Cyclone Hockey traveled back to Ames, Iowa, with a 2-1 regulation win and a 3-2 shootout loss against the Lindenwood Lions.

Here are five takeaways from the series: 

1. Cyclone Hockey can hold its own against top-ranked contenders

The Cyclones have shown they can play against top-ranked teams. They showed it earlier in the season when they traveled to Central Oklahoma and swept the series on the road.

The Cyclones did it again when they handed undefeated Minot State its first regulation loss in January.

The team demonstrated it again this weekend, when it took the first win of the matchup against Lindenwood and kept the score close in the second game, only to lose in a shootout.

2. Cyclones travel home with four points

After Friday night’s game, the Cyclones had 27 points in 15 Central States Collegiate Hockey League regular season games. They sat two points behind Lindenwood and a point behind Ohio for first and second place, respectively.

Going into Saturday’s game, a regulation win would have set the Cyclones above Lindenwood and Ohio. 

But Saturday’s game, though close, ended in a shootout loss.

The Cyclones still walked away with a point from the game and a total of four for the weekend, but it wasn’t enough to keep them ahead of Ohio, which went 1-1 against Robert Morris.

3. The Cyclones are the No. 3 seed in conference tournament

The Cyclones, with 28 points after this weekend, are the third seed in the CSCHL tournament. They will take on the second-seeded Ohio Bobcats.

If the Cyclones can defeat the Bobcats, they will advance to the CSCHL championship game, which will be played at 1 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Ames/ISU Ice Arena.

4. Cyclone Hockey defense controls Lindenwood offense

Before the Cyclones traveled to Lindenwood this weekend, the Lions put up 14 goals against Illinois, but Cyclone Hockey controlled the Lindenwood offense, only allowing four goals in two games. 

5. Goaltender Derek Moser makes the most of his start

Getting the start this weekend over consistent starter Matt Goedeke, Moser continued to play strong.

During the course of the weekend, Moser allowed four goals.: one Friday and three Saturday.

Moser stopped 63 out of 66 shots. Twenty-six out of the 27 shots were stopped during Friday’s game, and 37 of the 39 were stopped in regulation of Saturday’s game.