Photo: Tony Bailey, Cincinnati Cyclones
Jason Payne, head coach for the Cincinnati Cyclones, is trying to lead the team to a Kelly Cup.
The Cincinnati Cyclones' playoff fate could be decided as early as Thursday.
On April 27, Cincinnati's minor-league professional hockey team will continue its march toward the Kelly Cup with another semi-final game against the Toledo Walleye. The Cyclones are 2-1 on the series, trying to win four out of seven games to advance to the next round of ECHL playoffs.
The 'Clones will battle the Walleye in game four of the Central Devision series on April 27 and in game five on April 28. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. on both nights at Cincinnati's Heritage Bank Center. Tickets still are available, and the remaining home games will feature $1 beers. If necessary, games six and seven will be played in Toledo on April 30 and May 3.
The winner of the Cyclones/Walleye series will advance to the Central Division finals against either the Fort Wayne Komets or the Wheeling Nailers.
It has been three years since Cincinnati last saw Kelly Cup playoff action, plus it's the team's first campaign with head coach Jason Payne at the helm. The 'Clones have been crowned Kelly Cup champs twice.
The Cyclones hit home ice in October for the first time in about a year and a half after the coronavirus pandemic canceled the end of the 2019-2020 season and the Cyclones opted out of the 2020-2021 season. The team finished the 2021-2022 regular season on April 16 with a 36-32-3-1 record.
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