The Toledo Walleye have authored the longest winning streak in ECHL history with an all-around team effort — and by not talking about it.
The Walleye extended their historic run of consistent success with their 19th win in a row in Game 1 of the Central Division finals on Friday night. That broke a record set in 2007 by the Las Vegas Wranglers for the longest winning streak -— including playoffs — in ECHL history.
“We haven't talked about that streak once in the locker room,” Walleye coach Pat Mikesch said. “It's all about getting ready for the next game.”
Toledo won the final 14 games of the regular season and then swept Kalamazoo in the opening round of the Kelly Cup playoffs. The Walleye then won their opening game against the Wheeling Nailers 2-1 in overtime at the Huntington Center.
“Honestly I'd forgotten about the streak until just now,” said forward Mitchell Lewandowski after being asked about it. “It's a reset in the playoffs with it being the best of 7. But the winning streak is nice. From a culture standpoint, we know we're never out of a game. We don't like coming from behind, but we know we're comfortable knowing we can do it.”
Lewandowski sparked a rally on Friday when he scored the tying goal in the second period. ECHL MVP Brandon Hawkins then tallied the game-winner in OT — his second overtime winner of the playoffs.
“We've got a good amount of confidence right now,” Hawkins said. “It's right on the good side of confidence. Everybody feels good about their game, but then obviously there are some things we have to tighten up. But I think we're in a good spot.”
Toledo has won 12 in a row at home and 12 in a row on the road.
Goaltender Jan Bednar said he is only looking at it as a five-game playoff winning streak.
“The playoffs are a different story,” he said. : I'm just proud of the whole team. We've been playing great lately, and it's every guy in that room knows what we need to do to win a hockey game.”
The longest ECHL winning streak during the regular season was 23 games, set by South Carolina in 2015. The Walleye had the second-longest regular season winning streak with 18 in 2023.
Las Vegas won its 13 regular season games and then its first five playoff games in 2007.
The Walleye went 9-0-0 in April.
“I honestly didn't even know what number we're on,” forward Brandon Kruse said. “At the end of the day it's kind of cool, but none of it matters if you don't win this whole thing. It really doesn't mean anything.”
Kruse compared the stat to that of a team that wins a regular-season title but then fails to win the championship.
“It's similar to teams that won a Presidents’ Trophy in the NHL. They have the best regular season in the history of those leagues, but if you don't win it all no one's going to be talking about that,” he said.
Depth has been the difference for the Walleye during the streak. Sixteen of the 17 skaters have recorded at least one point, with both goalies earning wins.
Forward Trenton Bliss, who assisted on the game-winner on Friday, is one of 10 players who have recorded at least one goal in the five playoff games. He also is one of four different players who have scored decisive goals in the playoffs.
“Even the guys that aren't dressing could come in and make an impact,” Bliss said. “That's the type of depth we have on this team. Everyone is buying into their roles. I think everyone knows that they can create offense and nothing is being forced now. No one is stepping outside of something that maybe they're not. Everyone's doing a great job focusing on what they can do to best help this team win, and that's from top to bottom.”
Mikesch said he will need to continue to get contributions for the run to continue.
“We've talked about our depth so much this year,” he said. “It's so important that you use it. We want them to feel comfortable in their part of our offense.”
Goaltender John Lethemon, who was excellent in Game 1 with 23 saves, is now 3-0 in the playoffs. He also ranks third in the ECHL with a 1.56 goals-against average and fourth with a .939 save percentage.
“We don't talk about it,” Lethemon said of the streak. “We just take it day by day, stay in the moment. We keep the focus on preparing.”
Lethemon has rotated starts with Bednar, just as the duo did in the regular season. Bednar is 2-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and .934 save percentage.
“We've played extremely well in groups of five,” Lethemon said. “I think our depth is what's led to this stretch, and now nothing changes.”
Kruse said the locker room is selfless and supportive.
“There's no ego in this group,” he said. “We just roll line after line, and everyone contributes.”
Kruse was one of seven players who recorded hat tricks during the regular season, joining Hawkins, Bliss, Orrin Centazzo, Sam Craggs, Conlan Keenan, and Riley Sawchuk.
“At lunch the other day we talked about all the different guys that had hat tricks this year and guys that have had like career years,” Kruse said. “Everyone's giving it their all. We rely on every single person, everyone's going to be a difference-maker. Knowing that every guy has each other's back, you have full confidence in them to go do their job. It just makes everyone's lives easier. The chemistry just really shows.”
Mikesch acknowledged that there has been some puck luck along the way, with bounces going Toledo's way. He said depth and consistency will be the key to advance against a Wheeling team that controlled the flow of play for the first half of Game 1 with physicality and puck possession.
“Credit to the room, but it's just a one-game winning streak now in this series,” Mikesch said. “We're not focused on it.”
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