The Iowa Heartlanders came back from a pair of deficits to force overtime, but Toledo prevailed in a shootout at home.
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 13th 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.