Sunday, April 25, 1999
INDIANAPOLIS 1, CYCLONES 0
Cyclones freeze up in must-win game
BY DAVE HELLER
Enquirer contributor
A week removed from battling for a playoff bye and a week's rest, the Cincinnati Cyclones now have the rest of the summer off.
The Cyclones were stymied by Indianapolis goalie Marc Lamothe, losing to the Ice 1-0 at Firstar Center in Game 3 of an IHL quarterfinal series. The Cyclones, who won Game 1, lost the best-of-three series 2-1. Indianapolis, which squeaked into the playoffs in the final weekend of the season, advanced to the semifinals to play Detroit.
The Cyclones are now 5-6 in playoff games in which they faced elimination, having lost the last four, and are 1-2 in winner-take-all games.
For the Cyclones, who tied for second in the Eastern Conference with 94 points, this season can only be deemed a disappointment.
“I felt sick to my stomach (after the game); we deserved better,” Ed Patterson said. “I don't know what else to say really ... just tough.”
Todd Rohloff scored the only goal of the game, 10 minutes into the third period. Rohloff took a puck that floated up toward the point and slapped it past Frederic Cassivi. The Ice shouldn't have gotten the chance for the shot, but Todd Hawkins failed to clear the puck by the blue line and Todd Simon had the puck knocked away from him from behind the net.
“We gave (the puck) away at the blue line, then there was a scramble and it came out. We had bad positioning in the slot area, which is what we tried to protect all year, and their guy came in and his 40-foot wrist shot found its way in,” Cyclones coach Ron Smith said.
Joining Rohloff, who played at Miami University, as a hero for the Ice was Lamothe, who made 43 saves.
“Any time you get 40-some shots you should win a game,” Patterson said. “Hats off to Lamothe.”
Game 3 lacked the intensity of the first two meetings. While the two clubs combined for 120 penalty minutes in the other two games, only six minor penalties were issued Saturday.
Neither team scored in the first two periods, although it wasn't for lack of trying. Of Cincinnati's 33 shots over the first 40 minutes, 19 were scoring chances. Indianapolis had fewer shots, 17, but 11 of those were scoring chances.
Lamothe belied his season statistics of a 3.78 goals-against average and .881 save percentage, making big save after big save. But those stats don't tell the whole story for Lamothe, who had a 2.55 goals-against average in his first two seasons with Indianapolis.
Lamothe sprained his ankle in the third game of the season against Cincinnati. During his rehab, Lamothe found out his father had an incurable cancer. Lamothe's father died in February.
“It's been a terrible year altogether, both professionally and personally. To make it to the second round is definitely something to be happy about. It's been a while since I felt this good,” Lamothe said. “When the buzzer went off, I said a little prayer in my head to thank my dad for looking out for me, looking over me and helping me out tonight.”
Indianapolis ....... 0-0-1-1
Cincinnati ....... 0-0-0-0
First period - None.
Second period - None.
Third period - 1, I, Rohloff 1 (Lachance, Hymovitz), 10:00.
Shots on goal: Indianapolis, 7-10-14-31; Cincinnati, 18-15-10-43; Power play opportunities: Indianapolis, 0-3; Cincinnati, 0-3. Goalies: Indianapolis, Lamothe (1-0); Cincinnati, Cassivi (1-0). Attendance: 2,906.
Sports Stories
Like father, like Akili
ASTROS 4, REDS 3
REDS NOTEBOOK
Box, runs
UC improved, though offense still struggles
