Double OT thriller ends Cyclones season

 

CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Cyclones season ended in thrilling fashion for the Reading Royals at 54 seconds into double overtime, as Ryan Cruthers slipped the puck past Brian Foster for the series win. The Royals prevailed 3-1 to break the hex the Cincinnati squad has held over them the past several seasons.
 
The game was hard fought on both sides as the visitors scored first and held the lead for quite some time. Matt Caruana scored the Royals first tally early in the second stanza to break the scoreless tie from the opening period. The Cyclones were unable to again penetrate the Reading defense and solve netminder Matt Dalton early in the contest.
The Cyclones led the shots on goal battle, but failed to score any goals until Carl Hudson blasted a shot past Dalton early in the third period, to knot the game at one apiece. Despite furiously trying to score again, both teams were held to no tallies for the rest of the period. The chippiness from the previous night remained evident throughout the game, as quite a few hard checks resulted in trainers for both sides being called onto the ice.
The Royals came out in the first overtime with vigor, as the Cyclones seemed to be on their heels. The home team stepped it up a notch and regained their composure to keep the score knotted at one for the remainder of the first overtime. The crowd was treated to some old fashioned smash mouth hockey during the fourth period as the clubs battled it out for the win.
The shock came early in the fifth period, as Cruthers broke in quickly on Foster and buried the puck for the win and the series end. The Cyclones had fought valiantly, but for naught, as Reading took the best of five three games to one. Reading now moves on to the best-of-seven, second round and keeps their dreams of a Kelly Cup title alive.
 
Contact the writer/photographer at Rob.Huelsman@prohockeynews.com