game one had 10 penalties between both teams. Iowa State closed out the game with four, two of which resulted in power-play goals for Central Oklahoma.
On the other end of the ice, the Bronchos tallied up six penalties. Between a strict goalie and pesky defense, Central Oklahoma had nothing but success on the penalty kill. With penalties continuing to haunt the Cyclones, excuses begin to serve as a decoy for a lack of accountability.
“We have to be better, we have to be better at controlling our sticks and our bodies and especially our motions,” Hostovecky said. “Some guys are gonna have to take ownership of their time on the ice.”
Central Oklahoma’s leading scorer, forward Carter Demelo, scored the team’s first power-play goal at 5:30 in the first period. The Bronchos’ second power-play goal was scored by Jeffery Rebmann at 9:53 in the third period.
In Iowa State’s game one power play opportunities, the defense of Central Oklahoma made it look like the Bronchos had the advantage. With the Cyclones lacking shots on the one-man advantages, all they did was pass the puck.
As the passing continued, Central Oklahoma took the opportunity to intercept the passes and bring the puck to its offensive zone.
In game two, the same situation arose, while the team was both short-handed and at full strength. On the penalty kill, the Cyclones couldn’t contain the Bronchos. In contrast, Iowa State continued to stall with passing rather than shooting on goal.
During game two, the energy and invasiveness of Iowa State blew up, especially on the power play.
Throughout the first two periods of game two, six penalties were given, four of which were against the Cyclones. Although Iowa State’s defense tightened up on the man shortage, Central Oklahoma still found its way on the board with power-play goals.
With only one power-play goal for the Bronchos in game one, the team still dominated during short-handed and one-man advantage opportunities.
As Iowa State looked for a comeback, the cards were not in the team’s favor. Throughout penalty kills and power plays, the Cyclones continued to stay in the defensive zone, hindering the ability for a comeback.
The final power-play goal for Central Oklahoma came at 17:34 in the third period to close out the series.
The Bronchos outperform the Cyclones
In a series that looked to favor the Cyclones, the script was quickly flipped as the Bronchos had something to prove. With a 7-3 final in game one, Central Oklahoma’s electric performance upset Iowa State.
Late into the first period, a level of competition similar to a game seven was provided; following the period, the Cyclones’ downfall began.
Throughout the game, Iowa State fought and competed until the clock struck zero, but a driven mindset doesn’t substitute for goals. With five goals scored in the first period, the game quickly turned into a barn burner. The comeback of the Cyclones in the first period was their best performance of the game.
Central Oklahoma forward Sebastien Doucet lit the lamp at 3:34 in the first period. Two minutes later, Demelo’s power play goal had the Bronchos up by two.
With the lead in its grasp, Central Oklahoma continued to dominate the period, but Iowa State had a comeback on the agenda.
A goal at 16:13 in the first period began the Cyclones’ short-lived comeback. The goal was scored by the forward Matthew Mahoney and assisted by forwards Michael Mulkerrin and Dylan Hender.
Iowa State struck again at 18:00 in the period to tie things at two. The goal was scored by Sam Eaton and assisted by forward Frank Kula and defensemen Andrew Franey.
Over a minute later, the Bronchos struck back. At 19:18 in the period, Demelo lit the lamp, and Central Oklahoma’s leading defenseman, Connor Homan, assisted. The period concluded with a 12-9 shots differential in favor of Iowa State, but the team simply couldn’t connect.
Defenseman Riley Kress opened the second period scoring to tie things up at three. Forward Trevor Slaght and defenseman Greg Harley assisted on the goal. This would be the Cyclones’ final game one goal. The Bronchos’ energy resurgence landed them four goals between the second and third period to secure their overwhelming 7-3 game one victory.
Following game one, the need to win for both teams was on the rise. Central Oklahoma hoped for a sweep while Iowa State tried to escape the loss column.
Game two opened with both teams staying alert and persistent near the net. With the energy through the roof, trailing was not on either team’s agenda. Between the first and second period, the Cyclones and Bronchos put up two goals.
Going into the final period with two different agendas ahead, the winner was determined by drive. With two even-strength goals for Central Oklahoma at 7:13 and 13:49 in the third period, the Bronchos completed the sweep.
With a two-week road trip ahead, Iowa State has time to rebound.
“It just starts with being more disciplined,” Mulkerrin said. “One shift at a time, just keep a solid head on them and not putting us in jeopardy.”
