Walleye Outlasts Iowa In Shootout

The holiday break for ECHL teams is over, and there was plenty of exciting action around the league on Friday.

Regulation and overtime weren’t enough to decide a winner in Toledo, but the Walleye finally prevailed over the Iowa Heartlanders 4-3 in the skills competition, aka the shootout.

Brandon Hawkins and Griffin Ness each netted a goal in the shootout to preserve the victory for the Walleye, who improve to 18-7-3. Iowa’s record drops to 15-8-4.

Toledo got two power-play opportunities in the opening period but could not capitalize on either in a physical first period.

It was Iowa who got on the scoreboard first at the 15:21 mark. T.J. Walsh sniped in a shot at the bottom of the right circle for a 1-0 lead. Adam Goodsir helped set up the play with a break, got to the front of the net and had a shot redirected off him to Walsh, who was wide open for the tally.

The two teams combined for five goals in the second period. Just 1:23 into the middle frame, Jalen Smereck got the Walleye on the board, recording his second of the season and tying the score 1-1.

Matt Anderson gave Toledo a 2-1 lead at the 4:00 mark, his first of the season. Shortly after that, he was called for kneeing and went to the box for a five-minute major.

The Heartlanders took advantage, tying the score 2-2 after Walsh ripped one in from the right circle on a 5-on-3 power play.

Hawkins reclaimed the lead for the Walleye three minutes later with a wrist shot for his 13^th goal of the season.

That lead didn’t last long, as Jules Boscq rifled one in from the left circle at 5:08, sending the teams to the second intermission tied 3-3.

The third period was a standoff. Both teams had chances to win in the extra frame, with each hitting the post. Toledo outshot the Heartlanders 4-3 in OT.

The Walleye went 2-0 in the shootout, and Walleye goaltender Jan Bednar stopped both attempts by the Heartlanders to secure the 4-3 win. Bednar made 21 saves, while Kyle McClellan stopped 33 shots in the loss.

Iowa next travels to Wheeling Saturday to face the Nailers, who fell 2-1 to Reading Friday. Puck drop is set for 6:10 Pm ET.

The Walleye’s next game is also on the road, as they take on the Indy Fuel on Saturday. Puck drop is set for 7 Pm ET.