Photo Courtesy of the Toledo Walleye [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/d983d0e9-ed2f-4a95-863c-31f51ea60bd3.jpeg] Photo Courtesy of the Toledo Walleye If the Kansas City Mavericks [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/game-day/knight-monsters-inaugural-season-ends-mavericks-clinch-western-conference-finals-berth]hope to make a second consecutive appearance in the Kelly Cup Final, they will have to get up off the deck to do it. Colby Ambrosio tallied the game-winner in the third period to give Toledo [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/game-day/toledo-pitches-shutout-in-kc-takes-1-0-lead-in-western-conference-finals]a 4-3 victory at Cable Dahmer Arena. The Walleye now lead the best-of-seven series 2-0. As opposed to the 2-0 score in Game 1, Saturday’s contest was an offensively-heavy and high-scoring matchup. The Walleye got on the board just 1:49 into the first period as Mitch Lewandowski lit the lamp off a rebound in front of the net. Nolan Moyle and Carson Bantle assisted the game-opening goal. The Fish kept it going with another goal just over two minutes later at 4:07. Jalen Smereck shot the puck from the blue line and it went past Mavericks goaltender Jack LaFontaine. Moyle got the sole assist with his second of the night. However, the Mavericks answered right back with two goals of their own. Charlie Wright ripped home a goal at 7:34, and Max Andreev tied it at 12:15 off a setup from Cam Morrison and Cade Borchardt for a 2-2 score. Just 1:18 later, the Walleye would respond as Trenton Bliss put in a shot from a Smereck feed to restore the Walleye lead to 3-2 heading into the second. Despite a goal-filled first period, the game settled down afterward. The Mavericks scored the only goal of the second, tying the game at 3-3 early in the frame. Casey Carreau found the net off assists from Morrison and Andreev. The score stayed tied through the remainder of the second, setting up for a big third period. Toledo got back to their game, putting heavy pressure on the KC defense and was desperate to take back their lead. The Walleye pressed in the offensive zone, and it paid off at 6:12 when Ambrosio wound up and patiently waited for the puck. After a setup from Brandon Kruse and Matt Anderson, Ambrosio buried a one-timer to restore Toledo’s lead. The goal stood as the game-winner, thanks to a strong defensive effort and performance from Carter Gylander, who stopped 24 shots. LaFontaine made 25 saves in the loss. Despite the negative outcome, Kansas City’s special teams were effective, going 2-for-2 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. Game 3 is Tuesday night as the series switches to Toledo for the next three games. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:15 Pm ET.
