Riley Sawchuk scored a career-high five points in the Toledo Walleye's Game 3 win against the Wheeling Nailers in the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs.
Looking at Wednesday's action around the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs
Toledo Walleye 7, Wheeling Nailers 3
Riley Sawchuk was one of five different skaters to find the back of the net in the Toledo Walleye's Game 3 win over the Wheeling Nailers. The Walleye forward recorded a career-best five points (2-3-5) on three shots to go along with a +1 plus/minus rating. With the win, the Walleye extended its winning streak to 21 straight games, dating back to the regular season.
John Lethemon made his second start of the series, allowing three goals on 22 shots and picking up his fourth consecutive win of the playoffs. The Toledo netminder was tested early as the Nailers forced three shots on goal in quick succession before the Walleye struck first on Sawchuk's breakaway goal at the 2:44 mark of the first period.
The Fish would go on to score two more in a three-goal first period, including Sam Craggs' power-play marker with six minutes left in the frame.
Wheeling responded with Matt Koopman's shorthanded goal just 68 seconds later, his fourth of the playoffs. However, Brandon Kruse responded with his second goal of the postseason with 1:41 left in the first period. The Walleye took a 3-1 lead and 12-10 shots on goal advantage into the locker room after 20 minutes.
In the second period, Toledo and Wheeling traded goals, with each team finding the back of the net twice in the frame. Brandon Hawkins tallied his fourth of the playoffs on the power play at the 3:33 mark of the period. Nailers' defenseman David Drake scored for the first time in the playoffs less than four minutes later.
Sawchuk provided his second goal of the night, Toledo's third power-play goal, with under nine minutes remaining in the period. Entering Wednesday's Game 3, Wheeling was a perfect 12-for-12 on the penalty kill on home ice.
Holding a 5-3 lead for the majority of the third period, Toledo hit the empty net twice on Alexandre Doucet's first of the postseason, assisted by Sawchuk for his fifth point of the night. Craggs added his second goal of the game moments later.
The Walleye will look to close out the series while simultaneously extending its historic win streak in Game 4 on Friday.
Adirondack Thunder 2, Norfolk Admirals 1 (OT)
Despite going down 2-0 in the series against the Norfolk Admirals, the Adirondack Thunder found a way to collect an overtime win on the road in Game 3 on Wednesday night.
Travis Broughman's wraparound pass found the tape of teammate Ryan Smith, who wristed a shot into the back of the net with 1:41 left in the extra session. With the win, the Thunder trail in the series, 2-1, with a chance to even things up on Friday.
Adirondack goaltender Isaac Poulter bounced back after two challenging outings in Games 1 and 2 of the series. The Winnipeg native made a season-high 54 saves, including all 12 in overtime until the Thunder scored late in the frame.
Adirondack opened the scoring for the first time in this series on Erik Middendorf's first goal of the playoffs. The Thunder forward redirected Shane Harper's shot from the point on the power play, and the puck got past Norfolk goaltender Yaniv Perets, who made 27 saves in the game.
Middendorf nearly made it a 2-0 lead for Adirondack with four minutes left in the first period after he was sprung loose on a partial breakaway, but Perets turned aside the shot attempt. After 20 minutes of play, the Thunder took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
Adirondack forward Zach Walker had consecutive scoring chances within the first minute of the second period, but both of his shot attempts stayed out of the net. Walker's second shot hit the post.
However, Norfolk broke through and tied the game on Simon Kubieck's power-play blast at the 6:35 mark of the frame. The Admirals registered 24 shots on goal in the second period, but Kubieck's second goal of the playoffs would be all that Poulter would allow.
The Adirondack netminder put on a goaltending clinic, notably making back-to-back saves with under seven minutes left in the second period on quality scoring chances for the Admirals. Then, with just over one minute remaining in regulation, Poulter stopped a 2-on-1 chance for Norfolk.
The game was destined for a second overtime before Smith cashed in on his third goal of the playoffs, all coming in this series.
Kansas City Mavericks 7, Idaho Steelheads 5
The Kansas City Mavericks saw seven different skaters find the back of the net while goaltender Cale Morris made 35 saves on 40 shots in Wednesday's 7-5 win over the Idaho Steelheads. With the win, the Mavericks took a 2-1 series lead.
Kansas City scored four times in the first period, including Patrick Curry's fourth goal of the playoffs just 36 seconds into the game on a wrister from the right-wing circle.
Nearly nine minutes passed before Cade Borchardt doubled up the Mavericks' lead on a beautiful give-and-go play with Nolan Walker. Later in the frame, Cole Coskey added his second of the playoffs and third of the period for Kansas City.
Idaho got on the board with Wade Murphy's fifth goal of the playoffs. However, Jeremy McKenna restored the Mavericks' three-goal lead with 20 seconds left in the frame on a shot from the point through traffic.
David Cotton stayed red-hot with his fourth goal in the last three games and fifth of the playoffs, giving Kansas City a 5-1 lead. The marker would be the only goal scored in the second period. However, the Steelhead would not go quietly.
Idaho scored four times in the third period, including Ty Pelton-Byce's second goal in as many games. Likewise, Jordan Kawaguchi also found the back of the net for the second consecutive game to close the gap.
Kansas City got one back on Bradley Schoonbaert's partial breakaway goal with just over nine minutes left in regulation to make it a 6-3 lead. Idaho continued its push forward, scoring on back-to-back goals from Keaton Mastrodonato and Lynden McCallum just 28 seconds apart to make it a one-goal game.
However, Walker scored just over one minute later to put the Mavericks back up by two, and the score would remain that way.
Make sure you bookmark THN's ECHL site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.