It had the makings of a perfect weekend.
Toledo had moved into a first-place tie in the ECHL North with a pair of wins, including an emotional come-from-behind victory over Johnstown on Saturday that saw the Storm score twice in the final 2:24.
In the meantime, Reading had dropped a pair in Peoria and the Royals' bus driver got lost on his way to Ohio, making a 6 1/2-hour trip last an hour longer.
There was just one problem yesterday afternoon at the Sports Arena.
The Storm wasn't perfect - not even close.
Toledo displayed little emotion, didn't fight through Reading's trap that neutralized the Storm's speed, and was badly outshot.
As a result, Toledo was blanked 2-0.
"I don't think flat defines what that was out there today,'' Storm coach Nick Vitucci said. "We were unenthused, not involved and at times, scared. That's very disappointing for a team in a first-place battle like we are.''
With a win, Toledo could have gained sole possession of first, breaking a tie with idle Wheeling. Both the Storm and Nailers have 66 points, but Wheeling has three games in hand.
Toledo also has to look back. Reading, Trenton and Atlantic City all have 65 points with only four playoff spots available. The Royals have played four fewer contests than the Storm; Trenton and Atlantic City, two.
"I'm surprised and shocked [that we didn't come out ready to play],'' Vitucci said. "There's a lot on the line and we didn't answer the bell.
"Guys may want to use the crutch that it was our fourth game in five nights and being exhausted and tired, but I don't accept that by any means. We've got to take a good hard look at ourselves in the mirror and continue to ask, 'Am I doing everything I can do?'
"Today, we didn't.''
One who did was netminder Scott Fankhouser who faced 38 shots while his teammates had just three in the first, five in the second and eight in the third against Reading goalie Barry Brust.
Both of the Royals' markers came with the man advantage. Mike Sandbeck converted at
4:31 of the second period and just a little more than five minutes later - at 9:54 - Eric Fortier scored.
"I think we get a little too excited when we win a couple of games in a row,'' said Fankhouser, who got no help when constantly bumped in the crease. "Look at our division. You win two and you stay in the place you are. You lose one and you drop three spots.
"It's a little bit of immaturity. We've got some young guys and this is probably the first time they've gone through this tight of a division where you've got to win every game pretty much, to stay where you are. We're going to learn from it, hopefully.''
NOTE: Vitucci said he expects center Pierre-Luc Sleigher to be back in the lineup for games Friday and Saturday in Peoria. Sleigher has been on the injured reserve list after undergoing shoulder surgery. He hasn't played since Dec. 31.
Contact Dan Saevig at: dsaevig@theblade.com.
First Published February 28, 2005, 4:08 p.m.
