Walleye Pick Up First Road Win Of Season, 7-5 Over Kalamazoo Wings
10/31/2009 - A pair of goals by both Maxime Tanguay and Dominic Osman helped the Toledo Walleye pick up their first road win of the season, 7-5 over the Kalamazoo Wings. For the Wings, it was their first defeat after starting the young season with six straight wins.
The K-Wings had played the previous nine seasons as a member of the United Hockey League, but withdrew and joined the ECHL prior to this season. They had gotten off to a 6-0 start and atop the North division standings at 12 points, five more than the Walleye. The K-Wings, along with the Elmira Jackals and Idaho Steelheads, were the only undefeated teams left in the league. However, of these teams, the Wings had the most potent offense (32 goals) and the best goal differential (+15).
The difference in the game was the success of the Walleye power play. Toledo came into the game with the league’s fifth ranked power play at 23.7 percent and converted five of eight chances off the #2 Kalamazoo penalty kill (92.1 percent).
Both of Toledo’s first period goals came courtesy of the man advantage, and the two teams were tied 2-2 at first intermission. In the second, Evan Rankin made it 3-2 and after the K-Wings tied it again, two straight goals by Maxime Tanguay gave the Walleye a two-goal lead. Kalamazoo scored in the final minute of the period to cut the deficit to 5-4 with one period to play.
Dominic Osman scored two goals in the third -- a power-play tally put the Walleye up 6-4 at 2:18 into the period. Kalamazoo once again got a goal closer with just under eight minutes remaining, and had a chance to tie it with a power play opportunity with 2:30 left. The Wings pulled their goalie for a 6-on-4, but Osman found the empty net for the 7-5 final score.
Jordan Pearce made 30 saves for his second win of the season.
Toledo 7, Kalamazoo 5 -- Full Box Score
The Fish will return to Lucas County Arena for the first of seven November home games on Wednesday, November 4. Click to view the November schedule and get your tickets today!
--Craig Vanderkam, Toledo Walleye
