2022 WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER FINAL #1

Toledo Walleye
WEEKLY PREVIEW:	California Regulators and Toledo match up for their 3rd time in league post season history. Both series have gone 7 games with each time emerging victorious one time. So with a lifetime 7-7 record, don’t sell those game 7 tickets.
GAME #1: CALIFORNIA REGULATORS @ TOLEDO WALLEYE	Takes a while for either team to get some offensive traction. California with the first penalty, 5 minutes in, but they kill it off nicely. Mangiapane breaks the tie eventually just past 10 minutes, to make it 1-0. Defenses manage to stay on top the rest of the period, including the Walleye killing off a minor in the final 2 minutes. And its Walleye up 1-0. A real game changer early in the 2nd as Fowler gets a double minor for cross checking. Walleye are all over this one and tally 2 PP goals, both by Trochek, and all of a sudden, Walleye up 3-0 early in the period. Perron shows his team leading grit by scoring a goal just minutes later, and now its not so desperate for the Regulators down only 2 with plenty of game left. But just a minute later its Ekholm nailed with a minor and the Walleye want to put this one away. The California PK unit mans up and holds the line to keep the visitors in the game ……… for a while. Just a couple minutes after the penalty expires, the Walleye find Yamamoto parked near the crease with a nifty pass, and the Fish extend the lead back to 3. 2nd period ends 4-1 Walleye. A cranked up California team comes out the 3rd period and controls play, shown by their doubling the SOG of the Walleye. Toledo goes into a little rope-a-dope action and are able to absorb most of the shots, as Demko is on this game …………. until the final minute. Johnsson scores on a blast from the blue line, and its game on for the Regulators, who then pull the goalie. And this tactic immediately backfires as Kucherov scores an empty netter only 8 seconds later, to make it 5-2. California goes back to even strength, and immediately scores another , Spurgeon, with only 30 seconds left. For those of you keeping score, that was 3 goals in 30 seconds. and its now 5-3. Walleye able to control the puck the last 30 and the crowd which had been quiet most of the last 19 minutes is happy to go home with the W. Toledo 5, California 3 1st star – Trochek 2G 2nd – Kucherov 1G 3pts 3rd – Robertson 3A
WEEKLY SUMMARY:	Toledo with the important hold of serve in the first set. The double minor early in the 2nd, and subsequent 2 PP goals were THE difference in this game. Walleye happy to be on the good side of Father Luck to begin.

Toledo Walleye

WEEKLY PREVIEW:

California Regulators and Toledo match up for their 3rd time in league post season history. Both series have gone 7 games with each time emerging victorious one time. So with a lifetime 7-7 record, don’t sell those game 7 tickets.

GAME #1:

CALIFORNIA REGULATORS

@ TOLEDO WALLEYE

Takes a while for either team to get some offensive traction. California with the first penalty, 5 minutes in, but they kill it off nicely. Mangiapane breaks the tie eventually just past 10 minutes, to make it 1-0. Defenses manage to stay on top the rest of the period, including the Walleye killing off a minor in the final 2 minutes. And its Walleye up 1-0.

A real game changer early in the 2nd as Fowler gets a double minor for cross checking. Walleye are all over this one and tally 2 PP goals, both by Trochek, and all of a sudden, Walleye up 3-0 early in the period. Perron shows his team leading grit by scoring a goal just minutes later, and now its not so desperate for the Regulators down only 2 with plenty of game left. But just a minute later its Ekholm nailed with a minor and the Walleye want to put this one away. The California PK unit mans up and holds the line to keep the visitors in the game ……… for a while. Just a couple minutes after the penalty expires, the Walleye find Yamamoto parked near the crease with a nifty pass, and the Fish extend the lead back to 3. 2nd period ends 4-1 Walleye.

A cranked up California team comes out the 3rd period and controls play, shown by their doubling the SOG of the Walleye. Toledo goes into a little rope-a-dope action and are able to absorb most of the shots, as Demko is on this game …………. until the final minute. Johnsson scores on a blast from the blue line, and its game on for the Regulators, who then pull the goalie. And this tactic immediately backfires as Kucherov scores an empty netter only 8 seconds later, to make it 5-2. California goes back to even strength, and immediately scores another , Spurgeon, with only 30 seconds left. For those of you keeping score, that was 3 goals in 30 seconds. and its now 5-3. Walleye able to control the puck the last 30 and the crowd which had been quiet most of the last 19 minutes is happy to go home with the W.

Toledo 5, California 3

1st star – Trochek 2G
2nd – Kucherov 1G 3pts
3rd – Robertson 3A

WEEKLY SUMMARY:

Toledo with the important hold of serve in the first set. The double minor early in the 2nd, and subsequent 2 PP goals were THE difference in this game. Walleye happy to be on the good side of Father Luck to begin.

