BISON DEFEATED IN OT AGAINST TOLEDO

 By: Andy Zilch, Bloomington Bison

Bloomington, IL – The Bloomington Bison suffered their first overtime loss this season in a 4-3 deficit against the Toledo Walleye on Wednesday night at Grossinger Motors Arena.

The first period saw a defensive battle with only 14 shots, 10 of which came from Toledo. With 1:18 remaining in the frame, Jalen Smereck broke the scoreless tie with a one-timer goal. Brandon Hawkins and Trenton Bliss assisted his fourth of the season.

:57 into the second period, the scoring floodgates opened with the Bison tying the game. Blake McLaughlin deflected a Carter Berger shot to tie the game at one. Jonny Evans also assisted on McLaughlin’s 10th of the year. Shortly following a 4-on-4 sequence, Carter Berger scored on a rush into the offensive zone for his third of the year at 6:13. Eddie Matsushima and McLaughlin assisted on the shorthanded goal to give the Bison a 2-1 lead. :41 Later, Mitchell Lewandowski tied the game with a power play goal. His 14th of the year came from Tyler Spezia and Hawkins. With 1:44 remaining, Toledo regained their lead with a goal from Bliss. His 12th of the year came from Smereck and Hawkins to give the Walleye a 3-2 advantage heading into the third.

5:12 into the third period, Maxim Barbashev found Patrick Bajkov on the rush to tie the game at three. Bajkov’s second of the year, and first as a Bison in his debut, was also assisted by Brett Budgell. The Bison outshot the Walleye 10-5 in the third, but no resolution was found in regulation.

A penalty in overtime forced the Bison down a man, which Toledo converted to win the game. Lewandowski scored the game-winner on the power play for his second of the night and 13th of the season. Sam Craggs and Hawkins assisted in the goal with 1:22 remaining in overtime.

Yaniv Perets stopped 30 of 34 shots in the overtime loss to move his record to 3-2-1. Carter Gylander turned aside 24 of 27 shots in the win to improve his record to 10-2-2. The Bison allowed three power play goals for the first time this season, going 0-for-3 on the penalty kill. The power play was goalless on four chances.

On Friday night, the Bison faceoff at 6:15 p.m. against the Walleye at Huntington Center.

The Bison return to Grossinger Motors Arena on Saturday, January 11th at 7 p.m. for Star Wars Night! The team will wear specialty Star Wars-themed jerseys that will be auctioned off following the game. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Several Star Wars characters will attend a Star Wars-themed game presentation.

Single-game seats are available starting as low as $20! Group pricing with benefits and suite options are also available. Visit bloomingtonbisonhockey.com or call (309) 965-HERD for more information.

BLOOMINGTON BISON
HOWLINGS https://howlings.net/2025/01/10/bison-defeated-in-overtime-against-toledo/