TOLEDO, Ohio – Tyler Sikura picked up the game-winning goal in a 4-3 defeat of Wheeling in front of a standing room only crowd of 8,000 at the Huntington Center Saturday night. Toledo has an overall record of 22-10-1-3 and 9-4-0-1 at home.
Defenseman Ralfs Freibergs started the scoring for the Walleye with a wrist shot from the blue line at 6:44 of the first period, his first goal of the year. Wheeling tied the game at 8:02 of the first but Michael Leone’s (3rd) backhand shot at 14:57 of the period to regain the lead.
At 17:33 of the first period, Tyler Maxwell set up Scott Czarnowczan between the circles. Czarnowczan then fed Josh Shalla (7th) at the side of the net for Toledo’s third goal of the opening period. Tyler Sikura (9th) snuck one along the ice past Wheeling goaltender Casey DeSmith at 9:52 of the second period for a 4-1 Toledo lead.
A late power play goal in the second period and one even strength in the third period for Wheeling pulled the Nailers within a goal. Wheeling pressured late but the Walleye withstood the charge for the win.
Walleye Notes: Goaltender Tom McCollum, down from Grand Rapids and making a rehab start, picked up the victory with 25 saves on 28 shots. The second period assist for Shane Berschbach pushed his point streak to six consecutive games. Toledo out shot Wheeling 34-28 in the game. The sellout crowd was the eighth this season in just fourteen home contests.
With Toledo Walleye release
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