CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Cincinnati Cyclones (29-16-4-2) earned their third victory in as many games on Tuesday night by defeating the Fort Wayne Komets (26-23-1-1) by a final score of 2-1 in front of 2,399 at U.S. Bank Arena.
Cincinnati controlled the offensive action from the outset, including a first period in which they outshot Fort Wayne 12-3. Andrew Conboy was the first to light the lamp for the Cyclones when he fired a shot from between the circles and off the glove of Komets goaltender Marco Cousineau (L, 27 saves, 3-6-0) to give his team a 1-0 lead at 13:34 of the opening frame. Cincinnati would take the one goal advantage into the first intermission.
Only 3:36 into the second stanza the Cyclones would strike again, this time by way of the power play. After a Nick Wheeler penalty for hooking, Matt Smyth found a rebound from a Josh Shalla shot at the top of the crease and blasted it past the pad of Cousineau to extend the Cincinnati lead to 2-0. They would hold onto the two-goal cushion for the remainder of the second period.
The Komets finally got on the board at 10:31 of the final period when Brandon Marino found the back of the net after a scramble in front for a rebound from a David Nycholat point shot – cutting the Cyclones lead to 2-1. Brian Foster (W, 20 saves, 16-6-4) was able turn away several shots in the final few minutes, including a handful on a late Fort Wayne power play to earn his third straight win between the pipes for Cincinnati.
The Cyclones Radio Network Stars of the Game are as follows:
First Star: Brian Foster (20 saves, game winning goaltender for Cincinnati)
Second Star: Matt Smyth (1 goal, game winning goal for Cincinnati)
Third Star: Andrew Conboy (1 goal for Cincinnati)
The Cyclones will return to the ice at U.S. Bank Arena THIS FRIDAY when they welcome in the Trenton Titans at 7:30pm.
