CINCINNATI, Ohio – Rookie Matt Sisca’s second goal of the night came in overtime and capped off a six-goal comeback for the Cincinnati Cyclones (19-14-0-6), as they rallied to defeat the Toledo Walleye (17-22-2-2) by a 7-6 final score in front of 2,892 at U.S. Bank Arena on Wednesday night. It was the first time in team history that the Cyclones came back from a three-goal deficit to win a regular season game.
The Walleye potted a pair of early goals in the opening frame to grab the momentum; Todd Griffith fired a puck through the legs of Cyclones goaltender Chet Pickard (ND, 8 saves, 8-10-0-1), making it 1-0. Toledo struck again just 38 seconds later as Kyle Rodgers deflected in his 14th goal of the season, extending the Toledo cushion to 2-0. Cincinnati answered back, though, at 5:47 as Garrett Wilson fed a beautiful pass (while on his backside) through middle of the Toledo slot to defenseman Derek Foam, who lit the lamp to make it 2-1. However, Andrej Nestrasil finished off an odd-man break with his fourth goal of season to give his team a 3-1 edge after 20 minutes.
Toledo blew the game wide open in the middle stanza, potting the first three goals of the period. Kyle Rogers lit the lamp at 4:29 followed by back-to-back goals from Harrison Reed at 6:00 and 12:27 respectively to make it 6-1 Walleye. Following Reed’s first goal, Pickard was relieved by Cyclones backup goaltender Brad Fogal (W, 16 saves, 2-2-0-2), who took over the reins in net the rest of the way. The Cyclones, though, roared back to life in the final minutes of the frame; Taylor Aronson buried a power play goal at 14:03 followed by a shorthanded strike from Dan Eves at 17:05 to cut the Cincinnati deficit to 6-3 at the second intermission.
The Cyclones continued the comeback in the third period as Joe Devin slammed in a rebound past Chicago goaltender Rob Nolan (L, 25 saves, 10-11-2-0) at 9:09 to make it 6-4. Just a few minutes later, at the 11:40 mark, Jonathan Hazen sniped in his eighth goal of the season to pull the Cyclones within a tally. In the final minute, Cincinnati pulled Fogal to give the home team an extra skater as time wound down– and it paid off. With 46 seconds to play in regulation, Matt Sisca sent a wrist shot from the left hash mark through Nolan and tied the score at six.
Early in overtime, Toledo’s Adam Estoclet was whistled for an interference penalty – giving Cincinnati just their third power play of the night. The Cyclones man advantage unit, who had only scored one goal in their last 15 chances, found a way to deliver as Sisca cannoned in his second goal of the night to seal the improbable 7-6 victory.
It was the first time since the Cyclones returned to ECHL play that they rallied back from a three-goal deficit to win a game during regular season play.
The Cyclones Radio Network Three Stars of the Game are as follows:
First Star: Matt Sisca (Game-winning goal, four points for Cincinnati)
Second Star: Jonathan Hazen (1 goal, 2 assists for Cincinnati)
Third Star: Kyle Rogers (2 goals, 1 assist for Toledo)
The Cyclones will be back on the ice at U.S. Bank Arena this Friday when they play host to the South Carolina Stingrays at 7:30pm
