Walleye top Kalamazoo

11/25/2012

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Walleye remained hot away from home as Toledo won its fifth straight game on the road today.

Defenseman Phil Rauch scored the winning goal with exactly two minutes left in the game to give the Walleye a 3-2 victory over the Kalamazoo Wings.

The Walleye are off to the best start to a season in franchise history as they upped their record to 11-7-0. The organization's previous best start was in its inaugural season in 2009-10 when the team started 7-7-4.

Toledo played its fourth game in five days and emerged with a 3-1-0 record with three wins away from the Huntington Center.

Rauch and fellow defenseman Phil Oreskovic both scored their first goals of the season today.

With the game tied at 2 late, Rauch carried the puck into the Wings' end and scored with a backhander. Rauch's first goal of the season came at even strength and was unassisted.

Toledo forward Max Campbell scored on a wrist shot just 2:22 into the third period to give Toledo a 3-2 lead. Campbell's fifth of the year was set up by Joey Martin's assist.

But Kalamazoo tied it back up with a power play goal moments later.

Toledo trailed 1-0 after one period, but Oreskovic tied the game early in the second period. Oreskovic scored on assists from Byron Froese and Terry Broadhurst.

Rookie goalie Kent Simpson (4-5-1) made 24 saves to get the win.

Toledo outshot Kalamazoo 40-26.

The Walleye peppered the Wings net with 17 shots in the second period. But Kalamazoo goalie Joel Martin, who finished with 37 saves, stopped 16 shots in the middle period.

The Wings went 1 of 7 on the power play and Toledo finished 0 of 4 with the man advantage.

Toledo is now 7-2-1 on the road and moved back into first place in the ECHL North Division.

The teams will meet again on Friday at the Huntington Center. The Walleye now have four off days before taking to the ice against the Wings.

Toledo defeated Fort Wayne 4-2 on the road on Saturday night.