2018 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
Toledo Walleye vs. Alamo Defenders |
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| Its excitement time in the Alamo City as the Walleye come to San Antonio for the first two games of Western Conference Finals. | |
| Game #1
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Its very quiet in the 1st period as both teams get adjusted to the flow of the game.
At 18:43 of the 2nd period, Mathieu Perrault takes advantage of a power play and scores the first goal of the series. 15 minutes into the 3rd, Marchand scores a goal to put Alamo up, 2-0. Then, the Defenders score an empty netter to secure the win. 1st star – Lehner We go to game 2 with Alamo up, 1-0 Alamo 3, Toledo 0 |
| Game #2
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The Defenders get on the board first with a Karllson goal. Then, in the 2nd, Toledo outplays Alamo. Krejci and Letesu score to pull the Walleye up, 2-1. Late in the 2nd, Blake Wheeler ties the game for Alamo.
In the 3rd, VanReimsdyk scores the decisive goal at 1:09. Alamo fights hard in the 3rd, but can’t score on Dubnyk. Alamo outshoots Toledo 57-27, but Toledo had a very good 2nd period, which carried the day. 1st -Dubnyk We go to Toledo with the series tied at 2. Toledo 3, Alamo 2 |
| Well played series so far. Game 1 was very close until late in the 3rd. 2 penalties for Toledo and none for Alamo. In the 2nd, Toledo’s solid 2nd and clutch goal in the 3rd wins it. Series tied at 1-1. After achieving a split at Alamo, the Walleye hope to hold serve at home and keep the advantage in the Western Conference Finals. |
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| Game #3
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Robin Lehner did not get the Toledo memo and had the game of his life, stopping all 27 Toledo shots in a dominating 5-0 shutout. Alamo set the tone in the 1st period outshooting the home team 14-6 and netting one goal by Karlsson. Even though the Walleye got some offensive push in the 2nd and 3rd periods, Lehner was up to the task as his team-mates kept good offensive pressure on Dell in net for Toledo. Additional goals by Plekanec, Pacioretty, Eaves and another by Karlsson sealed the win for Alamo, to put them up 2-1 in the semis. 1st star – Lehner 2nd star – Karlsson 2g 3rd star – Plekanec 1g 2aAlamo 5, Toledo 0 |
| Game #4
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Toledo 5, Alamo 2 – an obviously pissed off Toledo squad comes out hot and heavy, first giving up a quick goal to Eaves, but then netting 3 in the first by Anisimov, Krejci and Foligno. Alamo is on the kill a chunk of the 2nd and 3rd period, giving up 2 more goals by Krejci (Hat Trick !!!) before Alamo scores once more to end the scoring at 5-2 1st star – Krejci 3g1a 2nd star – Foligno 1g3a 3rd star – Marschand 1g1aToledo 5, Alamo 2 |
| With a split at Toledo, the series goes back to Alamo for game 5, tied at 2 games each, with Alamo regaining the home ice advantage. Stars of the series were Lehner and his shutout in game 3, followed by Krejci and his hat trick in game 4Toledo and Alamo are tied up at 2 games apiece. Series comes back to Alamo for a game 5. |
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| Game #5
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Alamo starts of the scoring on a Melkker Karlsson goal. It’s his 5th goal of the playoffs. He has been an unsung hero most of the season. Early in the 2nd, another unsung hero, Jay Beagle scores his second of the playoffs.
In the 3rd, the Walleye get on the board on a Krejci goal. It’s his 9th of the playoffs as he has been very effective. Its, 2-1 and getting tight. Toledo pulls their goalie, and with 20 seconds left Karlsson nets his 2nd goal of the game to preserve the victory. SOG: Alamo 32 Toledo 22 1st star – Karlsson 2 goals The series goes back to Toledo for a 6th game. Alamo 3, Toledo 1 |
| Game 6 of the semi-finals – Alamo leads 3-2. Toledo hopes to hold serve and force a game 7. | |
| Game #6
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Alamo comes out strong and gets goals by Seguin and Marchand to take a 2-0 lead only 10 minutes into the game. Toledo rounds up the wagons and stops the scoring for the rest of the quarter and slinks into the locker room down 2-0. Toledo starts to show some promise early in the 2nd, but its Alamo that lights the lamp again with Yandle making it 3-0 at the halfway mark. With the crowd sitting on their hands the Walleye get them up and going again just before intermission with 2 quick goals by Vanek and Okposo to tighten things up at 3-2 going into the 3rd period. Toledo cranks up the defense and offensive pressure in the 3rd, but it backfires as Marchand nets one 7 minutes in to put the lead back at 2 for Alamo. Toledo pulls out all the stops the last 10 minutes, but Lehner is up to the task and shuts them down to preserve the win at 4-2. 1st star – Marschand 2g1a 2nd star – Seguin 1g2a 3rd star – Yandle 1gAlamo 4, Toledo 2 |
| Series Summary: | For the 6 game series, Alamo outscores Toledo 19-11, worthy of the Conference Championship. Lehner was solid in goal with 2 shutouts, and GAA of 1.83. Marschand with 5 goals and Karlsson with 4 led the scoring for Alamo. |
