CINCINNATI, OH – The Cincinnati Cyclones quickly eliminated a 1-0 deficit coming out of the first period on Wednesday night, scoring three goals in the second and third periods as the team downed the Iowa Heartlanders, 6-3. Zack Andrusiak led the way with four points, including two goals, and Jesse Schultz added two goals of his own. Jake Smith added a goal for Iowa.

The Heartlanders came out of the first period with a one-goal lead thanks to Smith’s 11th goal of the year. Iowa was on a 5-on-3 power-play as Ryan Kuffner and Smith were moving the puck back and forth between the point and the left faceoff circle. At 9:17, Kuffner dished it back to Smith, who fired a one-timer by Sean Bonar to put Iowa on top.

The lead held for nearly six minutes into the second, but back-to-back goals put the Cyclones on top. The first came courtesy of Justin Bean, who was able to keep a clearing attempt inside the Heartlanders zone, knocking it down before passing it along the blueline to Gianluca Esteves. Esteves fired a shot that Trevin Kozlowski saved, but the puck deflected to the opposite side of the net where Lincoln Griffin was able to knock it in for his 11th goal of the year.

At the 8:22 mark, Cincinnati took their first lead of the game. Moments after Kozlowski had made a set of spectacular saves to keep the score tied, Andrusiak entered the Iowa zone, firing a shot that the Heartlanders netminder saved, but the puck went loose behind the net. Andrusiak swept in, gaining control before passing it out in front to Schultz who blasted the one-timer by Kozlowski to give Cincinnati a 2-1 lead. That gave Schultz his 10th goal of the year.

The Heartlanders responded just after the 12-minute mark, tying the score when Kris Bennett netted his 13th goal of the year. Bennett took control of the puck along the boards, moving as if he was going behind the net. Instead, he was looking for a backhand pass out in front, but it deflected off Bonar and went in to tie the score at two.

The Cyclones retook the lead 29 seconds later when Schultz scored his second goal of the contest. An unfortunate deflection off the boards sent the puck out in front where Justin Vaive gained control. The Heartlanders defenseman went after Vaive, leaving Schultz alone. Vaive used a backhand, no look pass to Schultz who blasted a one-timer into the upper corner to make it 3-2.

The Heartlanders tied the score 5:37 into the third period. Bennett was moving across the slot where he left the puck for Billy Constantinou. The defenseman quickly blasted a slap shot that beat Bonar low to the far corner for his sixth goal of the year.

From there it was all Cincinnati, who responded with three unanswered goals to close out the contest. The first came at 6:11, as the Cyclones did a great job of responding to Iowa goals. Louie Caporusso had the puck in the corner, waiting patiently for Dajon Mingo to move down the slot before making a perfect feed in front. Mingo put a one-timer into the upper corner to give Cincinnati the 4-3 lead. For Mingo, it was his seventh goal of the season.

Andrusiak closed out the contest with two goals to secure the victory. The first came at 8:23 when Andrusiak entered the Heartlanders zone on a 2-on-1 break. He lifted a laser wrist shot that found the upper corner on the short side to extend the lead to two. Andrusiak then closed out the contest with an empty net tally with 14 seconds left to give Cincinnati a 6-3 victory.

Bennett had a goal and an assist and Kuffner had two assists for the Heartlanders. Kozlowski took the loss, stopping 33 of 38 shots. Bonar was the winner, making 22 saves. Griffin had a goal and an assist for Cincinnati.

The Heartlanders (15-21-6) move on to Toledo to take on the Walleye (27-9-2) on Friday evening. The puck drops at 6:15 Iowa time.

Gamesheet

By Robert Pannier