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ECHL Toledo Walleye

Walleye Playoff Preview

May 1, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Toledo Walleye News Release


TOLEDO, OH - For the first time in the ECHL Toledo and Fort Wayne will meet for a best-of-seven playoff series starting Friday, May 1 at the Huntington Center.

North Division Finals Schedule:

Ft. Wayne @ Toledo - Fri., May 1 - 7:35pm

Ft. Wayne @ Toledo - Sat., May 2 - 7:35pm

Toledo @ Ft. Wayne - Tue., May 5 - 7:30pm

Toledo @ Ft. Wayne - Thur., May 7 - 7:30 pm

Ft. Wayne @ Toledo - Sat., May 9 - 7:35pm*

Toledo @ Ft. Wayne - Sun., May 10 - 6:00pm*

Ft. Wayne @ Toledo - Wed., May 13 - 7:35pm*

Nightingale Returns: Defenseman Jared Nightingale has returned to the Walleye after being released from his player tryout agreement with Syracuse. Nightingale appeared in eight games with the Crunch to finish out the regular season with one assist and 11 penalty minutes. The defenseman skated in one playoff game for the team.

The Top Two Meet : During the regular season Toledo and Fort Wayne were either first or second in the North Division with the Walleye finishing first with 107 points and the Komets second at 102.

Walleye Series One : Toledo defeated Wheeling 4-3 to advance to the North Division Finals. The Walleye won twice at home and twice in Wheeling during the series. Kyle Bonis scored twice including the overtime game-winner to lift the Walleye to a 2-1 Game seven victory. Troy Schwab led the Walleye with 9 points (3G, 6A) in the series. Goaltender Jeff Lerg posted a 2.29 GAA and .922 SVP.

Komets Series One : Fort Wayne defeated Kalamazoo in five games (4-1) to advance to the North Division Finals. The Komets raced out to a 3-0 series lead. The Komets outscored Kalamazoo 19-11 in the series. Mike Embach had 7 points (1G, 6A) to lead the Komets in scoring in the first round series.

Offense vs. Defense : Through the first round of the playoffs, Fort Wayne leads the ECHL averaging 3.80 goal scored per game, while the Walleye have allowed just 2.43 per contest. During the regular season, Toledo was second in goals for per game at 3.90 with Fort Wayne was sixth at 3.49. Both teams were strong in defense with Toledo second at 2.53 goals against while Fort Wayne was at 2.78 per game ranking sixth.

Looking back on the Regular Season Meetings : Toledo had a record of 4-1-2 in the seven meetings against the Komets during the regular season. After two Walleye dominating wins (6-2, 6-3) the final five meetings of the season were decided one goal including four that went past regulation. Each team picked up an overtime and shootout win against the other. The two combined to score a total of 16 goals over the last four.

Statistical Breakdown : Toledo outscored Fort Wayne 24-17 in the season series. Toledo had six power play goals (6-32, 18.7%) against the Komets while holding Fort Wayne just four power play goals (4-30, 13.4%). The Komets held the edge in shots 240-224.

Players that Led the Way : Justin Mercier led the way with 7 points (3G, 4A) while Kyle Bonis (2G, 4A) and Shane Berschbach (1G, 5A) each had six against the Komets. Brett Perlini had 5 points (3G, 2A) and Matthew Pistilli (2G, 2A) had four to pace the Komets. Goaltender Jeff Lerg went 4-1-0 with a 2.53GAA and .924SVP vs. Fort Wayne in the season, and Komets net minder Roman Will was 2-0-0 with a 1.92GAA and .947SVP against the Walleye.

A Look Back at the Seven Regular Season Meetings

November 14, 2014 in Toledo: Toledo won 6-2 with six different goal scorers and goaltender Jeff Lerg stopped 34 of 36 shots.

November 19, 2014 in Toledo: Toledo won 6-3, Jeff Lerg picked up 35 saves and Troy Schwab scored twice in the victory.

December 14, 2014 at Fort Wayne : Toledo won 5-4 in overtime as Shane Berschbach collected the game-winner. Martin Frk also scored twice for the Walleye.

January 4, 2015 at Toledo: Fort Wayne took the game 3-2 in a shootout outdoors at Fifth Third Field. Komets goaltender Roman Will stopped 44 of 46 Toledo shots.

January 31, 2015 at Fort Wayne: Fort Wayne scored three times in the third period to erase a Toledo 2-0 lead to take the game 3-2.

February 18, 2015 at Fort Wayne: Toledo picked up a 2-1 shootout win as goaltender Jeff Lerg all five shooters he faced from the Komets.

March 13, 2015 at Fort Wayne: Fort Wayne took the final meeting of the year 2-1 in overtime.

Tickets are on sale now for playoff games by calling 419-725-9255 or by visiting www.toledowalleye.com/playoffs. Walleye fans are invited to arrive early for a pregame party in the Aquarium before every home playoff game. Enjoy happy hour beverage specials and special entertainment beginning at 5:30 p.m.

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ECHL Stories from May 1, 2015


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.

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