PHN’s Best Shots of the Game: Cyclones fall to Komets

CINCINNATI, OH – The Cincinnati Cyclones (35-29-4-0) dropped a 4-3 decision to the Fort Wayne Komets, 4-3, on Friday, March 31st. Defensemen Eric Knodel and Jaynen Rissling, along with forward Tommy Mele scored the goals for the Cyclones, who have dropped three in a row.

Cincinnati struck first in this one while on the power play, when Knodel took a pass at the left circle and blasted a one-timer in past Komets goaltender Pat Nagle to put the Cyclones ahead, 1-0.

The Komets responded moments later when forward Brett Perlini found the back of net to tie the game at 1-1, 10:01 into the opening period.

That 1-1 score held up throughout the remainder of the first, and in the second the Fort Wayne power play had an immediate impact, receiving a pair from forwards Mike Cazzola and Jamie Schaafsma to give the Komets a 3-1 lead 12:44 into the frame.

The Cyclones were not deterred and pulled to within a goal roughly four minutes later when a pass from defenseman Jonathan Diaby found Rissling who launched one in from the left circle put the Cyclones down one at 3-2.

Cincinnati tied the game late in the frame while on a delayed penalty, as defenseman Dan Johnston sent a pass from the right corner to Mele in the circle, and he threw it in past Nagle to pull the Cyclones even at 3-3.

The momentum was short-lived however, as the Komets struck once more with less than a minute to play in the frame on a goal from Trevor Cheek to give Fort Wayne a 4-3 lead after 40 minutes.

The physicality picked up in the second as well, as the two sides combined for 26 minutes of penalties in the frame including fights by Cheek and Cincinnati’s Dominic Zombo.

In the third, Cincinnati was on the receiving end of a number of quality scoring chances, and came close to netting the equalizer on numerous occasions. Despite the late offensive push by the Cyclones, they were unable to net the equalizer and fell to the Komets 4-3.

After the final horn, emotions boiled over as Diaby and Fort Wayne forward Taylor Crunk fought at center ice. Both men landed some devastating blows before ultimately being separated by the officials.

Cincinnati was outshot, 25-19 on the evening, with Cyclones goaltender Mark Visentin stopping 21 in the loss.