Komets slap in two third period goals to beat Toledo, 4-3

Toledo goalie Jordan Pearce stops a goal attempt by Ft. Wayne's Brett Smith with the help of Ben Youds during game against Ft. Wayne at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio.

In a renewal of a former longstanding minor league hockey rivalry, Toledo squared off against the Fort Wayne Komets at the Huntington Center on Friday night.

Toledo took an initial 1-0 lead in the first period. But Fort Wayne tallied two goals on its first two shots of the third period and went on to a 4-3 victory. The teams combined for four goals in a wild third period.

Toledo scored a shorthanded goal to get on board first. Rookie Luke Glendening scored on a one timer on a pass from captain Kyle Rogers. The Walleye cashed in on the two-on-one breakaway to make it 1-0.

But the Komets tied it on a power play goal just 35 seconds later as Brett Smith scored. Fort Wayne then grabbed a 2-1 lead on a tipped shot by Brent Henley with 8:15 left in the second period.

Toledo tied it at 2 on Glendening's second goal of the night. A Komets defenseman actually shoved in the puck but Walleye get the power play goal with 18:18 left.

Fort Wayne regained a 3-2 lead as Jean-Michel Rizk scored into an empty net set up on a nice pass by Kaleigh Schrock with 16:18 left.

Fort Wayne scored on its first two shots of the third period to take a 4-2 lead. Thomas Beauregard tallied the second goal of the third period.

Toledo responded with a goal by Willie Coetzee to make it 4-3 with 9:30 remaining. Toledo pulled goalie Jordan Pearce with 1:45 left but could not get the equalizer despite getting some quality chances.

Pearce made his 2012 debut for the Walleye after being assigned from the American Hockey League on Wednesday. Pearce, who started his pro career with the Walleye in 2009, finished with 17 saves.

Fort Wayne joined the ECHL this season. The addition rekindled a rivalry with Toledo teams. The cities had teams that played each other from 1952 to 1985.

The last time the teams met was in December 1985 the final season for the Toledo Goaldiggers. Both teams played in the International Hockey League at the time.

The Walleye host Evansville on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.