WHEELING W.Va.- The visiting Cyclones sure know to take a dramatic lead in a series. After falling behind in the series two to nothing and then rallying back to tie, game five of this North Division semifinal proved to be a heart-pounding, table-pounding (depending on your loyalties) affair.
The first period was scrappy but scoreless though both clubs testing the opposing net minders. Wheeling blew up on all three power play opportunities while the Cyclones fared no better with their lone man advantage of the stanza.
The second period began as the first finished with special teams play garnering the only quality shots on goal by either team. Wheeling came the closest when Brock Sheahan lifted a shot over Loic Lacasse only to have it skim over the crossbar. Wheeling finally capitalized on a man advantage chance when Chris Snavely took a beautiful feed from Tommy Goebel and rocketed a chip in past Lacasse at15:11. The second provided no further scoring but the Nailers have played well when holding a lead after two periods and their chances for victory were good.
But the visiting Cyclones have 16 come-from-behind wins this past season coach Chuck Weber’s club is well-known for these patented comebacks. Cincinnati went into the period knowing a comeback was not an impossible task for a Weber-coached team.
The fireworks began as the Cyclones clawed back to an even score. With the puck deep in the Wheeling end the Nailers Reid Cashman tried to cross-ice pass but Cyclones skater Mike Quesnele jumped the play and rushed Curtis Darling. Mac Faulkner distracted Darling as Quesnele fired the puck into the net to knot the score at one apiece at the 9:14 mark of the period.
Wheeling sensed trouble as the ‘Clones looked forward to having another overtime game to “send everyone home on one shot”.
Meanwhile the Cyclones were hoping to end it in regulation and were rewarded when at 19:15 Cyclones captain Barrett Ehgoetz deked Darling and scored on the backhand to raise the Cyclones to a 2-1 victory. The win marked come from behind win number seventeen for this year’s ‘Clones.
Game six is scheduled for Saturday, April 18 at USbank Arena in Cincinnati and gives the Cyclones an opportunity to close out the series over the Nailers. With the importance of the game it will be an electric atmosphere in the arena.
Contact Rob.huelsman@prohockeynews.com
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