Wheeling takes care of Walleye in 4-1 win at Huntington Center

1/24/2014

The Walleye gave up three unanswered goals to start Friday night's game and went on to lose their third straight contest.

Wheeling seized a three-goal cushion early in the second period and went on to down Toledo 4-1 before a crowd of 5,696 at the Huntington Center.

Defenseman Russ Sinkewich scored the only goal for the Walleye (12-21-3). It was the final game of the first half of the season for Toledo. Cody Sylvester scored twice for Wheeling (18-15-6).

The Nailers took a 1-0 lead exactly two minutes into the game. Myles Harvey scored when his shot from the right point deflected off the stick of Walleye defenseman Bobby Shea and over the shoulder of goalie Mac Carruth (20 saves).

Wheeling's power play goal came after the Nailers went on the man advantage just 40 seconds into game when Walleye defenseman Richard Nedomlel got called for roughing.

Carruth then came up with a big save to thwart a Nailer two-on-one breakaway with 4:46 left in the first period.

But the Walleye fell behind 2-0 after Sylvester scored on a snap shot that beat Carruth over his glove hand with 1:55 left in first.

Toledo couldn't buy a break when captain Kyle Rogers scored a goal by jamming away at the puck in the net. But the ref ruled that it was directed in with his hand, which is illegal.

Carruth then had an excellent glove save to keep it 2-0 five minutes into the second.

However, Wheeling took a 3-0 lead on another flukey goal. Sylvester's shot deflected off Walleye forward David Gilbert.

Toledo got on the board as Sinkewich found a loose puck in the slot and buried it to make it 3-1 with 6:40 left in the second period.

Sinkewich, who returned from the AHL this week, scored his first goal. Sinkewich posted 10 assists in 20 games with Toledo earlier this year.

Midway through the third period, Wheeling was awarded a penalty shot as Nedomlel took out Max MacKay on a solo breakaway. But Carruth stoned MacKay on the shot.

But Chaz Johnson then gave Wheeling a 4-1 lead with 9:35 left in the game.

The Walleye took to the ice without their top three scorers as Trevor Parkes, Travis Novak, and Alden Hirschfeld all were called up to the American Hockey League. Louis-Marc Aubry, the team's sixth leading scorer, also is up in the AHL along with goalie Hannu Toivonen.

Toledo continues a three-game weekend homestand with a 7:15 game against Reading on Saturday night. The Walleye then host Greenville on Sunday.