The Kelly Cup Final shifted to Trois-Rivières on Wednesday Night after the Toledo Walleye and Trois-Rivières Lions split the opening two games in Toledo. Trois-Rivières wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as Chris Jandric opened up the scoring just 42 seconds in. The Lions doubled their lead at 12:20 as Alex Beaucage fed Xavier Cormier, who walked in and beat Jan Bednar. Toledo would get a chance to tie the game with a PP late in the period, but couldn’t find a way to beat Luke Cavallin. The Walleye dominated the first as they led 12-5 in shots, but trailed 2-0 on the scoreboard.
Toledo would get themselves on the board in the second thanks to Carson Bantle. The Toledo forward did all the work himself and got rewarded with his fifth to get Toledo within one. Brandon Michaelian would check Jacob Paquette from behind and would be rewarded with a major penalty for boarding. Paquette would return to the game for the Lions. The Trois-Rivières Lions had a chance to run away with the game, but Jakov Novak took a penalty 2:24 seconds into the five-minute PP. There’s no doubt both teams had their chances in the second, but neither would be able to capitalize. Toledo once again outshot the Lions in the period, 12-9, but still trailed on the scoreboard.
Heading into the third period, the Lions looked to lock things down and take the series lead. It would be a rough start to the period for the Walleye as Colin Swoyer took a tripping penalty 3:36 into the period. Toledo would settle down and play solid hockey, holding the Lions to only six shots in the period. Anthony Beauregard would catch Bednar without a stick and find the back of the net. His goal gave the Lions a 3-1 lead with less than five minutes to go. Justin Ducharme took an interference penalty at the 16:01 mark, giving the Walleye a glimmer of hope. Toledo would pull Bednar to make it a six-on-four, and Swoyer’s shot from the point beat Cavallin, making it a one-goal game with 2:26 to play. The Lions held on to take a 2-1 series lead heading into Friday.
For Toledo, it’s their first loss on the road since May 5th vs Fort Wayne. The Trois-Rivières Lions and Toledo Walleye will continue their series on Friday at 7 pm and Saturday at 3 pm. If needed, the series will then shift back to Toledo for games next Tuesday and Thursday at Huntington Center.
ITR 41: Stanley Cup Final – The Rematch – Inside The Rink
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