Cyclones Season Ends with 2-1 Double OT Loss to Reading
CINCINNATI, Ohio – For the second time in this series, the Cincinnati Cyclones (1-3) went into double overtime with the Reading Royals (3-1). And for the second time in this series, the Royals prevailed as Ryan Cruthers tapped in the game winner just 54 seconds into the second overtime – giving Reading a 2-1 win in Game 4 and a 3-1 series win in front of 2,191 at U.S. Bank Arena on Saturday night.
After a scoreless tie in the first period, the Royals once again grabbed the game’s first goal when Matt Caruana tallied for the third time in the series by lifting a shot over Brian Foster’s (L, 30 saves, 1-3) left shoulder for a 1-0 lead. And despite having two more power plays in the middle stanza, the Cyclones trailed by one at the end of 40 minutes.
Early in the third, Cincinnati finally lit the lamp as Carl Hudson sent a slap shot from the left circle past Royals netminder Matt Dalton (W, 38 saves, 3-1) to knot the score at one. With the deadlock, both teams battled back and forth without any more tallies – forcing Game 4 into overtime.
Like this past Wednesday, neither side was able to find the net in the first overtime so the game progressed into the second extra session. Right out of the gate, Yannick Riendeau brought the puck over the Cincinnati blue line and fed a pass across the slot to a streaking Ryan Cruthers who tapped in the game-winning, series ending goal at the 0:57 mark – giving the Royals a 2-1 victory and a win in this best-of-five series, 3-1.
The Cyclones Radio Network Three Stars of the Game are as follows:
1. Ryan Cruthers (Game-winning goal in double-OT for Reading)
2. Brian Foster (30 saves for Cincinnati)
3. Matt Caruana (1 goal for Reading)
With the Cyclones Kelly Cup Playoff run in the books, they will now look ahead to this October when they will take the ice again for another year of hockey in downtown Cincinnati. It’s never too early to reserve a space as 2011-12 season tickets are on sale NOW! For more information, call 513.421.PUCK (7825) or visit CyclonesHockey.com.
Click here for tonight's box score.
