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Playing in their first-ever regular season road game tonight, the Toledo Walleye traveled to play against the Reading Royals at the Sovereign Center in Pennsylvania. Unlike Toledo's painfull 7-3 loss to the Royals at home last Friday, the game was fairly even, but the Royals pulled through in the end, winning 4-3 in a shoot-out.
Goaltender Alec Richards got the start for the Walleye, fresh off his shutout victory over the Trenton Devils last Saturday. Speaking with the "Voice of the Walleye" Matt Melzak before the game, head coach Nick Vitucci praised Richards, noting his "tremendous work ethic," skill, talent and heart.
The Walleye got on the board first following a penalty when Danick Bouchard was called on tripping against Walleye center and former Royal Malcolm MacMillan. Maxime Tanguay recorded his second goal of the season, capitalizing on the rebound shot by Adam Hobson.
Fans got a treat early in the second period as Hobson, sticking up for teammate Mark Nubus, who was dumped into the boards from behind, dropped the gloves with Jared Ross. Hobson and Ross each went to the box on fighting majors, while Ross also served the additional two minutes for boarding.
The Royals tied it up midway though the second, as Stefano Giliati recorded an unassisted goal. Continuing with their momentum, Reading took the lead minutes later as Joey Ryan tallied his first goal of the season to give the Royals the 2-1 lead. Ben McCloud added to the lead late in the period, besting Richards for his eighth point of the season.
After a relatively quiet start to the third, fans rose to their feet to cheer against Walleye winger Mike Hedden, who was awarded a penalty shot following a nice breakaway pass. Hedden connected on the opportunity, tallying his second goal of the year.
To top off the moment, the Walleye went on the power play as Reading goaltender Beau Erickson, upset by the goal, shot the puck at a referree to earn an unsportsmanlike minor. Adam Hobson capitalized to tie it up at three, with J.C. Sawyer getting the helper.
The rest of regulation, as well as the five-minute overtime period, went scoreless, sending the Walleye to their first-ever shoot-out. While Mike Hedden and Maxime Tanguay scored for the Walleye, Reading earned the win as Stefano Giliati, Ben Gordon, Danick Bouchard and Oliver Labelle each bested Alec Richards for the extra point.
The Walleye continue their short road trip this Saturday as they visit the Kalamazoo Wings at 7:00 p.m. They return home next Wednesday for School Celebration Day, hosting the Wings with a special start time of 10:30 a.m.
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