Walleye comeback cut short against Orlando - WICU12/WSEE Erie, PA News, Sports, Weather and Events

Walleye comeback cut short against Orlando

TOLEDO - The Toledo Walleye struck three times tonight, but it was not enough as they fell to the Orlando Solar Bears in a shootout at the sold-out Huntington Center, 4-3. Toledo is now 19-13-0-3 on the season and is 9-6-0-2 at home.

Toledo would open the scoring just 7:08 into the first period after Brandon Svendsen took a perfect pass from Terry Broadhurst across the front of the net and buried a shot behind Orlando goaltender John Curry. Adam Hobson also picked up an assist on Svendsen's first goal of the year.

Captain Kyle Rogers received a pass from Willie Coetzee, who was behind the net, and put a shot behind Curry to extend the Walleye lead to 2-0 at 14:30 of the opening period. Phil Rauch assisted on the goal Rogers' seventh goal of the year.

The Solar Bears would answer right back, after Ryan Cruthers slid the puck across the goal line to cut Toledo's lead in half just :32 later. Cruthers got the puck behind Walleye goaltender Kent Simpson after a scramble in front of the net.

Simpson faced five shots on goal and Toledo sent 24 shots at Curry.

Orlando scored twice in the second period; the first coming at 9:43 from Scott Tanski to tie the game up at 2-2. Ryan Reaves picked up the second goal that put the Solar Bears a head 3-2 at 14:12.

Cody Lampl would light the lamp for the Walleye, tying the game back up at 3 goals a piece. Lampl took a pass from Joey Martin just inside the blue line and fired a shot past Curry at 17:50 of the second period.

Toledo sent seven shots at the Orlando goal in the second period.

Neither team scored in the third period, sending the game into an overtime period.

Toledo out shot Orlando 10-2 in the third period.

The overtime period was scoreless, sending the game into a shootout.

Orlando scored three times in the shootout, lifting them to a 4-3 win.