Walleye Face Elimination Game in the Kelly Cup Finals

The Toledo Walleye’s hope for their their first Kelly Cup championship continues is starting to slip away.

After winning the first game of the ECHL’s Kelly Cup Final, the Walleye have dropped three consecutive games to the Trois-Rivières Lions. That includes a 3-1 setback in Trois-Rivières that gives the Lions a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven championship series. The Lions can clinch if they win today’s game in Trois-Rivieres.

If the Walleye win Game 5 today, the series shifts back to Toledo for Games 6 and 7.

This is the Walleye’s third trip to the ECHL Championship series since 2019, and they want that title. The Walleye have a devoted fan base. They are popular in Toledo.  They are one of the ECHL’s strongest franchises.

The series has relevance to the Red Wings because Toledo’s goalies have Detroit connections. Jan Bednar was drafted by Detroit, and is playing on a Grand Rapids Griffins AHL contract. Carter Gylander (0-1 in the series) has a Red Wings’ two-way contract.

Bednar has played three of the four games in the Kelly Cup final, including Friday when he gave up two goals on 21 shots. The Lions’ final goal was an empty-net tally with 19 seconds left in regulation.

Czech native Bednar has given up six goals in his three games against the Lions in the Final, but finds himself 1-2 in the series. The former QMJHL player will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, giving him the option of trying to find an NHL deal or head to Europe.