FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The Cincinnati Cyclones jump out early and coasted to a 7-2 win on Saturday over the Fort Wayne Komets to open the 2022-23 ECHL season.
Newcomer Matt Berry wasted little time making an impact with the Cyclones. Berry, the former Toledo Walleye winger, collected the puck on a breakaway, firing a shot over the glove side of Komets goalie Colton Point to give Cincinnati a 1-0 edge just 63 seconds into the game.
Matt McLeod followed with a score of his own, also a breakaway, after receiving a stretch pass from defenseman Zach Berzolla. McLeod moved towards the net from the right side and shoveled the puck between the legs of Point to double the Cyclones lead at 8:14 in the first period.
Beck Warm turned in an solid performence in net for the Cyclones, especially in the first period stopping 16 shots on goal. Overall, Warm turned aside 39 of 41 shots overall to pick up his first win with the Cyclones.
The Komets breifly cut into the Cyclones lead when Anthony Petruzzelli scored on a power play goal early in the second to make it 2-1.
But Cincinnati would respond with a trio of goals to bury the Komets hopes at a comeback
Cyclones captain Justin Vaive and rookie Phil Lagunov scored 54 seconds apart to extend the lead to 4-1. Vaive's came on the power play, as there was a scrum in front of the net, Vaive managed to get his stick on a piece of the puck and knock it underneath Point and in for his first goal of the year.
Lagunov quickly followed up with his score when he buried a backhand shot into the back of the net for his first professional goal to make it 4-1in favor of Cincinnati just 6:01 into the second period.
Rookie Lee Lapid, would join Lagunov in scoring his first pro goal, after intercepting a puck in the neutral zone, Lapid walked into the high slot and shot a puck that leaked between Point's legs to make it 5-1 with 13:09 to play in the second.
The third period saw a shift in the game, as chaos ensuing on both sides. The Cyclones racked up 65 penalty minutes in the final period, and posted 73 penalty minutes in total.
Despite the messy play in the period, the Cyclones managed a power play goal from Patrick Polino and a late tally from Jalen Smereck, who appeared in his first ECHL game since February 1, 2020.
Cincinnati will be back on the ice on Wednesday as they face the Kalamazoo Wings in the second of a three-game road trip to begin the season. The Cyclones will be at home on Friday, Oct. 28 for their home opener.
Cincinnati 2 3 2 — 7
Fort Wayne 0 1 1 — 2
First Period CIN — Matt Berry — Assists: Justin Vaive and Louie Caporusso, 1:03 CIN — Matt McLeod — Assists: Zach Berzolla, 8:14
Second Period FW — Anthony Petruzzelli — Assists: Stefano Giliati and Shawn Boudrias, 2:24 CIN — Justin Vaive — Assists: Louie Caporusso and Matt Berry, 5:07 CIN — Phil Lagunov — Assists: Sean Allen and Patrick Polino, 6:01 CIN — Lee Lapid — Assists: Matt McLeod, 13:09
Third Period CIN — Patrick Polino — Assists: Justin Vaive and Louie Caporusso, 10:18 FW — Stefano Giliati — Assists: Marcus McIvor and Joshua Winquist, 11:28 CIN — Jalen Smereck — Assists: Lincoln Griffin and Josh Passolt, 16:35
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