The Komets and Cincinnati Cyclones picked up where they left off during the playoffs – with a good bit of hatred – but this time the Cyclones ended up with a victory.

Spencer Dorowicz broke open what had been a tied game, scoring back-to-back goals to lead the Cyclones to a 5-2 victory in front of an announced crowd of 7,377 fans at U.S. Bank Arena in Ohio.

It was tied at 2 before Dorowicz netted a shot from the left circle 9:11 into the second period for the Cyclones, playing their season opener. After Fort Wayne goaltender Zach Fucale foiled a 3-on-1 rush, Dorowicz netted a 20-foot shot for a 4-2 lead at 3:58 of the third period.

Arvin Atwal cemented the victory with his second goal of the night, an empty-netter at 18:05, after Fort Wayne coach Gary Graham had pulled Fucale for a 6-on-4 power play.

Fort Wayne’s Taylor Crunk, who had the winning goal and a fight in Friday’s 3-2 season-opening victory at Indianapolis, got a game misconduct and a major penalty for cross-checking after he went after Cincinnati’s Adrian Carbonara following the final whistle, so he could face discipline from the ECHL.

Fucale stopped 23 of 27 shots. Jonas Johansson stopped 24 of 26 for the Cyclones, who opened the scoring 6:07 into the first period when Atwal scored off a rebound.

It didn’t take the Komets long to answer, with Anthony Petruzzelli taking advantage of a turnover 26 seconds later.

The Cyclones took a 2-1 lead 17:21 when Justin Vaive one-timed a shot that caromed off the crossbar and into the net. Again, the Komets responded, as captain Jamie Schaafsma got to a rebound and deposited it into the net from the right circle at 18:57.

In the second period, Crunk fought Mitch Jones, son of former Komets player Brad Jones. Cincinnati also has Jordan Sims, who is the son of former Komets player and coach Al Sims and was born in Fort Wayne.

jcohn@jg.net