RECAP: Toledo Walleye sweep Indy Fuel, advance to second round with a comeback win | Kelly Cup Playoffs
The Toledo Walleye scored three times in the final seven minutes of game four to defeat the Indy Fuel and advance to the Central Division finals.
It's April in Toledo which means it's time for playoff hockey.
The Toledo Walleye have once again earned a spot in the Kelly Cup Playoffs to compete for the ECHL's top prize. The Walleye made the finals last season and in 2019, but failed to secure the franchise's first Kelly Cup. The goal of settling unfinished business begins with the Indy Fuel.
Head-to-head, Toledo has won five consecutive games out of six against Indy during the 2022-23 regular season.
Toledo received a boost from American Hockey League affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins, who missed the playoffs and sent down seven players. Among the reassigned include Kirill Tyutyayev, a Detroit Red Wings prospect who averaged 1.52 points per game with the Walleye this season.
Additionally, the Red Wings reassigned ECHL Goaltender of the Year John Lethemon. Lethemon started the season with the Walleye and is expected to provide a one-two punch with Detroit goaltending prospect and first-round pick Sebastian Cossa. The duo was a big part of Toledo's historic 18-game win streak this season. Lethemon's stellar regular-season record included a 14-game win streak of his own with four shutouts.
Just as noteworthy as the players who will hit the ice are the ones who won't. Fan-favorite forward Mitchell Heard was left off the playoff roster, along with defensemen Jake Willets, Jon McDonald and Chays Ruddy.
Also not on the roster are veteran blueliners Simon Denis and Ryan Lowney.
For ticket information, visit the Toledo Walleye playoff headquarters at this link.
RECAP: GAME 4, ROUND 1 Toledo wins 5-3, takes series 4-0
Toledo completes the sweep of Indy and advances. The Walleye will play the winner of Cincinnati Cyclones vs. Fort Wayne Komets.
9:35 p.m.: That's a game. Toledo wins 5-3.
9:32 p.m.: TJ Hensick backhands the puck into the empty net. Three unanswered goals in the third period put Toledo in the lead 5-3.
9:25 p.m.: Gordie Green forces a turnover and connects with Hawkins yet again. It's Green's third assist and Hawkins' second goal of the game. Toledo leads 4-3 with 4:51 to go in regulation.
9:21 p.m.: Tyutyayev gets one past Indy goaltender Mitchell Weeks from a Gordi Myer pass on an odd-man rush. With under 7 minutes to go in regulation, the game is tied 3-3.
8:58 p.m.: The third period is underway in Indianapolis.
8:39 p.m.: End of the second with only one goal scored and not by the Walleye. Fish have almost double the shots, but Indy leads 3-2.
8:26 p.m.: Indy scores, taking the lead with 6 minutes left in the second. Indy leads 3-2.
8:21 p.m.: With a little under 11 minutes left in the second period, the score remains tied 2-2 during what has been a quiet period so far after a busy start.
7:46 p.m.: End of the first period. Score remains tied 2-2.
7:41 p.m.: Toledo answers. A wide-open Brandon Hawkins ties the game 2-2.
7:39 p.m.: Indy takes the lead for the first time this series with a goal. This time it counts. Indy leads 2-1.
7:24 p.m.: Indy finds the back of the net just over Lethemon's shoulder. Score is tied 1-1.
7:19 p.m.: And seconds later, Sam Craggs goes the other way and snaps a wrister. It's a shorthanded goal for the Walleye with a little over 13:40 left in the first period. Toledo leads 1-0.
7:18 p.m.: It's determined that there was goaltender interference. No goal. Score remains tied and Toledo is still on the kill.
7:16 p.m.: Indy strikes first on the powerplay with 13:53 left in the first period. However, the play is under review.
7:07 p.m.: As expected, John Lethemon is starting in goal for Toledo. The puck is down and game four is on.
Toledo holds a 3-0 series lead over Indy, outscoring the Fuel 12-4 across three games.
Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m. at Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis.
Walleye players to watch: Rookie forward Trenton Bliss enters Thursday's match with a three-game goal streak, leading playoff scoring with 3 goals and 2 assists.
Defensemen Seth Barton and Charlie Curti are also on three-game point streaks.
Head coach Dan Watson is expected to continue the goaltending rotation and start Lethemon in goal after Cossa's win Tuesday.
RECAP: GAME 3, ROUND 1 Toledo wins 4-1, leads series 3-0
9:20 p.m.: Toledo wins another on the road by a final score of 4-1. The Walleye lead the series 3-0 and can seal the series with a win Thursday.
9:16 p.m.: Donovan Sebrango from between the dots of Toledo's own zone hits the empty net. Toledo extends the lead 4-1.
9:14 p.m.: Indy's net is empty for the extra skater with a little over 3 minutes left in the game. Toledo still leads 3-1.
8:59 p.m. Andrew Sturtz with the shorthanded goal. Walleye take a two-goal lead. Toledo leads 3-1.
