If there's any group of people in the world who know that the Kelly Cup finals are not over, it's the Cincinnati Cyclones.
Sure, the 'clones have a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven finals over the Idaho Steelheads, but just last week the Cyclones had to overcome a 3-0 deficit just to get to the championship series. So those players and coaches know that - even though they did their job (and then some) by taking the first two games of this series in Boise - there's a lot of work left to be done.
Cyclone coach
Chuck Weber admitted as much to the Cincinnati Enquirer following his team's victory in
Game 2.
"We've just lived the other side," Weber said. "We've got to make sure we're focused and prepared going into our building. It's not going to get easier."The Steelheads are in a hole, no doubt about it. Down 2-0 in a best-of-seven series heading on the road is not a good position to be in, but let's revisit some of the positives:
1) Idaho hasn't played particularly well ... Two goals in two games (both in the first period of Game 1) would tell you that. So, you ask, why is that a positive? Because - despite the fact Idaho struggled - the team was in prime position to win both games. Tip the cap to the Cyclones, though, for taking advantage of the opportunities they got and finding ways to win.
2) Rejean Beauchemin was solid in net ...
For those worried about LAB (life after Bachman), you can put those worries to rest. Rejean Beauchemin was absolutely fine in net in both games. He gave up an early one in Game 1, but made a couple of brilliant saves to keep the Cyclones at bay until the third period. And then, in Game 2, what can you say? The dude was pitching a shutout until a puck deflected off someone's hip in traffic. Virtually no way to see that coming or stop it.
3) Two days to adjust ... If we've learned one thing about Derek Laxdal since he's been here it's that, given time, he'll find a weakness to exploit. And if we've learned one thing about this group of players it's that, given an opportunity, they'll exploit that weakness. It's a masterful game of chess between Weber and Laxdal. The next move is Laxdal's.
If there's one thing I can be certain of, the Steelheads won't lay down and play gracious guest at Cincinnati's coronation. The players have spoken all year of the strong character of the locker room and here's where they get to show it (
"We're a little upset, a little pissed," captain Marty Flichel said after Game 2.
"But we're going to head out, hang out in Cincinnati for a couple days and come back here.")
"Back here" would be Game 6 at Qwest Arena. Just like the Utah series to start the playoffs and then against Stockton in the conference finals, Game 3 is huge. Idaho handled Utah and the Grizzlies had virtually no chance in the deciding game of that series. Stockton found a way to defeat Idaho in triple overtime, taking a series that seemed destined to be short and sweet and made Idaho put in some extra hours to dispose of the Thunder.
An Idaho win puts the Steelheads right back in the middle of this series. A loss and ... well, it's not impossible. Look no farther than Idaho's opponent. But coming back from 3-0 down, even though the Cyclones just did it, is no easy task.
One last thing as we wind down - there was a lot of unrest in the stands, particularly in
Game 1, about the officiating. I'll go on record right now saying that I didn't think it was the reason Idaho lost. The tripping penalty on Mathieu Tousignant (that gave Cincinnati the power play that resulted in the game-winning goal) was an easy call for the referee to make. Could you make a case that there should have been a call before that, when Tousignant and a Cyclone player were tied up in the corner? Sure. But Idaho had 59 minutes - including 3 minutes of power-play time midway through the third period - to make sure it didn't come down to that. The Steelheads didn't take advantage of their opportunity. Cincinnati did. There's the difference in the series right now.
Lots of hockey left to be played, though.
Join us at the SportZone Tuesday night for Game 3 - doors open at 5 PM with the puck dropping at 5:30. Cyclones broadcaster John Hamel told me they're expecting 7,000-plus for each game, so it should be a fun atmosphere.
Labels: Game Recap, General, Media Coverage