Walleye Pound the Nailers on the Power Play, Win 6-3; Pick Up Two More Points!
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2/23/2011 - (Toledo, OH)-Mike Hedden and Evan Rankin each had two goals as the Toledo Walleye defeated the Wheeling Nailers, 6-3 tonight at the Huntington Center. The Walleye are now 25-23-3-1 this season and have a record of 13-12-2-1 at the Huntington Center.
Toledo kept Wheeling off the board until 13:14 of the first period when Andrew Orpik shot the puck over the left shoulder of Walleye goaltender Thomas McCollum.
Mike Hedden answered right back for the Walleye taking a backdoor pass from Andy Bohmbach at 15:56 to tie the game up at 1-1.
Each team had 11 shots on goal at the end of the first period.
Hedden picked up his second goal of the game after a deflection in front of Wheeling goaltender Patrick Killeen. Sebastien Piche and Bohmbach each recorded assists on the play. Hedden’s tally put Toledo up 2-1 in the second period.
Jeremy Tucker tied the game up at 2-2 for Wheeling at 12:36 after getting a shot past McCollum.
Bohmbach gave Toledo a 3-2 lead after he walked from the corner to the front of the net and ripped a shot past Killeen.
At 17:42, Piche took a shot on net that was initially stopped by Killeen. Evan Rankin then picked up the rebound and lifted the puck in to the Wheeling goal, putting the Fish up 4-2.
Three minutes in to the third period, Toledo scored their fourth power play goal of the evening. Kyle Rogers picked up a rebound at the side of the Wheeling net and put in behind the goal line to give the Walleye a 5-2 lead. Zack Torquato and Jason Lepine picked up the assists on the goal.
Rankin picked up his second goal of the game at 6:33 with assists from Piche and Torquato, giving the Fish a 6-2 lead.
The Nailers cut Toledo’s lead in half at 9:43 after John May got a puck past McCollum.
Walleye Wrap-Up:
-Walleye goaltender Thomas McCollum stopped 22 of 25 shots tonight and is 4-1 this season with the Walleye.
-The Walleye scored a season high, 4 power play goals.
-Forward Mike Hedden has 13 goals and 4 assists for 17 points in his last 11 games.
-Forward Andy Bohmbach leads the team in points with 46.
-The Fish return home to the Huntington Center on Saturday, February 26 at 7pm to take on the Greenville Road Warriors. Walleye ice cube trays will be given away to the first 3,000 fans! For ticket information, fans can call 419-725-WALL (9255) or visit the arena box office.
Game Story By: Samantha Hoot