GAME #2: CALIFORNIA REGULATORS @ TOLEDO WALLEYE	Cal kills off an early minor, and Toledo does the same just a little later. Finally Saad on a steal and breakaway and he scores to make it 1-0 9 minutes in. Huberdeau with a tripping call a little later, and Mangiapane finds an open spot near the crease and converts a nice pass to make it 2-0. Reinhart puts the Regulators on the board a little later to cut the lead to 1, but Mangiapane answers just a minute later, and the Walleye look in control at the break, 3-1. The ice tilts in favor of the Regulators in the 2nd when Anderson gets a steal and scores near the halfway point. Late in the period a Trochek minor is costly as Nelson scores on the PP, and we are tied at 3 heading to the 3rd period. Nelson on a roll, as he gets his 2nd of the game early in the 3rd, and the arena is quiet. Then Reinhart really puts a damper on things when he scores with just 7 minutes to go, and insurance goal to make it 5-3. Walleye struggle to get some offense going, but finally Trochek from in close to make it 5-4 with just under 4 minutes to go. Walleye finally get control of the puck with 2 minutes to go. They pull the goalie and get the extra man, but can’t get any quality shots, and California hangs on for a big road win, 5-4. 1st star – Reinhart 2G 3pts 2nd – Nelson 2G 3rd – Mangiapane 2G
WEEKLY SUMMARY:	California’s strong checking game proves a little too much for the Walleye, and they control the 2nd half of the game with a 4-1 advantage to even the series. Walleye heading on the road hoping to get at least one win on the West Coast.

GAME #2:

CALIFORNIA REGULATORS

@ TOLEDO WALLEYE

Cal kills off an early minor, and Toledo does the same just a little later. Finally Saad on a steal and breakaway and he scores to make it 1-0 9 minutes in. Huberdeau with a tripping call a little later, and Mangiapane finds an open spot near the crease and converts a nice pass to make it 2-0. Reinhart puts the Regulators on the board a little later to cut the lead to 1, but Mangiapane answers just a minute later, and the Walleye look in control at the break, 3-1.

The ice tilts in favor of the Regulators in the 2nd when Anderson gets a steal and scores near the halfway point. Late in the period a Trochek minor is costly as Nelson scores on the PP, and we are tied at 3 heading to the 3rd period.

Nelson on a roll, as he gets his 2nd of the game early in the 3rd, and the arena is quiet. Then Reinhart really puts a damper on things when he scores with just 7 minutes to go, and insurance goal to make it 5-3. Walleye struggle to get some offense going, but finally Trochek from in close to make it 5-4 with just under 4 minutes to go. Walleye finally get control of the puck with 2 minutes to go. They pull the goalie and get the extra man, but can’t get any quality shots, and California hangs on for a big road win, 5-4.

1st star – Reinhart 2G 3pts
2nd – Nelson 2G
3rd – Mangiapane 2G

WEEKLY SUMMARY:

California’s strong checking game proves a little too much for the Walleye, and they control the 2nd half of the game with a 4-1 advantage to even the series. Walleye heading on the road hoping to get at least one win on the West Coast.

No Report from California.

