First-place Cincinnati skates by Walleye 3-0

Only one penalty called in game

3/8/2013

CINCINNATI – The Walleye couldn't gain any ground on first-place Cincinnati tonight as the Cyclones blanked Toledo 3-0.

The Walleye trailed 1-0 late in the game but the Cyclones put it away with two empty-net goals over the final two minutes.

Toledo goalie Kent Simpson (14-12-5) finished with 30 saves as he made 11 stops in the first period, 11 in the second, and eight in the third.

But the Walleye managed to get just 24 shots on Cincinnati goalie Michael Houser, who earned his second shutout.

It was only the second time this season Toledo was held without a goal.

The Walleye (31-20-9) are now 1-2-2 in their last five games. Cincinnati (39-17-7) increased its lead in the ECHL North Division to 14 points over Toledo.

“It is so important for us to get going in the right direction and start stringing together some wins,” Walleye coach Nick Vitucci said. “This game was a slugfest from the get go. I was very happy with how we played, it just didn’t go our way tonight.”

Toledo finished the year 4-3-1 against Cincinnati.

There was just one penalty called in the game. The Walleye went 0 of 1 on the power play. It was only the second time this season that Toledo did not draw a penalty.

Nino Musitelli led Toledo with five shots.

Mathieu Aubin scored the game winner at 7:34 of the second period.

Toledo plays at Kalamazoo on Saturday night.