Walleye Win Sixth Straight, Move Into First
Published on January 17, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Toledo Walleye News Release
Toledo, OH - Toledo entered the Lucas County Arena on Sunday riding a five game winning streak. The Chiefs came to town, but the Walleye had its far share of success so far this season against visiting Johnstown. The Chiefs, however, were the first to score and made the Walleye play catch-up for the first half of the contest.
Johnstown struck past the halfway mark of the first period. Bryan Marshall took a cross-ice pass to the right side of the net and passed to center. However, the pass deflected off of Justin Suda's skates and went between the legs of goaltender Alec Richards at 11:31.
The Walleye answered at the end of the first when Evan Rankin tipped one in at the side of the goal. On the power play, Adam Hobson crashed the net with the puck and passed behind him to an open Rankin, who tipped the pass past John Murray to tie the game 1-1.
The Chiefs took the lead once again with a Chanse Fitzpatrick goal at 5:28. The home team would answer once again though, but this time with a little luck. Again on the power play, Sebastien Piche ripped a shot, but it missed the net and bounced of the glass. The puck then landed in front of the net, where Dominic Osman found the net for the goal, batting it out of the air, for his ninth of the season.
Evan Rankin would give the fish its first lead of the game at 12:57 in the second. Toledo once again took advantage of the man advantage and controlled possession in the Johnstown zone. A pass from Hobson to Captain Ryan Stokes found Rankin in front for his second goal of the game for the 3-2 lead.
The third period was another see-saw affair, but it did feature a bit of Walleye history in the making. After Johnstown tied the game, Lucas County Arena roared when Rankin scored at 7:37. Another set up Hobson and a quick pass from Osman left Rankin open for his third goal, his 20th of the year. The hat trick marks the first time in Walleye history a Toledo player tallied three goals in a contest.
Johnstown would add another score to force the overtime, but the Walleye would defend the home ice. Adam Hobson led an odd-man rush and made a beautiful move on the goaltender. Coming from the right, he crashed Murray to left and hesitated for the goalie to go down and lifted a soft wrister over the glove for the game winner.
~ SEASON STORIES ~
Following the Fish: For the season, 145,892 fans have passed through the turnstiles at the Lucas County Arena for an average of 5,835. The ECHL is averaging 4,200 per game.
Toledo and Two: Tonight marks the fifth straight game that Toledo has had at least one player score two goals (Smith, Stokes and Hedden, Rankin, then Sawyer), with Evan Rankin scoring three times tonight.
Richards Leading the Way: Goaltender Alec Richards won his seventh consecutive game Sunday.
ECHL Stories from January 17, 2010
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