After taking the first game over the Trois-Rivieres Lions in the Kelly Cup Finals, the Toledo Walleye find themselves trailing 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is Friday at Colisee Videotron in Trois-Rivieres.
While it may not be an elimination game, the Fish would be in a deep hole should they go down 3-1 with one more game to be played in Quebec Saturday before the series could return to Toledo.
It’s not as if the Lions thoroughly dominated the last two games. But mistakes by the Walleye and opportunistic scoring by Trois-Rivieres reflected the final numbers on the scoreboard, which never lies.
Game 2 saw the Lions tally two power-play goals in a 5-1 victory that didn’t have the feel of a lopsided outcome. Toledo head coach Pat Mikesch was not happy with the way his team handled the puck.
“The puck management in the first half of the game was just sloppy,” Mikesch said after Game 2. “The goals against in the third period were mental errors.”
In Game 3 on Wednesday, a turnover by Toledo and a mishandled shot by goaltender Jan Bednar led to T-R’s first goal just 42 seconds into the game.
At 12:20, Xavier Cormier extended the Lions’ lead to 2-0 on an odd-man rush, taking advantage of a defensive breakdown by Toledo. The Lions’ first two goals came on odd-man rushes.
Carson Bantle got the Fish within one at 9:08 of the middle frame after finding himself all alone at the left-wing circle, but Anthony Beauregard got what would be the game-winner at 15:11 of the third period after a scrum in front of the net.
Colin Swoyer’s power-play goal later in the frame was the last goal the Walleye could manage. Despite outshooting Trois-Rivieres 33-20 and controlling possession throughout the game, the Fish find themselves trailing in the series.
“I was pleased with our response,” Mikesch said after Game 3. “That start was definitely not us. We made two mental errors and gave up two grade-A chances to them. Other than that, I just thought their power play was the only chance they were going to get any offense. If we can stay out of that situation, our 5-on-5 has been good.”
That’s the key: minimizing the mental errors, not to mention grabbing the lead early. The Walleye are a perfect 6-0 during the post-season when leading after 20 minutes, but Trois-Rivieres has struck first in 17 of their 19 contests.
Quick starts have allowed the Lions to play shutdown defense and ride the hot hand of netminder Luke Cavallin, who leads the playoffs with a 1.58 goals-against average. Cavallin has started every game of the post-season and shows no signs of slowing down.
Mikesch, meanwhile, has taken a more rotational approach to his goaltending. In 10 post-season games, Bednar is 7-3-0 with a 2.42 GAA and .909 SP. Carter Gylander has played eight games, going 6-2-0 with a .288 GAA and .895 SP.
If either netminder has an outstanding Game 4, one has to wonder if Mikesch might change strategy and stick with the hot hand, given the short turnaround between games 4 and 5.
Puck drop for Game 4 is set for 7 Pm ET on Friday, with Game 5 on Saturday scheduled for 3 Pm ET. If the series requires a Game 6 and 7, those would be played in Toledo Tuesday and Thursday at 7:15 Pm ET.
Photos Courtesy of the Toledo Walleye