Walleye edge past Kalamazoo, 5-4!
1/14/2012 - (Kalamazoo, MI)– Defenseman Joey Ryan scored in the third period to cap a Toledo comeback in a 5-4 win. Toledo is 15-18-1-1 on the season and 6-8-1-0 away from home.
Toledo would strike early in this game as the Walleye grab a quick 2-0 lead. Forward Andrej Nestrasil would put Toledo up 1-0 at 1:27 of the first period with his third goal of the season. The Walleye would make it 2-0 Toledo at 1:52 of the period when Nestrasil made a perfect pass in front to Joey Martin who blasted home his 12th goal of the year. The Wings would fire back as Darryl Bootland would beat goaltender Rob Nolan with an even strength goal and a power play goal period the period ran out. Toledo outshot the Wings 15-5 in the opening period.
“The recipe to beat Kalamazoo is to control the puck and keep their offense from getting started,” said Head Coach Nick Vitucci. “Certainty Nolan (Rob) would like to have a couple of goals back, but boy our defense has carried us to being successful in back to back games.”
In the second it was the Wings that came out roaring as they score twice in four shots to start the second. Just 1:15 into the period, Kalamazoo held a 4-2 lead and goaltender Nolan was lifted from the game for Dustin Carlson after allowing four goals in nine shots. Toledo would climb back into the game with a goal from Kyle Rogers at 3:32 of the period, his 10th goal of the season. The Walleye would tie the game at four at 11:54 when Adam Estoclet blasted a wrist shot past Kalamazoo goaltender Riley Gill for his 6th goal of the year.
Defenseman Joey Ryan would put Toledo in front for good at 8:52 of the third period when he rocked a slap shot between the pads of Gill. The second goal of the season from Ryan was all Toledo needed tonight. The Walleye held Kalamazoo to just three shots on goal in the third period.
Walleye Notes: Walleye goaltender Dustin Carlson finished with 7 saves and is 3-2-0-0 on the season. Forward Joey Martin has scored at least one goal in four consecutive games. Toledo outshot Kalamazoo 38-16 for the game.
The next Toledo home game will be January 15th at 4:00 pm when the Walleye host Kalamazoo at the Huntington Center. Fans can call (419) 725-9255 for ticket information or visit www.toledowalleye.com.
