Cyclones Monumental Comeback Win Over Walleye

CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Cyclones dueled their Ohio rivals the Toledo Walleye on February 1^st in a wild affair that resulted in 13 total goals scored between the two clubs. The visitors from the north took a commanding lead by the end of the second period which seemed insurmountable to the 2892 home fans.
 
The first period Toledo showed their offensive muscle and jumped out to a 3-1 lead over the ‘Clones. The second stanza saw the Walleye tally three more unanswered scores before the Cyclones could muster two more biscuits in the basket for a score of 6-3 at the end of two.
 
Entering the third period it was inconceivable that the Toledo squad would not continue the offensive juggernaut they had been for the first two periods. That and the fact that the Cyclones haven’t been comeback kids for the most part this season led many to believe this was going to be a defeat in the making.
 
Amazingly the Cyclones scored three unanswered goals in the period and their defense stiffened to tie the visiting Walleye at 6-6 by the end of regulation.
 
The overtime didn’t last long as Cincinnati center Matt Sisca potted the ‘Clones sixth unanswered goal to seal the win at 1:07. Sisca, a relative newcomer to the squad, netted his 13^th and 14^th goals of the season to tie the game and then to ultimately win it.
 
For Matt it was a four point night, with two goals, that earned him first star of the game honors.
 
  “We’ve been playing some good hockey the past couple of Sisca   the coach responded “ There’s guys that have a knack for flair, he’s such a talented player he produces points even when he isn’t playing his best. Matt is buying into what we want to do here and he is getting rewarded for it. He is on the power play and is getting some timely goals. He is exactly what we wanted and exactly what we need.”
 
Skalde assessed the overall game in this manner, “Obviously that was two bad periods on our part and snowballed from there into a 6-1 hockey game.”
 
Coach continued, “The boys chipped away and we gained some momentum when it became a 6-3 game. Definitely at 6-4 you felt the ice tilt our way, it was one wave after another, line after line, of attacking them. That is when we realized we had an opportunity here and when Matt Sisca made it 6-6 and we caught a break in overtime with a penalty and make it 7-6 was a good win.”

 
Contact Rob.Huelsman@prohockeynews.com
Photos by Jake Murray