Gwinnett Hooks The Walleye Again - Gladiators Win 5-1 on Saturday
2/6/2010 - Tickets | February Schedule | Box Score
(Gwinnett, GA) – The Toledo Walleye allowed Gwinnett to score three times on the power play and were defeated 5-1 on Saturday night. Toledo’s record is 25-18-1-3 on the season, and they are 9-8-1-2 on the road.
The Walleye would find themselves behind after the first for the second time in as many games in Gwinnett. Scott Mifsud beat Alec Richards on a wrist shot at 16:10 of the first to give Gwinnett a 1-0. Toledo out-shot the Gladiators 14-12 in the opening period.
“We had the start I was looking for tonight,” said Head Coach Nick Vitucci. “Unfortunately, their power play was the difference tonight.”
The Walleye would get the power play going in the second period. Maxime Tanguay collected his 17th goal of the year at 6:49 as he deposited a rebound left by Gwinnet goaltender Danny Taylor to tie the game at one. Sebastien Piche and JC Sawyer collected the assists on the goal.
Following that goal, it was all Gladiators as they would strike three times on the power play. The first came just :41 seconds after Tanguay tied the game. With Scooter Smith in the box, Chris Higgins beat Richards to give Gwinnett a 2-1 lead.
“Gwinnett has a very good power play just like we do,” Coach Vitucci said. “They like to keep things simple and we could not defend it tonight. Plain and simple, that was the difference in tonight's game.”
The Gladiator power play, 2 for 5 last night against Toledo, continued to score as Sam Roberts blasted a one-timer past Richards at 14:03 for Gwinnett’s third goal. They would add one more in the second at 17:54 as Daniel Sullivan slipped a shot past Richards for the third power play goal of the period. Gwinnet led 4-1 after two periods of play. The Gladiators would add the fifth and final goal of the game just :32 seconds into the third period as Sean Hurley blasted a one-timer past Richards.
Walleye Notes: Alec Richards started the game in goal for Toledo and made 31 saves. Alec is 13-5-0-3 on the season and is 7-3-0-0 in his last 10 starts. Toledo is 4-6-1-2 against teams from the South Division this season. Maxime Tanguay has 4 goals and 3 assists in his last five games.
Current Playoff Standings:
1-South Carolina (71 pts) - division leader
2-Cincinnati (61) - division leader
3-Elmira (53) - division leader
4-Charlotte (56)
5-Wheeling (55)
6-Kalamazoo (54)
7-Toledo (54)
8-Florida (54)
9-Reading (50)
Toledo travels to Charlotte to take on the Checkers at 2:00 pm on Sunday afternoon. Listen to the game on Fox Sports Radio 1230 with Matt Melzak or watch the games on b2 Networks.
Toledo will be back on the home ice Friday, February 12 against the Cincinnati Cyclones.
