Playing the Charlotte Checkers for the first time this season, the Toledo Walleye capped off their perfect weekend with a 6-3 win Sunday evening at the Lucas County Arena. The win continued to increase the confidence level of the Walleye players, especially goaltender Thomas McCollum who notched his first win with the team after a difficult experience Friday.
Toledo's power-play unit accounted for four of their six goals, including the first three, all in the first period. Mike Hedden and Joe Charlebois set up the first score, sending the puck to Bryan Ewing just four minutes into the contest.
The Walleye tallied two more near the end of the session, including David Phillips' first goal since being assigned to the team on Christmas Eve. Evan Rankin netted the final goal of the period, swatting and batting at the puck in front of Charlotte netminder Ryan Munce.
Rankin's luck continued in the second, netting a second goal on just his second shot of the game. The long shot hit the top corner, just over the glove side of Munce.
Charlotte spoiled the party later in the period, tallying two goals back to back on Thomas McCollum. Steve Ward sent the first from the blue line, which was deflected into the net by Aaron Slattengren. Codey Burki connected for the second score just 16 seconds later, picking up a rebound off a shot from Jean-Philipp Chabot.
Toledo's power play however got another opportunity late in the stanza with JC Sawyer netting his 16th of the year and third of the weekend on a pass from Malcolm MacMillan.
After an on-ice battle between a dozen or so local mascots playing dodgeball, the players took part in some extra curricular activities of their own. Dominic Osman was quickly sent down to the ice by Charlotte's Andrew Carroll to open the third period. Osman however wanted a second chance, easily settling the score in a commanding fight later in the session.
Toledo also received a unique opportunity to increase the lead early in the third period when a Charlotte skater covered the puck with his hands in the crease. A penalty shot was awarded, with Maxime Tanguay easily tapping it in for the goal.
The Checkers came back for their third score of the evening with just over 10 minutes to play when David Marshall left the puck between the circles for Kenny Roche for the goal. That however was the end of Charlotte's luck as the Walleye skated to the 6-3 victory, earning their third win in as many games.
Head coach Nick Vitucci was deservedly very proud of his team, commenting that "they worked their butts off" this weekend. He was "very pleased with everybody" including the power play unit, all three offensive lines, the defensemen and the goaltenders.
The wins allow the Walleye to "keep pace" with the other strong teams in the American North Division, setting up what continues to be a very tight race heading towards the playoffs.
Toledo has a few days off to polish their skills before traveling to Wheeling and Cincinnati this Friday and Saturday. They'll be back home on Sunday for kid's night at the arena as the Johnstown Chiefs visit.
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