CINCINNATI, Ohio – Wednesday nights’ tilt featured long standing rivals from Kelly Cup Playoff history. In 2010 the Royals took a three games to none lead in their series with Chuck Weber and his ‘Clones squad. Anticipating a sweep, the Reading faithful were severely disappointed when Cincy roared back to win four in a row and win the series.
Fast forward to this season and we find the Cyclones creating ways to come back and win games in much the same fashion as that Championship team. Special teams scoring is up from past years and the scoring on offense is strong. Team speed has improved according to Coach Matt Mcdonald and he is impressed especially by his second line leading the scoring.
The Netminder match-up is between a veteran and former Cyclones tender, Mark Dekanich ( 5-3- 0-0 ), for the Royals( 10-6- 1-0 ) Dekanich has a 3.01 GAA with a .902 SV% in eight games.
The home team ( 10-5- 1-0 ) sends out rookie Jonas Johansson( 1-0- 0-0 )to backstop them in his second game played. His GAA of 1.00 and .970 SV % belies his size at 6’4” and 205#.
The beginning was more finesse by both teams and the Royals spent a good deal of the first seven minutes in the Cyclones end. Things became a bit chippy at the Royals end in front of Dekanich with 13:33 left. Things continued much the same when, with 7:17 left, the Royals forward Chris McCarthy slid the puck past Johansson during a scrum In front of the Cincy net. The Royals drew first blood though it was short lived. Very soon thereafter the Cyclones , a man down, stole the biscuit and Brandon McNally rushed in upon the Reading netminder and potted the equalizer unassisted.
The Cyclones,on the other hand, took the late period momentum and produced the games third goal on a tally by Rob Defulvis at the 2:26 mark in the second frame. Having gained the 2-1 lead the Cyclones started putting preeeure on the Reading defense. Though badly lagging in shots on goal the home team had the lead where it counts.
Further along the squads exchanged unsuccessful power plays and then coincidental minor penalties created a four on four situation. The ‘Clones engineered a breakaway with centerman Shawn O’Donnell solving Dekanich for his 8 th goal and 21 st point of
the campaign. The Cyclones now held a dangerous two goal lead. Reading again crept back to shorten the lead to 1 at the 12:39 mark on another tally by McCarthy at 3-2.
The lead once again doubled as the periods end was near on a shot past Dekanich by diminutive but speedy forward ( 5’9”, #183 ) Justin Danforth. Scoring a 4-2 lead with just 28 seconds remaining before 2nd intermission.
Taking a two goal lead into the final period of regulation against a rival can be nerve wracking for fans and the guarded anticipation was palpable. The first ten minutes of the 3 rd featured more physicality as the Royals tried to wrest momentum back from the ‘Clones. At this point the Cyclones had scored a shortie but were 0 / 3 on the power play. Reading got close again with 2:35 left on a tally by bkueliner Nick Luukko to make it 4-3.
In desperation the Royals pulled their netminder for a six on five with 2:14 left in the game. To no avail as the man advantage proved fruitless. The Cyclones win 4-3 and gain another two points. The team travels to Brampton for a weekend series before returning to US Bank Arena for three home contests next week.
Contact the writer/photographer: Rob.Huelsman@prohockeynews.com
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