Walleye win 4-3 over Fort Wayne, take 2-1 lead in 2nd round series

The Toledo Walleye saw instant impact from their returning Grand Rapids Griffins forwards on Tuesday, and the Walleye took a 2-games-to-1 lead over the Fort Wayne Komets as a result:

Dylan Sadowy scored 2 goals and Mike Borkowski had an assist as Toledo blew a 2-goal lead but managed to defeat Fort Wayne 4-3. Mike Embach and Shane Berschbach (1G, 1A) scored as well, and Pat Nagle stopped 36 shots for Toledo.

The Walleye’s website posted a recap:

Walleye victorious over Komets in Game 3, lead series 2-1

(Fort Wayne, IN) – Dylan Sadowy scored twice as the Walleye defeated the Komets 4-3 on Wednesday night in Fort Wayne. Pat Nagle stopped 36 of 39 shots and is 6-1-0 in the postseason. The Walleye lead the best-of-seven series two games to one.

Dylan Sadowy would score his first goal of the postseason when the puck deflected off his stick and past Houser at 3:37 of the first period to put the Walleye up 1-0. Nagle shined in the first period, turning aside all 15 shots he faced.

Mike Embach (1st) would extend the Walleye lead at 3:37 of the second period when he found the back of the net. Fort Wayne would cut the lead to 2-1 at 6:43 of the frame when Cody Sol’s shot beat Pat Nagle. The Komets would tie the game 2-2 at 12:02 of the period with a shot from the blue line that deflected into the back of the net.

The Walleye would dominate in the third period, outshooting Fort Wayne 17-11. The Komets would take a 3-2 lead with a shot from the blue line that went top-shelf at 2:52 of the third period. Sadowy (2nd) would score his second of the game at 14:05 of the frame to tie the game up. Shane Berschbach (2nd) would score a power play goal at 15:08 to give the Walleye the 4-3 victory.

Fish Tales:

• The Walleye are in Fort Wayne for Game 4 on Friday with an 8:00 p.m. puck drop. The team returns home on Saturday for a 7:35 p.m. puck drop for Game 5.

• Nagle stopped 36 of 39 shots and is 6-1-0 in the postseason.

• The Walleye finished 1/3 on the power play and killed off four Komets power plays.

• Dylan Sadowy (2G, 0A) and Mike Borkowski (0G, 1A) both returned from Grand Rapids and each had at least one point tonight.

• AJ Jenks leads the Walleye in the Fort Wayne series with four points (3G, 1A) in three games played.

The Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe also filed a recap:

Walleye forward Dylan Sadowy scored two goals, including the tying goal with 5:55 left in regulation. Sadowy, who just rejoined the Walleye for Game 3 after a brief stint in the American Hockey League with Grand Rapids, also scored on the first shot of the game.

The Walleye rallied with two instant goals to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 series.

“That’s why you play 60 minutes,” Walleye coach Dan Watson said. “Our guys dug deep and believed in each other. They had that confidence … that they could get it done. It’s a team that stays even keel and brushes things off. It’s huge.”

Walleye goaltender Pat Nagle was the difference maker throughout, including in the first period as the former Fort Wayne netminder stopped 15 of 15 shots and finished with 36 saves.

The game was tied at 2 after two periods when Fort Wayne seized a 3-2 lead on their third long shot from the point that worked its way through traffic. Nagle could not see the shot by Dan Maggio 2:52 into the third period.

“There was no panic,” Watson said.

Monroe continues, and he reports that Zach Nastasiuk will join the Walleye for Game 4 on Friday.