How it happened:
Fort Wayne got the first power play of the game thanks to an early tripping penalty on Toledo, but the Fish ended it with ease. Additionally, the first period was filled with a lot of puck battles and minimal stoppages of play, but no other penalties or goals. Each team ended the first period with 7 shots on goal.
Jordan Ernst got the Walleye on the board first with a breakaway wrist shot, his third goal of the year, at 6:33 of the second period. Brandon Hawkins and Jacob Truscott had the assists on goal, Hawkins’ third assist in three games.
The Walleye made a power play shortly thereafter, when former Fish Jalen Smereck took the puck out of play and was assessed a minor penalty for delay of game. Toledo could not convert and subsequently took a penalty themselves. However, Fort Wayne was called for goaltender interference, yielding a minute of 4-on-4 hockey, followed by a minute of power play time for Toledo.
Neither team took advantage of their power play opportunities and the game remained 1-0 in favor of the Walleye. Toledo led 1-0 at the end of the second, but trailed 17-16 in shots.
Chad Hillebrand got the scoring started quickly in the third period with a breakaway goal for his fifth of the year, assisted (again) by Brandon Hawkins and Jacob Truscott at 1:02. Fort Wayne got on the board 58 seconds later and scored their first goal at the 2:00 mark of the period.
Fort Wayne was called for a slash, so Toledo had another chance on the power play at 10:55 of the third period but did not convert. Fort Wayne didn’t have a chance to pull its goaltender until 35 seconds remained, thanks to continued pressure from Toledo’s offense. Toledo held on to win, with a final score of 2-1. Neither team scored on the power play and Fort Wayne defeated Toledo 23-21.
Local 245 Three stars:
1 – F Chad Hillebrand, TOL (GWG)
2 – F Brandon Hawkins, TOL (2 A)
3 – F Jordan Ernst (1 G)
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