Wings Can't Overcome First-Period Deficit in Loss to Fuel
February 11, 2018 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release
KALAMAZOO, MI - Falling behind early in the first period, the Kalamazoo Wings did all they could to erase a three-goal deficit, but it proved too much to overcome in a 4-2 loss to the Indy Fuel on Sunday at Wings Event Center.
The opening minutes of the first period were back and forth, with each team earning quality chances. Eight minutes in and unable to clear their own zone, the Wings surrendered the first goal of the night. Garrett Clarke held the line on the right side and ripped a seeing-eye slap shot through traffic, which was tipped by Reed Seckel and over the leg of Michael Garteig.
Less than a minute later, the Wings transitioned quickly through center ice and tied the game at a goal. J.T. Stenglein bumped the puck back to Sean O'Rourke, who joined the rush and pinpointed a glove-side wrist shot into the top corner of the net for his third goal of the season.
Shortly after O'Rourke knotted things up, Mike Neal put Indy back ahead with his team-leading 15th. While on a power play, Josh Shalla slid a backdoor feed to the tape of Neal for an easy tap in near the post.
With time winding down in the first, the Fuel doubled their lead to two with another net-front effort. Riley Sweeney's shot was stopped by Garteig, but the rebound was punched from Ryan Rupert to Matt Rupert, who netted his 11th of the year.
Late in the second period and while on a four-minute power play, the Wings generated a flurry of opportunities, with each being stopped by Matt Tomkins. The Fuel turned their defense to offense, as Darian Dziurzynski earned a shorthanded breakaway and lifted a glove-side snap shot into the net. The Fuel's 11th shorthanded goal of the season sent the Wings into the locker room facing a 4-1 deficit after two.
Looking to mount a dramatic, third-period comeback for the second straight night, Kalamazoo tallied an early strike in the final period to draw to within two. Aaron Irving moved the puck into the wing and looked up to see Scott Henegar in front of the net for a quick-strike play that finished with Henegar deflecting in his 9th of the year.
Kalamazoo threw all they could at Tomkins in the closing minutes of the third period, but each opportunity came up empty as Kalamazoo had their three-game winning streak snapped.
Next: Kalamazoo vs. Quad City Mallards- Wednesday, February 14, 7 p.m., Wings Event Center.
Broadcast information: Wednesday's game will air on AM 1660 The Fan or online at www.1660thefan.com/listen-live.
Stats: https://www.echl.com/stats/game-center/15571
Single-game tickets are on sale! Tickets start as low as $10 and can be purchased at http://kwings.com/SingleGameTickets or at the Wings Event Center box office.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from February 11, 2018
- Rapid City Holds on 2-1 over Utah - Utah Grizzlies
- Fawcett Leads Icemen Past Gladiators - Jacksonville Lizard Kings
- Icemen Host Western Conference Allen Americans - Jacksonville Lizard Kings
- Allen Holds Off Icemen on Sunday - Jacksonville Lizard Kings
- Thunder Loses Defensive Battle in Toledo - Wichita Thunder
- Motte, Mallards Upend Komets in Shootout - Quad City Mallards
- Defenseman Nolan De Jong Called up to AHL's Rampage - Colorado Eagles
- Fuel Bounce Back to Earn Series Split with Kalamazoo - Indy Fuel
- Monarchs Top Stingrays, 2-1 - Manchester Monarchs
- Wings Can't Overcome First-Period Deficit in Loss to Fuel - Kalamazoo Wings
- Monarchs Force Series Split, Top Rays in OT - South Carolina Stingrays
- John Muse Recalled to Lehigh Valley - Reading Royals
- Admirals Fall in Weekend Finale, 5-2 - Norfolk Admirals
- ECHL Transactions - February 11 - ECHL
- Solar Bears Fall Short in Comeback Bid against Nailers - Orlando Solar Bears
- Thunder Closes Weekend with First-Ever Trip to Toledo - Wichita Thunder
- Nailers Solve Solar Bears Spell - Wheeling Nailers
- Game Day: Admirals Host Rare Sunday Afternoon Game - Norfolk Admirals
- Monarchs Game Day Capsule, February 11 - Manchester Monarchs
- Mallards Game Day - Quad City Mallards
- Nailers at Solar Bears Game Day Snap Shot, February 11 - Wheeling Nailers
- Game Preview: Orlando Solar Bears vs. Wheeling Nailers - Orlando Solar Bears
- 'Blades Pretty in Pink with 4-1 Win over Allen - Florida Everblades
- Stevenson Scores Twice in OT Loss at Cincinnati - Wichita Thunder
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
