Walleye Blank the Cyclones, 7-0; Toledo Home Sunday Afternoon Against Cincinnati!
3/26/2011 - (Cincinnati, OH)–Toledo exploded with four second period goals to down the Cyclones 7-0 in Cincinnati. The Walleye are just two points behind the Cyclones for the 8th and final playoff spot. Toledo is 32-30-6 on the season and 17-14-3 on the road. Toledo is 9-4-1 against Cincinnati this season.
Similar to Friday night, the Walleye would grab the lead against Cincinnati with two first period goals. Evan Rankin would start the scoring as he blasted a wrist shot past Cincinnati goaltender Brian Foster at 8:20 for his 21st goal of the year. Andy Bohmbach won the draw in the Cincinnati zone right to Rankin. Toledo would get a power play goal at 12:17 when Simon Danis-Pepin beat Foster from the right circle of the Cyclones zone.
“I loved how we executed tonight especially on the special teams,” said Head Coach Nick Vitucci. “Our penalty kill was the difference in the first period and our power play was just really good like it has been for the past few weeks. I also liked how finished what we started with a terrific second period and didn’t let Cincinnati get back into the game.”
Toledo would explode with four goals in the second period. Scooter Smith (3rd goal of the year) scored his first goal since January 1st at 10:57 after Willie Coetzee would collect his 9th goal of the year as he blasted a rebound past Cincinnati goaltender Chet Pickard, who came in relief of Foster after the third Toledo goal. Toledo’s fifth goal came at 16:20 when Bohmbach collected a loose puck in the neutral zone and beat Pickard with a wrist shot from the left circle for his 24th goal of the year. At 18:04, newcomer Bryan Rufenach scored a power play goal.
Defenseman Jason Lepine would collect his 9th goal of the season at 10:08 of the third period to finish the scoring.
Walleye Notes:
-Walleye goaltender Thomas McCollum made 18 saves is 11-8-2 on the season for Toledo. It was the third shutout of the season for McCollum and his second in the last three games.
-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 Huntington Center box office for ticket information.
