Toledo, OH - Scoring seven goals by seven different players, the Toledo Walleye rolled past the Wheeling Nailers in a dominant 7-1 victory. Toledo extended their streak of opening goals to two games and never looked back, with five of their seven goals going unanswered until the third period.

Here's how it happened:

After their 7 game stretch without scoring an opening goal was broken on Opening Night, #43 Quinn Preston extended the Walleye's streak with a goal in only :34 seconds, assisted by #48 Kyle Gaffney and #67 Mitch Lewandowski. Following Preston's goal, both teams slowed down for a quiet ending to the first period, recording zero minor or major penalties, and racking up 8 shots on goal each.

Opposite of the first, period two opened up the floodgates with #5 Nick Andrews scoring an unassisted goal, and #84 Tag Bertuzzi scoring one of his own with assists by #20 Jacob Truscott and #12 Tanner Dickinson. Brandon Hawkins picked up a hooking penalty late in the second, but the Walleye closed the period with a 3-0 lead.

The floodgates opened in the third period. Wheeling caught an early penalty which led to a power play goal by #77 Cooper Zech, assisted by #67 Mitch Lewandowski and #27 Nolan Moyle. Not wanting to miss out on the fun, #37 Dylan Moulton scored the 5th unanswered goal of the game with an assist by #24 Nick Nardecchia. Wheeling managed to deny the shutout with their first and only goal of the game as they neared the halfway point of the third period.

Things only got worse for Wheeling as #25 Chris Terry scored his second ECHL goal and extended the lead to 6-1, assisted by #16 Brandon Hawkins. Wheeling picked up a pair of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties just past the 10 minute mark, which resulted in #16 Brandon Hawkins, dissatisfied with only an assist, picking up the final goal of the game with assists coming from #67 Mitch Lewandowski and #77 Cooper Zech.

Following Hawkins goal, Wheeling was hit with another pair of penalties, and the Walleye received a 5 minute major penalty to go along with it. Less than 40 seconds after those penalties, Toledo received a slashing penalty which resulted in Wheeling goaltender Nolan Lalonde being ejected from the game, receiving a 10 minute roughing penalty after emotions finally boiled over.

Toledo closed the game with 44 shots on goal and 7 points, their highest goal total of the season.

Local 245 Three Stars:
1. TOL - M. Lewandowski
2. TOL - C. Zech
3. TOL - B. Hawkins

The Walleye travel to Fort Wayne to take on the Komets, looking for revenge after their loss to Toledo on Opening Night, tomorrow at 7:35pm. You can catch the game LIVE on FloHockey or listen at 1230 The Gambler.