Toledo wins game 3, 2-1

Toledo wins game 4, 6-3

Toledo Walleye
WEEKLY PREVIEW:	Back to Toledo after a surprising sweep in California, series now at 3-1.
GAME #5: CALIFORNIA REGULATORS @ TOLEDO WALLEYE	Toledo decides to go with the hot goalie, Stolarz, and see if the magic can continue. Regulators come out inspired and keep Stolarz busy, but he excels and holds them off. Around the 12 minute mark the Walleye work the puck into the offensive zone, and patient passing leads to a goal by Rodrigues. Both offenses struggle the rest of the period. The Walleye kill off one minor. No more damage and its a nervous 1-0 lead for Toledo after 1. California with a nearly 2:1 SOG advantage in the 2nd. Cal kills off a Sergachev minor early. About 8 minutes in a Mangiapane minor gives the Regulators a good scoring chance. Near the end of the penalty, Reinhart fires a slapshot through a crowd and it finds the net. Reinharts 5th of the playoffs ties this game up at 1. Puck spends more time in the Toledo zone than on the other end. Adding to that is a Pageua minor late in the period. But the lamps stay unlit, and we head to the 2nd break tied 1-1. Kotkaniemi with a minor early gives the Walleye a chance. Late in the PK, an entry by Dobson, followed by a desperation shot at the goal sees Marchment deflect the shot into the goal. His first of the playoffs and the arena shows a little more life. Its 2-1. About a minute and a half later, the Walleye find Rodrigues open near the dot, and he is able to flip the puck into the net. All of a sudden Toledo is up 3-1 and those tweaks at intermission seem to be working. Another Cal minor keeps them keeps them at bay until the 10 minute mark, and then they turn up the heat. Finally with 7 minutes to go the pressure pays off when Kane grabs a rebound and loops around the net, stuffs it in, and the Regulators have cut the lead to a manageble 1 goal. Game on ! Regulators keep the pressure on, while Toledo focuses on blocking shots and rotating fresh defensive minded troop in. Pucks spends more time in the Toledo end until about 3 minutes to go when Toledo is able to get a couple offense sets and kill a couple minutes. Finally the Walleye lose the puck and here come the Regulators, and the goalie head to the bench. Cal gets just one shot wide which the Walleye are able to move up ice and Trocheck is happy to put this one away with an empty netter. 4-2 Walleye with 1:02 to go. The Regulators throw a number of shots at Stolarz in the final minute, but Forsling and Barrie block all but one, and Stolarz takes care of that one. Toledo happy winners of game 5 and the series. 4-2 Toledo 1st star Rodrigues 2G 2nd – Stolarz 44 saves Marchment 1G 2pts
WEEKLY SUMMARY:	A good balanced offense shows up, and then when Stolarz gets in goal, he energizes the defense and they hold the Regulators to just 2 goals per game in games 3,4 and 5 to grab the series. Sam Reinhart in a strong series for California, scoring 5 goals and 7 points. A fond farewell to George Skiles. He and his California Regulators won the very first League Championship in the 2016-17 inaugural season. Add to that 2 Conference Championships and 3 Division Championships. 309 regular season wins. A 40-30 post season record. You are welcome back any time you feel the bug George.

Toledo Walleye

WEEKLY PREVIEW:

Back to Toledo after a surprising sweep in California, series now at 3-1.

GAME #5:

CALIFORNIA REGULATORS

@ TOLEDO WALLEYE

Toledo decides to go with the hot goalie, Stolarz, and see if the magic can continue.

Regulators come out inspired and keep Stolarz busy, but he excels and holds them off. Around the 12 minute mark the Walleye work the puck into the offensive zone, and patient passing leads to a goal by Rodrigues. Both offenses struggle the rest of the period. The Walleye kill off one minor. No more damage and its a nervous 1-0 lead for Toledo after 1.

California with a nearly 2:1 SOG advantage in the 2nd. Cal kills off a Sergachev minor early. About 8 minutes in a Mangiapane minor gives the Regulators a good scoring chance. Near the end of the penalty, Reinhart fires a slapshot through a crowd and it finds the net. Reinharts 5th of the playoffs ties this game up at 1. Puck spends more time in the Toledo zone than on the other end. Adding to that is a Pageua minor late in the period. But the lamps stay unlit, and we head to the 2nd break tied 1-1.

Kotkaniemi with a minor early gives the Walleye a chance. Late in the PK, an entry by Dobson, followed by a desperation shot at the goal sees Marchment deflect the shot into the goal. His first of the playoffs and the arena shows a little more life. Its 2-1. About a minute and a half later, the Walleye find Rodrigues open near the dot, and he is able to flip the puck into the net. All of a sudden Toledo is up 3-1 and those tweaks at intermission seem to be working. Another Cal minor keeps them keeps them at bay until the 10 minute mark, and then they turn up the heat. Finally with 7 minutes to go the pressure pays off when Kane grabs a rebound and loops around the net, stuffs it in, and the Regulators have cut the lead to a manageble 1 goal. Game on ! Regulators keep the pressure on, while Toledo focuses on blocking shots and rotating fresh defensive minded troop in. Pucks spends more time in the Toledo end until about 3 minutes to go when Toledo is able to get a couple offense sets and kill a couple minutes. Finally the Walleye lose the puck and here come the Regulators, and the goalie head to the bench. Cal gets just one shot wide which the Walleye are able to move up ice and Trocheck is happy to put this one away with an empty netter. 4-2 Walleye with 1:02 to go. The Regulators throw a number of shots at Stolarz in the final minute, but Forsling and Barrie block all but one, and Stolarz takes care of that one. Toledo happy winners of game 5 and the series.

4-2 Toledo

1st star Rodrigues 2G
2nd – Stolarz 44 saves
Marchment 1G 2pts

WEEKLY SUMMARY:

A good balanced offense shows up, and then when Stolarz gets in goal, he energizes the defense and they hold the Regulators to just 2 goals per game in games 3,4 and 5 to grab the series.

Sam Reinhart in a strong series for California, scoring 5 goals and 7 points.

A fond farewell to George Skiles. He and his California Regulators won the very first League Championship in the 2016-17 inaugural season. Add to that 2 Conference Championships and 3 Division Championships. 309 regular season wins. A 40-30 post season record.

You are welcome back any time you feel the bug George.