CINCINNATI — Christian Hilbrich had two goals as part of a three-point game Sunday, as the Toledo Walleye finished off a 4-0 road trip with a 4-1 victory against the Cincinnati Cyclones at U.S. Bank Arena.
With the victory, the Walleye (46-15-5) expanded their lead in the ECHL overall standings, the Western Conference, and the Central Division. Toledo now has 97 points, which is a five-point lead over Florida (43-13-6), which leads the Eastern Conference and was idle. The Walleye now are up by seven points over Colorado (42-16-6), which beat Allen 4-3, for the lead in the conference. Toledo now is up by nine points over Fort Wayne (42-17-4), which was idle, in the division.
Colin Jacobs and Shane Berschbach also had goals for the Walleye, who scored the first four goals of the contest. Pat Nagle made 26 saves to improve 33-4-4 on the season.
Jesse Schultz had the goal for the Cyclones (35-25-2). Paul Berrafato made 23 stops in his first game of the year.
Hilbrich tallied his first goal of the game, on a power play, at the 10-minute, 11-second mark of the first. Kyle Bonis and Ryan Obuchowski assisted on the play.
Jacobs then made it 2-0 with his 12th of the season with 5:32 left in the first, on assists by Beau Schmitz and Hilbrich. Hilbrich followed with his 22nd of the year 20 seconds later, on a Luke Nogard assist, to make it a three-goal Toledo advantage.
Berschbach finished off his 18th of the season at 4:20 of the second, with Jared Wilson and Austen Brassard assisting.
Schultz completed the scoring with 16 minutes left in regulation, unassisted.
The Walleye host Brampton at 7:15 p.m. Saturday.
First Published March 19, 2018, 3:30 a.m.