Toledo Defeated in Kalamazoo-Walleye Host Greenville Saturday Night
2/25/2011 - (Kalamazoo, MI)– Kalamazoo forward Kory Karlander scored three times and the Wings downed Toledo 8-5. Toledo is 25-24-4 on the season and 12-12-2 on the road. Toledo is 4-6-1 against Kalamazoo this season.
The Wings jumped ahead of Toledo with two goals in the opening period on goaltender Thomas McCollum. The Wings doubled up Toledo in shots 14-7 in the first period. The Walleye had their chances including 35 seconds of a five on three power play, but were unable to beat Kalamazoo goaltender Ryan Nie.
“Our energy level was great all throughout the game, but our special teams failed us tonight,” said Head Coach Nick Vitucci. “We continue to dig ourselves a hole by falling behind early. The teams in this league are just too good to do that each and every night. We have to regroup and come out with a strong effort Saturday night at home.”
The Wings would go up 4-0 in the second period before Toledo would get on the board. At 13:53 of the second Chris DiDomenico would beat Nie with a wrist shot from left circle with an assist to Willie Coetzee. Karlander would score one minute later to put the Wings up 5-1. Coetzee would then beat Nie with a backhander at 17:14 of the second for his 7th goal of the year. After another Karlander goal, the Walleye would get a goal to end the second from Kyle Rogers at 19:55. Tyler Doig sent a pass in front that Rogers tipped in for his 9th goal this year.
Toledo would strike just 10 seconds into the third as Mike Hedden scored his team-leading 21st goal of the year from Evan Rankin and Scott Fletcher. The Walleye would get within one as the power play would strike when Rogers would score his second goal of the game at 7:01 of the third period. Kyle Page and DiDomenico assisted on the goal. The Wings would strike for two more goals before the game ended.
Walleye Notes:
-Walleye goaltender Thomas McCollum made 27 saves is 4-2-0 on the season for Toledo.
-Goalie Joe Palmer started the third period in net for Toledo and made 9 saves.
-The Walleye have dropped three consecutive road games.
-Toledo has allowed 8 goals two other times this year (January 14th at Reading 8-2 and November 19th at Florida 8-1).
-The next Toledo home game will be Saturday February 26th at 7:00 pm when the Walleye host Greenville at the Huntington Center. Fans can call (419) 725-WALL or visit the arena box office for ticket information.
