Walleye Fall To Gwinnett
Published on February 27, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Toledo Walleye News Release
Toledo, OH - Whether Toledo won or lost on Saturday, the Walleye would still hold the seventh seed in the league standings. Toledo would host the Gwinnett Gladiators, which had outscored the Walleye 10-4 in the previous two meetings.
The Gladiators took control of the contest early with a barrage of quality scoring chances which caught goaltender Jordan Pearce off guard, consequently giving the home team an early deficit. Tom Zanoski got the scoring started at 8:17. Then Gwinnett had a few quality chances from uncontested shots. Matt Francis hit a wide open shot just as Toledo killed a penalty for the 2-0 lead at 14:50, then added a third goal on the power play at 18:37 when Michael Forney tapped home a pass.
"We just didn't match their physical play in the first period," Toledo Head Coach Nick Vitucci said. "We were out of position and gave away too many easy chances."
In the second period, an odd-man rush put Pearce in a tough position, as a quick pass and shot from Tim Miller gave Gwinnett a 4-0 lead only 39 seconds into the period. Pearce then left the game and was replaced by Alec Richards.
"Coming in to the period, we made some adjustments. After allowing that fourth goal, we needed to send a message," Vitucci said.
Toledo did give up another score, this time to Jason Lawrence to go down 5-0. However, after the goalie change, Toledo played more physical and turned the momentum, scoring three unanswered goals to put them back in the game.
ECHL Stories from February 27, 2010
- Idaho completes series sweep, 7-1 - Alaska Aces
- Steelheads sweep Aces - Idaho Steelheads
- Chiefs cruise past Cyclones - Johnstown Chiefs
- Stingrays Fall in Overtime 5-4 to Everblades - South Carolina Stingrays
- Devils Explode Past Royals In Standings, On Scoreboard - Trenton Devils
- Checkers struggle to find back of net, lose 5-2 to Wings - Charlotte Checkers
- Jackals silence Nailers - Elmira Jackals
- Everblade Kevin Baker Nets Hat Trick with OT Game-Winner Against South Carolina - Florida Everblades
- Royals Throttled by Devils, 7-1 - Reading Royals
- K-Wings clip Checkers - Kalamazoo Wings
- Nailers lose in road-trip finale at Elmira - Wheeling Nailers
- Johnstown Drops Cyclones, 6-2 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Gladiators Sink Walleye - Atlanta Gladiators
- Walleye Fall To Gwinnett - Toledo Walleye
- Olympic pride on Nailers - Wheeling Nailers
- Taylor Returns to Gwinnett - Atlanta Gladiators
- New York Rangers Reassign Miika Wiikman to ECHL Charlotte - Charlotte Checkers
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Las Vegas Wranglers - Stockton Thunder
- Game Preview: Condors Vs. Victoria - Bakersfield Condors
- Countdown To Face-Off - Kalamazoo Wings
- Jackals Game Preview: Wheeling At Elmira - Elmira Jackals
- Stingrays Gameday: Stingrays Head South To Battle Everblades - South Carolina Stingrays
- Thunder drop third straight behind second period Las Vegas rally - Stockton Thunder
- Reign Defeats Grizzlies, 7-3 - Ontario Reign
- Condors reel in Salmon Kings, 3-2 - Bakersfield Condors
- Victoria loses 3-2 in Bakersfield - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Wranglers Cruise Past Thunder 5-2 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Ontario Breaks 3-3 Third Period Tie; Beats Utah 7-3 - Utah Grizzlies
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
