Toledo, OH – The Toledo Walleye defeated the Iowa Heartlanders by a score of 4-2 tonight at the Huntington Center, the team’s third consecutive win over the Heartlanders and their fifth straight win overall. Brandon Hawkins had a goal and two assists for his fifth three-point night of the season, Riley McCourt and Denis Smirnov each had a goal and an assist, Mitch Lewandowski had two assists, and Nolan Lalonde stopped 29 of 31 shots faced.
How it Happened:
Denis Smirnov got things started quickly for the Walleye with a goal 1:57 into the first, his 7th goal of the season. Mitch Lewandowski and Tanner Kelly each got assists on the goal, setting up an early 1-0 lead for the Fish.
Toledo took a penalty with 2:53 left in the first, giving Iowa their first power play chance of the night. The Walleye were able to kill it off and end the first period with a 1-0 lead over the Heartlanders, outshooting them 10-8.
Iowa opened up the second period by scoring 3:41 in, as Keanan Stewart buried a shot on a delayed penalty to tie the game at one goal each.
The Heartlanders took a holding call at the 8:12 mark of the second period, giving the Walleye their first power play chance of the night. However, Toledo took a tripping call off the faceoff to negate that power-play four seconds later.
Riley McCourt buried his 3rd goal of the season on a drop-back pass from Brandon Hawkins entering their offensive zone at the 8:53 mark of the second, re-taking a 2-1 lead. Hawkins and Sam Craggs got the assists on the goal.
Iowa took another penalty at the 9:55 mark of the second, setting up about 30 seconds of 4-on-3 hockey in favor of Toledo. Sam Craggs recorded his second goal of the season on that power-play, putting the Walleye up 3-1 at the 10:44 mark of the second period. Mitch Lewandowski got his second assist of the game on the goal, as Colin Swoyer got one as well.
Toledo took a roughing penalty at the 8:03 mark of the second, putting Iowa on the power-play for the third time tonight, which the Walleye killed off successfully. Iowa took a roughing penalty four minutes later, giving Toledo their third power-play chance on the night.
Brandon Hawkins capitalized on that power-play, scoring his 11th goal of the season and second point of the night at the 16:56 mark of the second period to put the Walleye up 4-1. Riley McCourt and Denis Smirnov each got assists on the goal, each of their second points of the night.
The second period came to an end with the Walleye maintaining a 4-1 lead over the Heartlanders, outshooting them 18-17.
Toledo took a hooking call at the 2:07 mark of the third period, giving Iowa another power play opportunity. They took a hooking penalty of their own 23 seconds later, setting up 1:37 of 4-on-4 hockey followed by a Toledo power play, which the Walleye were unable to convert on.
Toledo took a double minor penalty for a high stick at the 8:16 mark of the third, leading to a 4-minute power-play opportunity for the Heartlanders. Ryan McGuire scored 33 seconds in, but it was waived off after review for goaltender interference, keeping the game at 4-1 in favor of Toledo. However, Jack O’Brien’s goal with 1:13 left on the power play would stand, bringing Iowa within two of Toledo.
Nate Roy scored Toledo’s fifth goal of the night, his third of the season, at the 12:23 mark of the third period. Brandon Hawkins and Nick Andrews each got assists on the goal, Hawkins’s 3rd point of the night.
Jonny Sorensen got a 10-minute misconduct with 4:16 to go in the third, and Iowa took another roughing penalty a minute and a half later to put Toledo on another power play with 2:43 remaining in the game.
The Walleye held on for the 4-2 win over the Heartlanders, as they were outshot 31-30 by Iowa. Toledo’s power-play was 3-for-5, and they killed off 4 of 5 penalties taken.
Local 245 Three Stars:
1 – F Brandon Hawkins, TOL (1 G, 2 A, +2)
2 – F Denis Smirnov, TOL (1 G, 1 A)
3 – F Sam Craggs, TOL (GWG, 1 A, +2)
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