Anyone looking for a reason why the Cincinnati Cyclones defeated the Storm 2-1 last night at the Sports Arena in Game No. 1 of the Northwest Division Finals need only look at the little things.
The Cyclones took away Toledo's speed through the neutral zone by standing up the Storm at the red line. Cincinnati's intensity was high, they won key faceoffs and the Storm didn't do a good job of getting shots through to the net.
Add those factors up and toss in a surprise third period wrap-around goal by Paul Strand and the visitors need only two more victories to claim the best-of-five East Coast Hockey League Kelly Cup playoff series that continues tonight at 7:30 at One Main Street.
“It was the little things,” Storm coach Claude Noel said. “It always is.”
Strand's game winner at 2:26 began and ended with the small stuff.
After Jeff Johnstone lost a faceoff, Cyclones defenseman Ryan Gaucher head-manned the puck into the Toledo end. Tied up by Grady Moore, the puck eventually bounced to Matt Noga's stick where Strand picked it up.
Storm netminder Doug Teskey, leaning to his left, was caught when Strand circled behind the cage and stuffed the puck in before the goalie could react.
“I was surprised there was nobody there,” Strand said. “[Teskey] had his stick up a little bit. It was really, really quick. I think he expected Matty Noga to have it.”
Said Teskey: “We did pick up bodies pretty good. All it takes is for that one man to slip loose. That's the kind of team they are, they pounce on opportunities like that and the puck is in the net.”
Little things resulted in the first goal, too, one that gave Cincinnati a 1-0 lead at 10:29 of the opening period.
Aaron Brand won a draw from Erik Anderson and slid the puck back to left defenseman Steve Rodberg. Teskey kicked his shot away, but the big rebound went all the way to unattended right defenseman Steve Gallace who blew a shot into the net.
A faceoff win by Matt Ellis resulted in Toledo's lone goal at 12:21 of the middle frame.
After Ellis did his job, defenseman Grady Moore claimed the puck, drew a Cyclones forward to him and fed Nathan Lutz who ripped a shot that evened the score at 1.
Toledo did have its chances for others, with the best coming during the second. On the power-play, Wes Mason had a wide open net, but shot high.
“I do that same thing in practice and nine times out of 10, it's in the net,” Mason said. “I don't know what I did wrong. Maybe I put it in there too hard instead of nice and easy.”
Last evening's setback was only Toledo's fourth in regulation at home this season. Two of those have come to the Cyclones.
“We're challenged with adversity here,” Noel said. “We lose a home game. You've gotta win three, but in a short series losing the first home game, there's some urgency the second game.
“We're going to have to step up and be better. Do I think we can be better? Yes.”
It all starts with the little things.
NOTES: Backup goalie Jeff Salajko did not dress. He underwent a magnetic resonance imaging test for an undisclosed medical issue. With Brian Finley still on injured reserve, Toledo brought in University of Michigan product L.J. Scarpace for the emergency backup role. .. Detroit Red Wings senior vice president Jimmy Devellano was at the contest. ... Ex-Storm vice president and general manager Pat Pylypuik, now president and chief operating officer of the Cyclones, is a new father. His wife, Laura, delivered a girl, Carolyn Grace, on Sunday.
First Published April 12, 2003, 1:31 p.m.
