Walleye edge past the Cyclones; win 5-4!
2/26/2012 - (Toledo, OH)-Mike Thomas and Todd Griffith each picked up two goals in this afternoon’s game, as the Toledo Walleye edged past the Cincinnati Cyclone 5-4 in front of a sellout crowd of 7,503 at the Huntington Center. Toledo is now 24-27-2-2 on the season and 13-14-0-2 at home.
Toledo would jump out to a 1-0 lead at 9:09 of the first period, after forward Mike Thomas took a beautiful pass from forward Kyle Rogers and shot it in to the Cincinnati net. Forward Joey Martin picked up the second assist on the goal.
The Cyclones evened the score up at 1-1 off of a wrist shot from the point by Maury Edwards at 12:20 on the power play.
Todd Griffith gave the Walleye a 2-1 lead after he tipped a shot from forward Andrej Nestrasil behind Cincinnati goaltender Brian Foster. Defenseman Kyle Page also collected an assist on the goal that came at 12:39 of the opening period.
Toledo extended their lead to 3-1 17:50 in to the first period, with forward Harrison Reed getting a shot past Foster with assists from Nestrasil and defenseman Phil Rauch.
Walleye goaltender Jordan Pearce stopped 16 shots on goal, while Toledo sent 14 at Foster.
Griffith gave the Walleye a 4-1 lead at the 5:33 mark of the second period, skating around a Cincinnati defenseman and lifting the puck behind Foster.
Toledo took a 5-1 lead with Thomas shooting a puck in to the Cincinnati goal with assists from defensemen Bryan Rufenach and Gleason Fournier.
Chet Pickard would then replace Foster in goal for the Cyclones.
Joe Devin picked up Cincinnati’s second goal of the game 12:23 in to the middle period, putting a puck behind Pearce.
At the end of the second period, a fight broke out between Griffith and Mike Pelech causing both of the players to be ejected from the game.
Pearce stopped 6 of the 7 shots that the Cyclones sent his way.
Cincinnati picked up the only two third period goals; the first coming at 3:47 of the period from Anthony Luciani. The second goal came 10:10 in to the third from Garrett Wilson.
Walleye Wrap-Up:
-Walleye goaltender Jordan Pearce stopped 30 shots on goal and is 1-1 overall this season.
-Forward Joey Martin is riding a three game point streak (1g, 2a).
-Attendance for this afternoon’s game was 7,503 for the eighth sellout of the season and the 29th in the two plus seasons at the Huntington Center.
-The Walleye return home on Friday, March 2 at 7 p.m. when they take on the Wheeling Nailers. Wear pink to the game for “Pink in the Rink” to raise money for breast cancer awareness, a pink towel will be given away before the game. Fans can call 419-725-9255 or visit the Huntington Center box office for ticket information.
Game Story By: Samantha Hoot
