Zach Gallant didn’t have much time to dwell on the end of his Peterborough Petes season.

Within 48 hours of the elimination of the Petes from the OHL playoffs their captain was on his way to the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye. He’s scoring at a higher rate in his first 11 professional games than he did in junior.

Toledo takes a 1-0 lead in their second-round playoff series into Saturday night against the Cincinnati Cyclones. Gallant assisted on the winning goal in Thursday’s 3-2 win.

In four regular-season games Gallant had a goal and three assists. In seven playoff games he has four goals and four assists. Toledo beat the Fort Wayne Komets in six games in the opening round.

“I’m getting an opportunity which is nice,” said Gallant, who missed 38 games with the Petes after an early-season leg injury. “Playing with pros has definitely helped me a lot.”

He’s adjusted fairly seamlessly.

“The ECHL only has 10 forwards so when you’re playing that many minutes you have to find ways to manage your ice and be smart with it,” said the 20-year-old Oakville native. “I feel like I’ve proved I can play. The coach is giving me a good opportunity and I’ve been rolling with the punches.”

Toledo is an affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings, who selected Gallant in the third round of the 2017 NHL draft. Gallant knew some Walleye staff from Red Wings training camps which helped his adjustment.

After four years of living with a billet family in Peterborough some of the biggest change has come off the ice.

“I have my own apartment now so it’s a lot different. I’m cooking for myself and doing laundry on a regular basis. That’s definitely something I haven’t done much of in the past so that’s been a bit of an adjustment. It hasn’t been too bad at all. My parents have been down a couple of times.”

The Red Wings have until June 1 to sign Gallant or he becomes a free agent. He’s also eligible to return to the Petes as an overage next season. Gallant says he’s just living in the moment.

“I wasn’t really sure what was going to happen at the end of this year. I’ve played less than 100 games the past two years with Peterborough so it’s been pretty frustrating in that sense. To come in and do a decent job here and contribute has been nice. If I get offered a contract it would be nice but I’ll figure that out when I’m done playing here. Right now, I’m focused on playing hockey and doing my job.”

He’s just happy to be playing.

“Especially with the injury I had this year. Only playing 35 games was tough. To get an opportunity to continue to play some games is awesome. Most guys I played with in junior played more than 70 games and I only played 35. To be playing and to keep getting my feet under me has helped. My game keeps getting better and better,” he said. 

“They only roll three lines so everybody gets ice no matter what. Nobody is really sitting on the bench watching.”