Adam Berg and Andrew Nielsen each scored for the Cyclones, but a third period major penalty allowed the Walleye to capitalize on their power play, picking up a 6-2 win in game one of the second round of the playoffs at Heritage Bank Center Friday night.
The Cyclones will host game two of the series Saturday night with a chance to tie the series before the scene shifts to Toledo next week for games three, four, and five, if necessary.
- The Walleye wasted no time, scoring 15 seconds into the game when Gordie Green was sprung for a breakaway where he tucked the puck underneath Beck Warm for the 1-0 lead. Green was on a line with Brandon Hawkins and Trenton Bliss, who all combined to score five goals.
- Adam Berg evened the score at the 12:02 mark, redirecting a shot from the right wing by Patrick Polino to beat Sebastian Cossa and earn the rookie forward his first professional playoff goal.
- Bliss scored later in the frame while Zack Andrusiak was in the penalty box to make it 2-1; a score that held up going into the third period. Andrew Nielsen tied the game, 2-2 less than five minutes into the third on a puck sent toward the goal that bounced off a Walleye defenseman behind Cossa and into the goal.
- A game changing penalty occurred 6:30 into period three, with Sean Allen being assessed a boarding major and game misconduct, bringing the Walleye's power play onto the ice for a five-minute power play. Hawkins struck inside the opening minute to make it 3-2, before three other goals were scored, giving Toledo four power play goals in a span of 3:01, and five power play conversions on the night. Zach Berzolla was charged for tripping during the penalty kill, giving Toledo a 5-on-3 power play that Kirill Tyutyayev scored on just four seconds in.
- Warm finished the game with 31 saves, while Cossa picked up the win with 15 saves.
- Game two comes Saturday night at 7:35p.m. at Heritage Bank Center. Fans can enjoy $2 hot dogs throughout the game!
