The Toledo Walleye topped the Kansas City Mavericks in Game 5 of the ECHL Western Conference Finals, 3-1. Standouts from Saturday's game.
The Toledo Walleye staved off elimination with a 3-1 win over the Kansas City Mavericks in Game 5 of the ECHL Western Conference Finals on Saturday night. Less than two minutes into the third period, Toledo broke a 1-1 tie and added an empty-net goal to force Game 6 on Monday night.
Let's look at our standouts and top performers from Saturday.
Toledo Walleye
#25 Jacob Graves, D
Walleye head coach Pat Mikesch was highly complimentary of Jacob Graves in the postgame interview, noting Toledo's 22-game win streak began shortly after he was acquired from Atlanta and how vital he is as a veteran presence along the blueline. Graves' second goal of the postseason, a centering feed that deflected off a Kansas City defender and into the net, could not have come at a better time.
#16 Brandon Hawkins, F
Hawkins opened the scoring on a power-play goal at 9:20 into the first period on a wrister from above the right-wing circle. The goal marked Hawkins' seventh postseason goal and first since Game 1 of the series. The ECHL MVP for the 2023-24 season had the primary assist on Brandon Kruse's empty-net goal and registered a team-high eight shots on goal.
#10 Riley Sawchuk, F
Despite not scoring for the second consecutive game, Sawchuk continues to litter the scoresheet. The Toledo rookie forward was part of all three Walleye goals, collecting three assists. Sawchuk also had two shots on goal and a +1 plus/minus rating on Saturday.
Kansas City Mavericks
#13 David Cotton, F
Cotton scored on his only shot on goal on Saturday night, redirecting Justin MacPherson's shot-pass to tie the game at 1-1 in the first period. The Kansas City forward found the back of the net for the first time in this series and the sixth of the playoffs.
#33 Cale Morris, G
Morris was under pressure for most of the night but kept his team in the game. Despite taking the loss, the Kansas City goaltender made 24 saves on 26 shots, including a big glove save on a heavy wrister from Toledo's Jason Willms in the third period to keep it a one-goal deficit for the Mavericks.