Cincinnati takes Game 1 in playoff series with Toledo Walleye
Cyclones get 2-1 win in double overtime
4/5/2013The Walleye lost a nip and tuck battle 2-1 in double overtime to Cincinnati in an ECHL playoff opener tonight.
Both teams scored in the first period of an Eastern Conference quarterfinals series. Then after two scoreless and overtime periods, the contest went to double overtime where Mike Embach scored the game winner before a crowd of 4,042 at the Huntington Center.
The Walleye struck first when Trevor Parkes scored on a one timer off a nice feed right in front of the net from Ben Youds.
The Cyclones tied it up when Embach beat Walleye goalie Kent Simpson, who was screened by his own defenseman on the play. 1-1 with 11:32 left in first.
Toledo killed off all five of Cincinnati's power plays in regulation.
Both Simpson and Cincinnati goalie Michael Houser were spectacular, particularly in the overtimes. Both netminders are rookies.
The teams meet again on at 7:35 on Saturday at the Huntington Center in Game 2 in the best of seven series.
Cincinnati went 42-22-8 during the regular season and entered as the No. 2 seed with home ice advantage over No. 7 seeded Toledo (37-26-9).