Walleye Pick Up a Big Win Over the Cyclones, 3-2; Fish Back in Cincinnati Saturday Night!
3/25/2011 - (Cincinnati, OH)– Toledo scored with 8:48 left in the third period to beat Cincinnati 3-2 tonight. The Walleye are just four points behind the Cyclones for the 8th and final playoff spot. Toledo is 31-30-6 on the season and 16-14-3 on the road. Toledo is 8-4-1 against Cincinnati this season.
Toledo didn’t waste any time jumping ahead tonight scoring just 1:43 into the first period. Evan Rankin would redirect Jason Lepine’s shot past Cincinnati net minder Brian Foster for a 1-0 Walleye. The 20th goal of the year for Rankin was a power play goal. Toledo would go ahead 2-0 at 17:14 when Andy Bohmbach would capitalize on a shorthanded breakaway for his 23rd goal of the season. Late in the first period Cincinnati’s Garrett Suter was awarded a penalty shot which was stopped by Toledo goaltender Thomas McCollum.
“We did exactly what we needed to tonight,” said Head Coach Nick Vitucci. “We stressed before the game that we had to come out with jump and get the lead and we did that to perfection. They come back in the second period, which we expected. Our team persevered to get the win.”
The Cyclones would score twice in the second period to tie the game after forty minutes. The Walleye would regain the lead at 11:12 of the third when Willie Coetzee tapped in a rebound for his 8th goal of the season. Maxime Tanguay passed the puck in front to Bohmbach for a one-timer that was stopped by Foster, but Coetzee was there for the rebound.
Walleye Notes:
-Walleye goaltender Thomas McCollum made 27 saves is 10-8-2 on the season for Toledo.
Walleye Transactions:
-Prior to tonight’s game the Walleye signed defenseman Bryan Rufenach to a contract. Bryan just finished his college career with Clarkson University. In 137 college games, Bryan collected 21 goals and 34 assists.
The Toledo Walleye will be back at home Sunday, March 27th at 4:00 PM vs. the Cincinnati Cyclones at the Huntington Center. Tickets are on sale for that contest and all remaining home games. Fans can call (419) 725-WALL or visit the arena box office.
