JOHN P. WISE Enquirer contributor Cyclones coach Ron Smith was denied his 300th career win as visiting Orlando earned a 4-3 shootout victory Wednesday at Firstar Center. What Smith might want just as much as the milestone victory is a little job security. I want to be here. With three weeks left in the season, Smith has no contract for next season. No player on the Cyclones' roster who isn't signed with NHL parent Carolina has a contract to play in Cincinnati next season.
Next season is next season.
The visitors, however, got three goals within six minutes of each other early in the second period. That's when Shane Willis tied Dionne for the Cyclones team lead when he scored his 31st goal of the year. The power-play score forced the shootout, in which each of the first four Orlando skaters found the net. The teams meet again tonight in Orlando and again there Saturday. It will be the second time this season the teams have played each other at least three times in a week, which Smith doesn't necessarily regard as a bad thing.