Trenton Bliss made it a 2-2 game for Toledo with 1:38 remaining, but Yushiroh Hirano roared back, scoring 21 seconds later to help the Cyclones pick up a 4-2 Sunday win on the road against the Walleye.
Cincinnati snaps a three game losing streak and catapults back to second place in the Central Division with 50 points (22-11-4-2). Toledo sees a season best-six game win streak end, as they trail the Cyclones by a point, falling to 22-15-4-1.
- Brandon Hawkins struck to put Toledo on the board first 12:49 into the game, netting a one-timer fed to the slot from Gordie Green that beat Beck Warm.
- Zack Andrusiak (13) tied the game at one a piece 9:32 into the middle period, taking advantage of a Walleye turnover to break out for a two-on-one with Matt Berry. The forward duo cashed in when Berry slid a pass to Andrusiak in the left-wing circle, where the winger blasted a puck by Sebastian Cossa.
- The 'Clones were penalized four times in the third period, but stood tall to go perfect on the penalty kill. Moments after one of those kills, Andrusiak cruised through center and cut into the Toledo zone to strike again, rifling a shot past Cossa for his 14th goal of the season.
- With the net empty, Toledo's Bliss converted on a game-tying, 2-2 goal with 1:38 remaining, as a point shot from Hawkins was knocked down in front, where Bliss turned and slid the puck by Warm. The tie lasted just 21 seconds, as a dumped puck went to Cossa, who misplayed it behind his goal for Hirano to find the puck out in front and slam the door shut on the Walleye with his first goal since being reassigned by Abbotsford, putting the Cyclones up once again, 3-2, with 1:17 remaining.
- Toledo had one more chance with Cossa pulled and Patrick Polino in the penalty box with half a minute remaining, but on the six-on-four, Phil Lagunov (5) dished a puck the length of the ice and into the net for the 4-2 final.
- Warm played tremendous for Cincinnati, picking up his 16th win of the season with 33 saves. Cossa got credit for 27 saves in the loss for Toledo.
- February starts with four games in five days for the 'Clones, beginning Wednesday night at Heritage Bank Center when Kansas City comes to town.
