TOLEDO — In a showdown between two of the league’s best defenses, the Toledo Walleye bested the Komets 2-1 on Saturday in front of 8,137 fans at the Huntington Center.

Toledo goalie Nolan Lalonde finished with 22 saves while Komets goaltender Samuel Jonsson had 19 saves.

The first period showed just how evenly matched last year’s Central Division finalists are, both finishing with seven shots on goal and playing suffocating defense on both ends. The first shot of the game by forward James Stefan went off the post, representing Fort Wayne’s best chance to score.

In the second, a momentary lapse on defense cost the Komets. Toledo forward Brandon Hawkins made a pass from the Walleye goalline to a wide-open teammate — forward Jordan Ernst — at the blueline, who beat Jonsson one-on-one for t

See Full Page