Walleye offense looks promising in exhibition win over Kalamazoo

The Toledo Walleye showed flashes of a potentially potent offensive attack in their second exhibition game on Saturday night.

Toledo scored three goals in the first period and added two in the middle stanza to cruise to a 5-4 win against the Kalamazoo Wings at the Huntington Center. The Walleye finished with a 36-22 edge in shots.

The Walleye wrapped up the preseason with a 1-1 record.

“I like our talent,” second-year coach Pat Mikesch said. “We like what we can do. I think we have a really good skating group.”

While it's difficult to gauge too much from one exhibition home game, here are some observations.

■ The line of newcomers Carson Bantle and Gabriel Seger, as well as returner Mitchell Lewandowski, looked very good.

Bantle scored his second goal in as many nights, notching a power-play goal on assists from former Cincinnati star Jalen Smereck and Lewandowski just 1:21 into the game.

Both Bantle and Seger, who have good size and skill, were assigned to Toledo from its AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids this week. Bantle scored the first goal of the preseason and Seger gave Toledo a 2-1 lead on Friday. They both had the primary assist on each other's goals, as well.

Bantle (6-foot-4, 194 pounds) who was selected in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL draft by the Arizona Coyotes, played three seasons at the University of Wisconsin. He looked mobile and skilled, finishing with a goal and an assist.

Seger (6-4, 209) played at Cornell University and had 44 points in 35 games as a senior. Lewandowski had a goal and an assist. The rookies were paired with forward Conlan Keenan on Friday.

■ The team's power-play unit was effective early. After going 0 for 3 on the power play in Friday night's 4-2 loss at Kalamazoo, the Walleye scored on their first two chances with the man advantage on Saturday.

The Walleye finished 2 of 5 on the power play but generated consistent chances.

Toledo had a power play early in the second and had just one shot but generated sustained pressure. On their fourth power play, Toledo did not manage a shot. On the fifth, Toledo had four shots and did everything but cash in.

The team's top power-play unit consisted of Brandon Hawkins, Tyler Spezia, Bantle, Lewandowski, and Smereck.

■ Toledo's “big” new addition to the blue line, defenseman Chaz Reddekopp, made an immediate impression in his debut. Reddekopp got the announced crowd of 7,500 at the Bank Tank riled up in the second period. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound former K-Zoo captain stood Adam Tisdale up at the blue line. He then squared off at center ice in a fight with Ian Mackey and won it.

Reddekopp should provide some much-needed protection for the team's bevy of skill players. Reddekopp had the second most penalty minutes (194) in all of the ECHL last season, including eight major penalties (also second most in the league).

■ Sam Craggs centered a line with Hawkins and Spezia. The trio had a great shift to start the second that should have resulted in a goal. That line — along with the other three lines — is all subject to change. Trenton Bliss and Keenan were both healthy scratches.

■ The Walleye also got secondary scoring from forwards Dalton Messina and Casey Dornbach in the second period. Toledo could come at teams in absolute waves if the production extends beyond the top two lines. Messina showed creativity on the Walleye's fourth goal shooting the puck off the back of the goalie. Dornbach scored on a wicked one-timer off a quick pass from Brandon Kruse.

Speaking of Kruse — who was Toledo's fifth-leading scorer last season — he picked up right where he left off. The BGSU grad finished with a goal and an assist.

■ Rookie goaltender Carter Gylander looked solid in earning the win in his pro debut. Grand Rapids, Toledo's AHL affiliate, assigned Gylander to the team on Saturday and he had not yet even practiced with the team. The rookie netminder got the start and did not look out of place despite making 18 saves on 22 shots. Gylander was chosen in the seventh round of the 2019 NHL by the Red Wings.

It appears returning goalie Jan Bednar will be paired with Gylander to form Toledo's tandem in net.

Toledo's season opener will be on Saturday at the ECHL expansion team, the Bloomington Bison. The Walleye host Wheeling in the home opener on Friday, Nov. 1.