Kalamazoo outscores Walleye
2/26/2011
The Wings jumped ahead of Toledo with two goals in the opening period on goaltender Thomas McCollum. The Wings doubled up Toledo in shots 14-7 in the period. The Walleye had their chances, including 35 seconds of a five-on-three power play, but were unable to beat goaltender Ryan Nie.
"Our energy level was great all throughout the game, but our special teams failed us tonight," said coach Nick Vitucci. "We continue to dig ourselves a hole by falling behind early. The teams in this league are just too good to do that each and every night."
The Wings went up 4-0 in the second period before Toledo would get on the board. At 13:53 of the second, Chris DiDomenico beat Nie with a wrist shot from left circle (Willie Coetzee assisting). Karlander scored one minute later to put the Wings up 5-1. Coetzee beat Nie with a backhander at 17:14 of the second for his seventh goal of the year (Randy Rowe). After another Karlander goal, the Walleye got a goal to end the second from Kyle Rogers at 19:55. Tyler Doig sent a pass in front that Rogers tipped in for his ninth goal this year.
Toledo would strike just 10 seconds into the third as Mike Hedden scored his team-leading 21st goal of the year on an assist from Evan Rankin and Scott Fletcher. The Walleye got within one when Kyle Rogers scored his second goal of the game at 7:01 of the third period (Kyle Page, and Chris DiDomenico assisting).