FORT WAYNE, IN—After jumping out to an early 3-0 lead, the Cincinnati Cyclones held off a late charge from the Fort Wayne Komets to hang on for a 3-2 win on Saturday night and take a 3-1 lead in the opening round series of the Kelly Cup Playoffs.
Justin Vaive gave the Cyclones an early 1-0 edge on a power play goal in the first period by tipping a shot by Jalen Smereck that squibbed past goaltender Ryan Fanti.
Patrick Polino buried a one-timer off a pass from Smereck during an odd-man rush to extend Cincinnati's lead. Matt Berry tallied the final goal on another power play chance when the puck ricocheted off a Komet defender into the net and give the Cyclones a 3-0 lead at the midway point of the second period.
Fort Wayne would begin to fight back in the final period, as Garrett Van Whye scored 39 seconds into the third after a puck hit off Matt Cairns and slid past Beck Warm to cut the lead to 3-1.
Late in the third, Fort Wayne would pull their goalie and score again with 2:29 remaining on a goal from Sam Dove-McFalls to cut the lead to one.
But the Warm and the Cincinnati defense would shut down the Komets comeback and secure the win.
The Cyclones will play Game 5 on Sunday afternoon and look to clinch the series in Fort Wayne. If the Komets should win, Game 6 will be back in Cincinnati on Tuesday, May 2 at 7:30pm.
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