KALAMAZOO, MI – Evan Rankin started the scoring as the Walleye rebounded for a 6-1 win Saturday night at Kalamazoo. Toledo has an overall record of 42-14-2-1 and is 22-9-1-0 on the road. The Walleye finish the weekend Sunday in Wheeling.
The first period would see Toledo grab the lead thanks to a power play goal from Evan Rankin. The Portage, Michigan native deflected a blue line shot from Nolan Zajac for his 26th goal of the year at 12:35 of the first period. Toledo out shot Kalamazoo 13-8 with a 1-0 lead after the first.
At 2:32 of the second period, J.P. LaFontaine scored his 8th goal of the season when he slipped a wrist shot past Kalamazoo goaltender Joel Martin. Martin stopped an Alden Hirschfeld shot at 13:31 of the period, but Toledo’s captain knocked the puck away from him and into the net for the 22nd goal of the year for Hirschfeld.
Just 1:22 into the third period, Toledo’s Tylor Spink slammed in the fourth goal of the night off of a goal mouth pass from Evan Rankin for his 21st of the year. Simon Denis blasted in a power play goal for his 12th at 6:18 of the third period for a 5-0 lead. Shane Berschbach picked up an assist which ties the Walleye single season record with his 48th assist of the year. Dane Walters scored his 10th of the season at 17:37 for the final score of the game.
Walleye Notes: Goaltender Jake Paterson stopped 34 of Kalamazoo’s 35 shots and has an overall record of 29-11-1-1 on the season. Toledo finished the year 6-3-1 vs. Kalamazoo.
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