INDIANAPOLIS, IND – Trailing 4-3 with under six minutes remaining in regulation, the Toledo Walleye tallied three goals in a 3:56 span to earn their fourth consecutive victory, taking a 6-5 decision over the Indy Fuel on Friday at Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
In search of their ECHL-best 11th road win of the campaign, the Walleye (19-5-2-0) outshot Indy (13-13-0-0) by a 5-0 margin through the opening half of the final frame, but were unable to restore party until Dan DeSalvo netted his first goal in a Toledo uniform with 5:50 to go in the third. A.J. Jenks put the Walleye ahead for good on a penalty shot with 3:28 left, before T.J. Hensick scored what proved to be the game-winning goal a shorthanded empty-netter with 1:46 on the clock.
Hensick and Kevin Tansey each logged a goal and two helpers, while Ryan Obuchowski collected his first multi-point performance of the season with a goal and an assist. Kaden Fulcher turned away 13-of-18 shots to improve his record to 8-2-1.
Obuchowski started the scoring bonanza for the Walleye 41 seconds into the opening period. On the game’s opening shift, Hensick gained the zone and weaved his way to the lower part of the right circle before centering a pass to Obuchowski alone in front for a tap-in into an open cage.
The Fuel authored a quick response, scoring three unanswered goals on their first four shots. Fulcher turned away Mathew Thompson’s initial effort from the right circle, but the latter gathered his own rebound in the slot and flipped a backhanded shot inside the left post at the 1:38 mark.
Indy continued to keep its foot on the gas, grabbing its first lead of the night at 3:03 when Matt Rupert sent a pass from the left point to Ryan Rupert at the top of the right circle for a wrist shot into the top left corner. A third goal arrived 8:49 into the first, as Thompson’s feed from the right half-boards reached Kevin Dufour in the slot for a successful breakaway attempt through Fulcher’s five-hole.
Still trailing 3-1 late in the first, Toledo’s top line delivered its second goal of the night. Hensick spun away from pressure at the right corner and backhanded the puck to Greg Wolfe at the top of the right circle for a one-timer at 15:34 to trim the deficit to 3-2 heading into the first intermission.
The Walleye continued to carry the play into the middle period, and knotted at the score at 3-3 when Tansey sprinted into the offensive zone and fired a shot from the left circle past the catching glove of Matt Tomkins at the 4:38 mark.
The back-and-forth affair continued as the Fuel jumped back in front with nearly seven minutes gone in the second stanza. After skating his way into the right corner, Thompson’s sharp-angle shot snuck between Fulcher’s left arm and body before trickling over the goal line.
Indy’s 4-3 lead remained intact until Toledo posted a three-spot of its own. Making his return to the Walleye lineup after being loaned by the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters, DeSalvo tracked down a loose puck at the right circle and ripped a shot inside the left post with 5:50 to go in the third.
The rally continued to gain steam, as the Walleye were awarded a penalty shot when Zach Miskovic froze the puck in the Indy crease with 3:28 left in regulation. Jenks, who leads the Walleye in shootout-winning goals, skated from the left circle and into the slot for a wrister between Tomkins’ pads.
After Obuchowski was called for hooking with 2:38 remaining, the Fuel pulled Tomkins to create a 6-on-4 advantage in the closing stages. However, Hensick won the footrace to a Toledo clearing attempt and buried a shorthanded empty-netter with 1:54 to play, which held up as the deciding goal as Dufour added a power play marker with 52 seconds left in the contest.
Indy finished 1-for-3 on the man advantage, while Toledo was unable to cash in on three opportunities. Tomkins blocked 29-of-35 shots in a losing cause.
What’s Next:
The Walleye wrap up their four-game road trip on Saturday with a showdown against the Fort Wayne Komets. Puck drop from the Memorial Coliseum is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Three Stars:
1. Indy – Mathew Thompson (two goals, two assists)
2. Toledo – A.J. Jenks (goal)
3. Toledo – Kevin Tansey (goal, two assists)
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