8:51 p.m.: Second period is underway. Under two minutes in, Indy gets on the board. Toledo leads 2-1.
8:29 p.m.: The second period concludes. The score remains unchanged with the Walleye still ahead. Toledo leads 2-0.
8:12 p.m.: At 10:15 left in the second, a slick feed by Gordie Green finds Trenton Bliss. Bliss buries it for a powerplay goal. It's his third of the series. Toledo leads 2-0.
8:07 p.m.: With 12:14 left in the second period, Toledo's Sam Craggs opens scoring. It's his first playoff point and it's a goal. Craggs is the eighth different Walleye player to score so far in the playoffs. Toledo leads 1-0.
7:36 p.m.: So far a quiet game as the first period draws to a close. It's still scoreless in Indianapolis.
7:05 p.m.: Sebastian Cossa is starting in net for the Toledo Walleye, continuing the goaltender rotation after Lethemon's start on Saturday. Walleye defenseman Derek Daschke is making his playoff debut. The first period is underway in Indianapolis.
RECAP: GAME 2, ROUND 1 Toledo wins 4-2, leads series 2-0
9:50 p.m.: Toledo Walleye lock up game two with a 4-2 victory. Toledo has a 2-0 series lead.
9:47 p.m.: Seconds after Viro's goal, the Fuel respond with a goal of their own to get back within 2.
9:46 p.m.: Things are looking desperate for the Fuel as an Eemil Viro goal puts the Walleye up 4-1 with 3:21 to go in the third period.
9:15 p.m. Walleye come out strong to start the third period as Trenton Bliss' goal puts the Walleye up 3-1.
It is Bliss' second goal of the playoffs.
9:13 p.m. Third period underway.
9:01 p.m.: Second period ends with Walleye still in the lead 2-1.
8:25 p.m.: 15:51 2nd period: Drew Worrad power play goal (Walleye up 2-1). Six different players have now scored in the series.
8:15 p.m.: Second period underway.
7:56 p.m.: End of first period. Toledo and Indy knotted up at one apiece after a furious twenty minutes of hockey action.
7:49 p.m.: Lethemon lets one get past him and the Fuel tie it up with 3:01 to go in 1st period. Lethemon had stopped his first 13 attempts.
7:37 p.m.: ECHL Goaltender of the Year Lethemon backing that title up with 11 saves just ten minutes into game two.
7:27 p.m.: John Lethemon sprawling stick save to keep Fuel out of net with 13:50 left in first.
7:24 p.m.: Fuel enjoy a 4 on 3 power play.
7:19 p.m.: Less than 2 minutes into the first period and the Walleye are on the board after an Andrew Sturtz goal with 18:26 left in the first.
Sturtz's goal is first even-strength goal of series (5 on 5)
7:16 p.m.: The puck is down and game 2 is underway.
John Lethemon is starting in goal for the Walleye.
Puck drop for game 2 of the division semifinals against Indy is at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday.
RECAP: GAME 1, ROUND 1 Toledo wins 4 - 1
9:54 p.m.: Toledo takes the first game of the division semifinals against Indy by a final score of 4-1.
9:46 p.m.: Trenton Bliss fires a shot past the goaltender and it's another powerplay goal. Toledo leads 4-1 with under 2 minutes to play and there's some pushing and shoving on the ice.
9:26 p.m.: Hawkins buries a shot on the powerplay. Special teams have put in the work tonight for the Walleye. Toledo adds to the lead, 3-1 with 10:52 left in the third.
9:15 p.m.: Gordie Green breaks the tie with a beautiful pass on the powerplay from Trenton Bliss. Toledo takes the lead 2-1.
9:05 p.m.: Third period is now underway.
8:46 p.m.: Second period comes to a close with no change to the score. Toledo and Indy still tied up at 1-1.
8:30 p.m.: Toledo's shots total 17-7 over Indy with numerous quality chances, but the score remains 1-1.
8:15 p.m.: Second period is underway.
7:55 p.m.: End of the first period, Toledo and Indy still tied up 1-1.
7:47 p.m.: Indy strikes quick on the powerplay. It's a tie game, 1-1.
7:45 p.m.: Toledo takes its first penalty with a call on Donovan Sebrango. Walleye are on the penalty kill.
7:43 p.m.: With a little over 7 minutes to play in the first period, Indy registers its first shot.
7:35 p.m.: Walleye head back to the powerplay less than 30 seconds later with 10:39 left in the first. Toledo is outshooting Indy 7-0.
7:33 p.m.: Toledo strikes first. Seth Barton finds the back of the net with the man advantage. 1-0 Toledo.
7:30 p.m.: Toledo heads to a powerplay with 12:49 left in the first period.
7:18 p.m.: Walleye legend Shane Berschbach kicks off the night with the honorary cowbell ringing. The puck is down at center ice and the Kelly Cup Playoffs are underway.
6:55 p.m.: Sebastian Cossa is starting netminder for the Toledo Walleye.
Puck drop for the division semifinals against Indy is at 7:15 p.m.
