CINCINNATI — The Toledo Walleye collapsed in the third period, giving up four goals in the final 20 minutes to lose 5-3 at the Cincinnati Cyclones on Friday.

The Walleye (33-13-8) lost for the fourth time in five games and the sixth time in eight games. They remain comfortably atop the ECHL’s Central Division with 74 points.

Sixth-place Cincinnati (19-25-8) opened the scoring Friday with a goal from Marko Sikic 4:43 into the first period. Carson Bantle tied it less than two minutes later on a power play with assists from Colin Swoyer and Mitchell Lewandowski, and it was 1-1 at the first intermission.

Lewandowski gave Toledo the lead just past the midway point of the second period with assists from Jalen Smereck and Brendon Michaelian. But the tables turned early in the third, with Curtis Hall and Kyle Bollers scoring less than a minute apart to put Cincinnati back on top 3-2.

Bantle scored his second power-play goal of the night at the 8:19 mark of the period, this time with assists by Lewandowski and Brandon Kruse. Chris Dodero struck for the Cyclones about five minutes later, and Chas Sharpe hit the empty net with 1:04 remaining to seal it at 5-3.

Carter Gylander made 26 saves on 30 shots for the Walleye. Vyacheslav Peksa had 27 stops on 30 shots faced for the Cyclones.

Toledo will have a chance to avenge Friday’s loss when the teams play the second game of their weekend home-and-home at 7:15 p.m. Saturday at the Huntington Center.

First Published March 1, 2025, 4:26 a.m.