The Toledo Walleye are in the Western Conference for the fourth straight non-COVID-impacted season after sweeping the Wheeling Nailers. A closer look at how the Walleye got it done.
The Toledo Walleye have advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the fourth consecutive non-COVID-impacted season after defeating the Wheeling Nailers in four games.
The Walleye are seeking its first Kelly Cup championship after being on the doorstep in the 2018-19 and 2021-22 seasons. Toledo fell in six games to the Newfoundland Growlers and the Florida Everblades, respectively.
However, this year's version is building something special. With the sweep over Wheeling, the Walleye have extended its historic win streak to 22 games.
Toledo will face the Kansas City Mavericks, who knocked off the Idaho Steelheads in five games. Before moving on to the Western Conference Finals, let's take a closer look at how Toledo punched its ticket.
Shots On Goal
Toledo handily controlled the shots on goal volume throughout the four-game series. The Walleye outshot the Nailers in every game and 143-105 overall.
Broken down, Toledo outshot Wheeling in Game 1 35-24, 42-33 in Game 2, 30-22 in Game 3, and 36-26 in Game 4.
At the same time, shots on goal are not indicative of a winning score. However, it played out that way in this particular series.
Timeliness of Goals
Despite taking the four-game sweep, this series was closer than it appeared. Toledo outscored Wheeling 5-2 in the first and third periods, while both teams scored five goals in the second frame. Two games were won in overtime, underscoring how closely contested this series really was.
Wheeling carried leads on the scoreboard into the second intermission on Games 1 and 4. However, the Walleye used third-period comebacks to push the game to extra sessions in both. In the middle two games, Toledo never trailed en route to lopsided scores.
Distribution of Goals
These four games provided a small sample size of how Toledo has achieved a 22-game winning streak and why they could ultimately win the franchise's first Kelly Cup.
Throughout this series, the Walleye's contributions came from all over their lineup. Every game saw an "X" number of skaters find the back of the net.
Riley Sawchuk led the way with four goals, including the series-clincher in overtime in Game 4. Brandon Hawkins, the ECHL's MVP for the 2023-24 season, provided three goals. Meanwhile, Mitchell Lewandowski and Sam Craggs found the back of the net twice.
Jason Willms, Matt Anderson, Orrin Centazzo, Brandon Kruse, Alexandre Doucet, and Chase Gresock scored once—depth at its finest.
Special Teams
Toledo converted on four of its 16 (25.0%) power-play opportunities in the four-game sweep, with most of the damage coming in the latter two games. The Walleye scored three power-play markers en route to a 7-3 win over the Nailers in Game 3 and added another in Game 4.
Toledo's penalty kill allowed just one goal, which came in Game 4. The Walleye killed off 10 of its 11 (90.9%) penalties in the series overall.
Lethemon-Bednar Duo Shines
Toledo's series with Kansas City will feature two teams that utilize multiple goaltenders. The Walleye alternated John Lethemon and Jan Bednar in the four-game sweep against the Nailers.
Lethemon made starts in Games 1 and 3, stopping a combined 42 of 46 (0.913 SV%). Meanwhile, Bednar turned aside 54 of 59 (0.915 SV%) between Games 2 and 4.
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