FORT WAYNE, Ind. – In what will likely go down as one of the most competitive series of the opening round of the 2016 Kelly Cup Playoffs, the Fort Wayne Komets and Cincinnati Cyclones are heading to a deciding game seven.
Garrett Thompson’s power play goal 5:30 into overtime gave the Komets a 3-2 win and evened the best-of-seven Western Conference Quarterfinal series at 3-3, much to the delight of the crowd of 4,616 on hand Monday night at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.
For the sixth-straight time in the series, Fort Wayne out-shot Cincinnati, posting 41 shots to the Cyclones’ 24. The Komets hold a commanding lead in shots in the series, 239-159 through six games.
The two sides battled through a scoreless first period that saw Fort Wayne out-shoot Cincinnati 14-4. The deciding factor, though, would be special teams. The Komets were 2-for-9 on the power play, including Thompson’s game-winning-goal. Meanwhile, the Cyclones were 0-for-9 on the man advantage, extending their playoff power play drought to five games.
Fort Wayne is 9-for-37 on the power play in the series, while Cincinnati is just 1-for-33.
The Komets finally broke the scoreless tie 1:02 into the second period on a power play goal by Alex Belzile, with assists going to Mason Geersten and Mike Embach. With Cody Carlson in the penalty box serving a minor for hooking, Belzile received a pass from Geersten at the top of the left circle and blasted a shot into the net past Cincinnati goalie Brad Thiessen to make it 1-0. The score would remain the same through the remainder of the period, as the Cyclones out-shot the Komets 13-11.
Cincinnati’s Andrew Yogan tied the game 9:55 into the third period, picking up a rebound and shoveling home a backhanded shot to the right of Fort Wayne goalie Pat Nagle to make it 1-1. Brett Wysopal and Carlson were credited with the assists on the play.
The Cyclones would have their fair share of chances to get the late go ahead goal, but would not be able to convert as the game would extend into extra time.
The overtime period seemed fitting for the game, considering that the previous two games in the series ended in double-overtime. Friday night saw Fort Wayne post a 3-2 win in game four, evening the series at two games apiece, while Cincinnati claimed a 5-4 win in game five on Saturday to claim a 3-2 series lead.
With Cincinnati’s Zach Budish and Jonathan Diaby both in the box serving minor penalties, Fort Wayne pounced on the opportunity.
Fighting off a defender in front of Thiessen’s net, Thompson took a pass from Jamie Schaafsma and bounced a shot off of Thiessen’s blocker and into the net for the 2-1 win. Jordon Southorn picked up the secondary assist on the game-winner.
The second-seeded Komets play host to the seventh-seeded Cyclones for game seven at 7:30pm EDT on Wednesday. The winner of the series takes on the winner of the series between the Colorado Eagles and Utah Grizzlies. Utah holds a 3-2 lead in the series, with game six scheduled for Tuesday in Colorado.
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