A look at the Cincinnati Cyclones as they begin the ECHL playoffs.
The Cincinnati Cyclones begin their quest for their third Kelly Cup championship in the ECHL this weekend.
The Cyclones were the Central Division champions with a record of 47-16-9 (103 points). They will play the fourth seed Fort Wayne Komets (34-31-7, 75 points) in a best-of-seven series in the Central Division semifinals.
The Cyclones have the second-best record in the league with the 103 points. Idaho had 119 points and 58 wins.
Here is a look at some key facts and factors heading into the series.
When do the teams play?
Cincinnati will host Games 1 and 2 Friday and Saturday, both at 7:35 p.m.
Fort Wayne will host the next three games. Game 3 will be 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Game 4 at 8:05 p.m. Friday and Game 5, if necessary, at 6:05 p.m. Sunday, April 30.
Cincinnati will host Games 6 and 7 if needed. Game 6 is Tuesday, May 2 and Game 7 would be Wednesday, May 3, both at 7:35 p.m.
Starting the series with two home games over the weekend is a big plus for attendance and marketing the team, said Andrew Mossbrooks, the director of public relations and broadcasting for the franchise.
Last year, Cincinnati lost in the first round and had three weeknight home games after not clinching a playoff berth until the end of the season.
“We value home-ice advantage and we’re able to give our fans something big, weekend playoff hockey,” Mossbrooks said. “A year ago, we’re where Fort Wayne is now. This year we secured the playoffs a month ago and home ice two weeks ago, so we can promote the series to our fans.”
With a win, the Cyclones face either the No. 2 seed Toledo Walleye (45-19-8) or the No. 3 seed Indy Fuel (43-24-5) in the Central Division final.
How many times has Cincinnati won the Kelly Cup?
Fort Wayne won the Kelly Cup in 2021. Last year, the Florida Everblades won the Cup, defeating Toledo in the finals. Toledo also lost the Cup finals in 2019.
The Cyclones won the Kelly Cup in 2008 and 2010, and last reached the Cup Finals in 2014.
How do the teams compare to each other?
Cincy and Fort Wayne have two of the best offenses in the league. Fort Wayne tied for third in the ECHL with 267 goals, and the Cyclones were one behind with 266. Idaho led the league with 290.
The Cyclones had a better defense during the season. The Cyclones were 10th in the league in goals allowed with 216, nine away from fourth place, while the Komets tied for third-worst in the ECHL with 273 allowed.
The power play could be a key factor in the series. Fort Wayne led the ECHL with 1,450 penalty minutes and the Cyclones were fourth with 1,262.
The Cyclones won five of the nine games between the teams, but the Cyclones outscored the Komets by a total of 37-29, averaging four goals per contest. The home team won only two of the nine games, with the Cyclones going 4-1 at Fort Wayne and the Comets going 3-1 at Heritage Bank Center. Five of the games were decided by two goals or less, and three of them were decided by overtime or shootout, so Mossbrooks expects a physical series.
Who are Fort Wayne's top players?
The Komets have five players with 20 or more goals, led by Shawn Boudrias with 33 goals and 32 assists. Anthony Petruzzelli (25), Drake Rymsha (24), Oliver Cooper (22) and Mark Rassell (21) round out the top five for the Komets.
Who are the Cyclones' top players?
Justin Vaive: The 12-year minor league veteran and team captain tied a career high with 32 goals this season, tying for first on the team. He played his 700th professional game late in the season. He played for Fort Wayne in 2021 when the Cyclones didn’t have a team because of the pandemic, and led Fort Wayne to a championship, the first in his career. He wants to lead the Cyclones to one.
Zack Andrusiak: He is the team’s leading scorer with 32 goals and 41 assists, 13 goals on the power play.
Louie Caporusso: The former NHL draft pick has 500 career games, including some in Europe. He has 23 goals and a team-high 48 assists.
Luka Burzan: The former NHL draft pick has nine goals and 14 assists in just 26 games for the Cyclones.
Lee Lapid: He has 13 goals, 29 assists and a team-high plus-minus of plus-33. A player who always does the little things and usually goes unnoticed until he scores, according to Mossbrooks.
Mark Sinclair and Beck Warm: They have been two of the best goalies in the ECHL. Sinclair, a rookie, has won 12 of his past 13 starts and has a 2.70 goals-against average. Mossbrooks said he would start Game 1. Warm has a 28-9 record and a 3.01 GAA.
Mossbrooks emphasized the Cyclones will need their whole roster to make a run at the Kelly Cup.
“Depth players are what win you games,” he said. “It’s not only the biggest players. It’s not always Alex Ovechkin and Connor McDavid scoring the biggest goals, it’s the depth guys who contribute every game and get a big goal.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Cyclones face Fort Wayne to begin the ECHL hockey playoffs
