Walleye break out with scoring barrage

3/22/2014
BLADE STAFF
Walleye's Brett Perlini (11) moves the puck against Gwinnett.
Walleye's Brett Perlini (11) moves the puck against Gwinnett.

The Walleye scored four unanswered goals in span of 7:47 and went on to defeat Gwinnett 4-1 tonight.

Brett Perlini tallied two goals a little more than three minutes apart in the second period. Toledo snapped a four-game losing streak before a crowd of 6,974 at the Huntington Center.

Ryan Flanigan started the scoring barrage late in the first period. Mark Abercrombie followed that up to give Toledo a 2-1 lead with 1:47 left in the first period.

Perlini then scored on two straight shots to push the cushion to 4-1.

Goalie Hannu Toivonen (10-12-0) was solid throughout, earning the win with 34 saves.

St. John's Jesuit graduate and Holland native Josh Unice made the start in goal for Gwinnett. Unice made 10 saves on 14 shots before being pulled in the second period.

Max Shalunov had two assists for the Walleye, who also broke a 12-game home losing streak.

Flanigan, who scored his fourth of the season, was claimed off of waivers from Evansville earlier in the day. Flanigan was with Toledo earlier this season, appearing four games with three points.

The team also signed the sons of former Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios earlier in the day.

Forward Dean Chelios and defenseman Jake Chelios both wrapped up four-year college careers at Michigan State last Thursday. The Spartans lost to Ohio State in the Big Ten quarterfinals.

Dean Chelios had 14 points with two goals and 12 assists in 34 games as a senior. Jake Chelios had two goals and 19 assists for 21 points in 36 games for the Spartans.

Chris Chelios played in 26 seasons in the NHL, including 10 with the Red Wings. He played in the most games by any defenseman in NHL history (1,651).

Neither Chelios recorded a point.

Gwinnett (25-35-5) has lost three in a row. The Walleye killed off six Gladiators power plays, including a four-minute minor and five-minute major.

The teams meet again on Sunday at 5:15 at the Huntington Center. The Walleye (19-38-4) wrap up a six-game homestand on Sunday.