Toledo Blasts Reading, 7-3; Walleye in Wheeling Wednesday Night
3/13/2011 - (Reading, PA)– Sebastien Piche scored twice late in the second to lead the Walleye to a 7-3 win in Reading. Toledo is 29-28-5 on the season and 15-13-3 on the road. Toledo is now 3-2-1 against Reading this season.
Toledo sent a season high 26 shots on goal in the first period as they dominated the Royals, who had just 9 shots. Reading scored their goal in the first on a five on three power play. Toledo would counter when Dave Phillips collected his second goal of the year at 18:14 of the first period. Chris DiDomenico found Phillips cutting in from the blue line and hit him on the tape to set up the goal.
“We wanted to come out and play physical today,” said Head Coach Nick Vitucci. “We are a much better team when we play that way. Our size and toughness can create openings for offensively. It was nice to see us rewarded for the effort.”
The Royals would regain the lead at 10:59 of the second with another power play goal. The Walleye would tie the game with a power play goal of their own as Kyle Rogers deflected Kyle Page's shot past Darren Machesney at 11:16 of the second for his 12th goal this year. The Royals would regain the lead at 12:31 of the second. Toledo would respond with 3 goals in the last 5 minutes of the second period to lead 5-3 after two periods.
The first came at 15:27 when Randy Rowe wristed a shot past Machesney for his 16th goal of the season (Rogers and Willie Coetzee assisting). The Walleye would take the lead when Piche scored at 16:49 with a blistering shot from the left circle. He was set up by some one touch passing from Rogers and Andy Bohmbach. The final goal of the period came from Piche again as his blue line one-timer found its way into the Reading net at 18:06. Sebastian’s 9th goal of the year was a power play goal (Rowe and Page assisting).
The Walleye would add two more goals in the third period. John May collected his fourth goal of the year at 2:45 of the period and Rowe would get his second goal of the game and 17th of the year at 10:02.
Walleye Notes: Walleye goaltender Thomas McCollum made 21 saves and is 8-6-1 on the season. Toledo outshot Reading 50-24 for the game. The 50 shots is a new season high for the Walleye.
The Toledo Walleye will be back at home Friday, March 18th at 7:00 PM vs. the South Carolina Stingrays at the Huntington Center. Tickets are on sale for that contest and all remaining home games. Fans can call (419) 725-WALL or visit www.toledowalleye.com
