CINCINNATI, OH – The Cincinnati Cyclones emerged late in game four to earn a comeback win, 3-2, over the Idaho Steelheads tonight, and the Steelheads are now on the brink of elimination entering tomorrow’s game five in the Queen City. The Steelheads, who led during two different stretches in game four, trail the best-of-seven series 3-1.
The Idaho Steelheads struck first in game four as John Swanson fired a puck from just inside the blue line to beat Cincinnati’s Robert Mayer with the Steelheads on the power play; assisting on Swanson’s eighth of the playoffs were Kevin DeVergilio and Cody Lampl.
Cincinnati tied the game at 3:30 of the second period when Jason Josza ripped a shot from the point with the Cyclones on the power play that beat Idaho’s Rejean Beauchemin.
Idaho answered back with another power play goal late in the period when Marty Flichel struck with a one-timer from the left circle at 17:50 of the second period for his sixth of the playoffs. Dustin Friesen and Evan Barlow assisted on the goal that regained a one-goal lead for Idaho heading into the second intermission.
The third period saw another late comeback from the Cyclones, as the game was tied on a power play point shot from Reid Cashman at 5:44. Dustin Sproat slid a puck between the legs of Beauchemin to give Cincinnati a 3-2 lead less than a minute later at 6:37, which proved to be the game-winner.
Beauchemin stopped 12 of 15 in the loss; his record drops to 3-3-0. Robert Mayer earned the win, stopping 27 of 29. He is now 5-0-1 in the playoffs.
The Steelheads will be on the brink of elimination Friday night in Cincinnati; game five is scheduled for 5:30 PM MST, and the Cyclones hold a 3-1 series lead.
TONIGHT’S AQUAFINA THREE STARS:
1. REID CASHMAN (CIN)
2. JASON JOSZA (CIN)
3. ROBERT MAYER (CIN)
TONIGHT’S COORS LIGHT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: JOHN SWANSON (IDH)
TONIGHT’S BOX SCORE:
Idaho Steelheads 2 At Cincinnati Cyclones 3 – Status: Final
May 20, 2010 – U.S. Bank Arena
Idaho 1 1 0 – 2
Cincinnati 0 1 2 – 3
1st Period-1, Idaho, Swanson 8 (DeVergilio, Lampl), 19:41 (pp). Penalties-DeVergilio Idh (high-sticking), 7:35; Lampl Idh (roughing), 8:56; Sproat Cin (roughing), 8:56; Barlow Idh (roughing), 10:20; Motherwell Cin (roughing), 10:20; Jozsa Cin (interference), 13:01; Sheahan Cin (roughing), 18:30.
2nd Period-2, Cincinnati, Jozsa 1 (Kilpatrick, Van Guilder), 3:30. 3, Idaho, Flichel 6 (Friesen, Barlow), 17:50 (pp). Penalties-Oleksy Idh (roughing), 9:04; Aubin Cin (slashing ), 9:04; McCutcheon Idh (cross-checking), 12:56; Aubin Cin (hooking), 16:56.
3rd Period-4, Cincinnati, Cashman 2 (Van Guilder, Aubin), 5:44 (pp). 5, Cincinnati, Sproat 10 (McKenzie), 6:37. Penalties-Derlago Idh (holding), 5:02; Flichel Idh (hooking), 12:58; Cashman Cin (roughing), 19:14.
Shots on Goal-Idaho 11-8-10-29. Cincinnati 5-5-5-15.
Power Play Opportunities-Idaho 2 of 4; Cincinnati 1 of 4.
Goalies-Idaho, Beauchemin 3-3-0-0 (15 shots-12 saves). Cincinnati, Mayer 5-0-1-0 (29 shots-27 saves).
A-5,678
Referees-Jean Hebert (27).
Linesmen-Mathieu Chenier (71), Mike Hamilton (80).
