Crazy eights: Toledo Walleye defeat the Johnstown Chiefs 7-3
If you like this …View all »Extending their franchise-record winning streak to eight, the Toledo Walleye defeated the Johnstown Chiefs with a score of 7-3. A record crowd of 8,200 fans packed the stands of the Lucas County Arena to cheer on their team.
The Walleye wasted no time getting on the board this evening when Derek Nesbitt sent the puck towards the net for Chris Robertson, who deflected it nicely in the net for the opening score just 26 seconds into the contest.
Toledo didn’t stop there as Robertson won a faceoff just seconds later, passing to JC Sawyer at the blue line who notched his 12th goal of the season. Johnstown goaltender Kris Mayotte was visibly upset with the start, standing in front of his net stunned at the goals he had allowed.
Mayotte’s luck got worse as the game progressed with Toledo taking a 3-0 lead at 8:37 of the first period. Taking advice from Mark Nebus, Justin Hodgman took a quick shot to hit the top corner of the net.
Johnstown showed good pressure at the end of the period, forcing Walleye netminder Jordan Pearce to make several exceptional saves. Pearce did however let one in off the stick of defenseman Chris Zarb to bring the Chiefs within two goals.
Toledo continued their rout of Johnstown in the second period connecting again in the opening minutes to regain the three-goal lead. Mark Nebus sent the puck up to Malcolm MacMillan, whose backhander hit the top shelf.
The Chiefs woke up briefly again near the middle of the second period, notching their second goal on Jordan Pearce at the 8:41 mark. Defenseman Greg Gallagher brought the puck out of the near-side corner back to Justin McCutcheon. The forward grabbed his own rebound in front of the net to score his first of the season.
The Walleye continued to pressure the Chiefs as the period wound down, especially Mike Hedden, who is celebrating his 25th birthday today as well. Hedden sent a beautiful pass to Bryan Ewing in front of the net for the fifth goal on Johnstown’s Kris Mayotte.
Hedden connected again during the last two minutes of the second, tallying his ninth of the season. Toledo defensemen Luis Tremblay and Ryan Stokes were credited with the helpers.
As if the scoring was not enough to get the record crowd out of their seats, a small fight broke out early in the third period between Toledo’s Mark Nebus and Johnstown’s Jim McKenzie.
Malcolm MacMillan joined Mark Nebus in the penalty box moments later on a hooking call, but the Walleye didn’t skip a beat. Luis Tremblay bounced the puck off the boards and sent it up to Bryan Ewing for the short-handed score.
Wheeling fired back late in the third period as Connor Shields connected for a power-play goal within the last six minutes of play. Their comeback was too little, too late as the Walleye hung on to win their eighth-consecutive game by a score of 7-3.
The Walleye have the a few days off before they head on a quick road trip to defend their winning streak on Thursday against the Wheeling Nailers. They come back home to ring in the New Year at home with an evening game at the Lucas County Arena on January 1, 2010, against the Kalamazoo Wings.
posted : 2 years ago Sunday, December 27
