Walleye Sneak by Cyclones, 3-2

CINCINNATI, Ohio – Toledo’s Willie Coetzee banged in the game-winning goal midway through the third period to lift the Toledo Walleye (31-30-4-2) over the Cincinnati Cyclones (31-27-6-4) by a 3-2 final score in front of 4,756 at U.S. Bank Arena on Friday night.

Thanks to an early power play, Toledo jumped out 1-0 as Evan Rankin deflected home Jason Lepine’s point shot past Cyclones goalie Brian Foster (L, 18 saves, 9-5-0-1) just 1:43 into the opening frame.  Then, during a Cyclones power play, Garrett Suter lost an edge at the Toledo blue line and allowed Andy Bombach to break away all alone on Foster.  While Foster made the first save, Bombach poked in the rebound at the 17:14 mark to extend the Walleye lead to 2-0 at the end of one period.

In the second period, Cincinnati cashed in on a power play of its own as Barret Ehgoetz fed a tape-to-tape pass to Dustin Sproat in the slot, who roofed a shot past Toledo netminder Thomas McCollum (W, 27 saves, 10-8-1-1) to pull within a goal.  About eight minutes later, at the 16:08 mark, Garrett Suter blasted in his first professional goal from just inside the right point to knot the score at two after 40 minutes of play.

Despite several Cyclones chances early in the third stanza, Toledo cashed in the go-ahead (and eventual game-winning) goal at the 11:12 mark when Willie Coetzee slammed in a rebound left along the goal line to push the Walleye ahead for good, 3-2.  They would hold on to win by the same score.

The Cyclones Radio Network Three Stars of the Game are as follows:
1.    Andy Bombach (1 goal, 2 assists for Toledo)
2.    Willie Coetzee (Game winning goal for Toledo)
3.    Garrett Suter (First career professional goal)

The defending Kelly Cup Champions will return to U.S. Bank Arena tomorrow night when they once again battle the Walleye at 7:30pm.  Tomorrow is Child Abuse Awareness Night when the first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive a FREE Reminderband as they walk through the gates.  In addition, the Cyclones will wear special-edition jerseys that will be auctioned off after the game to benefit the Northern Kentucky Children’s Advocacy Center.  2010-11 single game and discounted group tickets are available now.  2011-12 season tickets are on sale NOW!  For more information, call 513.421.PUCK (7825) or visit CyclonesHockey.com.

Click here for tonight’s box score.