Komets Push, Walleye Prevail: Toledo Takes Game 1

May 2, 2025 – Game 1 of the Central Division Finals between the Toledo Walleye and Fort Wayne Komets lived up to the hype, and then some. In a back-and-forth, high-octane battle, the Walleye outlasted the Komets 5-4 in front of a roaring Huntington Center crowd, taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The first period alone set the tone for what would be a night full of fireworks. Fort Wayne drew first blood at 8:30 with Blake Murray finding the back of the net, but Toledo wasted no time answering. Colby Ambrosio evened things up at 12:12 with his first goal of the postseason, and less than a minute later, Colin Swoyer gave the Walleye their first lead with a blast from the blue line.

The Komets weren’t going quietly. Alex Aleardi struck late in the first to send the game into the intermission tied 2-2.

The second period? Pure chaos.

Fort Wayne regained the lead early thanks to Ethan Keppen, but Toledo’s Tyler Spezia—playing his first game back after a two-month injury absence—responded with a goal that electrified the arena and tied things once more.

Aleardi wasn’t done yet, sniping his second of the night at 13:13 to make it 4-3 Komets. But the Walleye, undeterred, flipped the script in the closing minutes of the period. Trenton Bliss tied it at 17:46 on a slick tip-in, then Matt Anderson hammered home the eventual game-winner with just 16 seconds left in the frame, giving Toledo a 5-4 lead they would protect fiercely.

The third period was all playoff grit. The Komets pushed hard, even appearing to tie the game late on a shot from Alex Swetlikoff—only to have it waved off after review. A late power play gave Fort Wayne one last shot, but the Walleye defense held strong, fueled by the energy of a sold-out Huntington Center that never sat down.

The win gives Toledo a 1-0 lead heading into Game 2 tonight, once again on home ice.

Puck drop is set for 7:15 PM as the Walleye look to reel in another win and take a commanding lead in this hard-hitting Central Division clash.

Ready for Game 2? The Fish sure are.