2018 WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER FINAL #1
LA Great Danes vs. Toledo Walleye |
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| Game #1
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Stats pretty even except for the scoring chances which Toledo dominated 15-3. Toledo scores the first 2 goals, both breakaways, but LA answers back 1 to finish the first period 2-1 Toledo. LA ties it up 2-2 on a goal from Scheifele, only to have Toledo go on a big run and score 3 unanswered, still in the 2nd period, and knock Anderson out of goal. No goals in the 3rd period. Clean game only 2 penalties, both on LA, one PP goal by Toledo.LA goals – Bonino, Scheifele
Tol goals – Letestu, Vanek, Krejci, Mantha, Martin. 1st star Vanek 1g1a 2nd star Mantha 1g 3rd star Krejci 1g Toledo 5, LA 2 |
| Game #2
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Dubnyk is up to task and keeps a clean sheet with 22 saves. On the other hand, LA can’t stay out of the sin bin and gives up 3 PP goals in 7 attempts.
Toledo goals – Green, Krejci, Backstrom, Vanek, Versteeg 1st star – Dubnyk 22 save shutout 2nd star Krejci 1g2a 3rd star Backstrom 1g1a Toledo 5, LA 0 |
| Game #3
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After 2 blowout losses in games 1-2, the Great Danes looked to rebound at home. Andersen again struggled in goal early, giving up 2 goals in the game’s first 4 minutes, but the Danes also scored twice early, and the game was tied 3-3 after 2. The Danes finally got their game going in the 3rd and win 6-3. The #1 line for LA (Schenn-Benn-Scheifele) had a huge night with 4G-6A combined and +4 each.
LA 6, Toledo 3 |
| Game #4
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In game 4, the Danes had the territorial advantage from the start, but not on the scoreboard. The Danes had a large SOG advantage in all 3 periods and 46-18 for the game. And with Toledo blocking 26 shots on top of that, LA had a 92-40 shot attempt advantage for the game. But Toledo scored twice in all 3 periods for another blowout win in the series, this won 6-0. Dubnyk was obviously the #1 star with 46 saves.
Toledo 6, LA 0 |
| The Danes must find a way to win one in Toledo to get another opportunity at home. A new COA for game #5 is attached – one lineup change with Schaller in and Jokinen out. After some debate, the regular-season league leading goalie will return to the net, although the quick hook is turned on if he falters early. Andersen deserves anther shot to find his game after his outstanding regular season. | |
| Game #5
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And the Danes do find a way to win on the road to make the series 3-2. Toledo jumps out to a 2-0 lead in the first and holds it there through the 2nd period. But the Danes 2nd intermission team meeting in the locker-room must have been a classic, as they come out to score 4 goals in the 3rd period to take a 4-2 win and force game 6 back in LA.LA 4, Toledo 2 |
| Game #6
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Toledo wins the series with a 4-2 victory in game #6. I didn’t realize it right away, but it looks like the goalie lineup from the coa file had Dell scheduled to play, but the computer had Dubnyk in goal. I loaded the coa you sent and had replaced the file that was there, but not sure if it’s a DK glitch or mine. But Dubnyk earned the #1 star of the game with 42 saves.After the big comeback to pull out game 5, everything went wrong in this one for LA. Toledo scores on their 1st and 3rd shots of the game and took a 2-0 lead 5 minutes. LA then took a penalty at the end of a PK and Toledo had a brief 10-second 5 on 3 PP, and they scored in 10 seconds! to take a 3-0 lead and continued with the PP for another 1:50. LA decided this was not Andersen’s night/series and Mason come in to start the second. And what happens but Ehlers scores 35 seconds into period 2 and the Danes still had some life. After a long Krejci slapshot beat Mason, the Danes again faced a big hole, but once again the Danes gave the home fans some hope on a Schenn deflection goal with 28 seconds left in period 2 to close the gap to 4-2 Toledo. But once again things went south for LA as Ehlers took a 4-minute slashing penalty a mere 17 seconds into the 3rd. While the Danes killed off the PK, it shortened the period and despite 18 SOG in the third for LA, there was no scoring and the game ended 4-2 Toledo.
Toledo 4, LA 2 |
| Series Summary: | The Danes did not go quietly as they outshot Toledo 44-22 in the game and had 79 shot attempts to 38 for Toledo. But only 8 scoring changes in the game for LA even with all those shots, so a great defensive job by Toledo. Goaltending and special teams were lopsided in the series, as Dubnyk posted a .960 save % and 2 shutouts, while Andersen posted an .843 save % after being the league’s top goalie in the regular season. LA took way too many penalties in the series, and Toledo PP converted at 35% versus 0% for LA’s PP.But it was a fantastic first season for the Great Danes. Hats off to Toledo for a very well played series and best wishes. |