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ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

Dramatic Late Game Comeback Lifts Wings over Beast

January 8, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


KALAMAZOO, MI- Led by a career-best four-point night from Curtis Valk and a 37 save performance from Joel Martin, the Kalamazoo Wings battled back to defeat the Brampton Beast, 4-3, in overtime on Kids Paint the Ice night, presented by Michigan Blood at Wings Event Center on Friday.

Netting the game's first marker of the contest, Kalamazoo struck 2:37 into the opening frame. Cashing in on a power play chance, Curtis Valk ripped a cross-ice pass to the tape of Ludwig Blomstrand, whose one-timer blew past Brampton goalie, Trevor Cann.

Answering with a power play goal of their own, the Beast knotted the game up at one, late in the first period. Off the faceoff win, Travis Brown carried into the high-slot, lifting a shot in on Joel Martin, which caromed off the pad and to the stick of Reggie Traccitto, for a tap-in.

Midway through the second period and just four seconds after a successfully cancelling out a two-minute five-on-three man advantage, Scott Howes found the puck in a scrum to the side of Martin's goal crease, and poked the puck into the net, giving the Beast a 2-1 edge.

The Wings power play struck for the second time in the game, and made it a 2-2 game with just 44 seconds remaining the middle frame. Blomstrand took a feed from Cory Pritz, glided down the right circle, and rocketed a wrister from the faceoff dot, finding room on the blocker side of Cann.

Brampton regained their one goal early in the third period on the second marker of the night from Traccitto. Luke Pither cleanly won a faceoff in the offensive zone, with the puck finding Traccitto, who one-timed a rocket from the right point, and past the glove of Martin.

With the game seemingly over, the Wings sent Martin to the bench for the extra attacker, and the moved paid dividends. Valk found Blomstrand behind the Brampton net and Blomstrand didn't hesitate to find Alex Mallet, who was wide open and potted the backdoor feed. The goal pushed Mallet's point-streak to six games.

Brampton continued to pressure through the three-on-three overtime, but with the help of Martin, who came up with numerous saves, Kalamazoo found the game-winner. Valk streaked into the offensive zone, tried to chip the puck of the boards, but it deflected off a Beast stick, back to Valk, who wristed one past Cann.

Notes: Mallet pushed his point streak to six games. Valk had a career-best four points on the night. Blomstrand earned his third multipoint game of the season. Kalamazoo have averaged 5.0 goals per game over their last four games.

Stats: http://echl.com/stats/official-game-report.php?game_id=13102

The Kalamazoo Wings host the 2016 CCM/ECHL Hockey Heritage Week, presented by PNC Bank and Bronson Sports Medicine, from February 1-6 at Wings Event Center and throughout the city of Kalamazoo. The one-of-a-kind event features viewing/photo opportunities with the Stanley Cup, Hockey Hall of Fame exhibits and trophies, two games with the Toledo Walleye, and more. Group rates start as low as $12 per person for a group of six or more.

Single-game tickets are now on sale! Tickets can be purchased at kwings.com or at the Wings Event Center box office. Box office hours areMonday-Friday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. A $2 discount is applied on all tickets purchased before the date of the game.

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ECHL Stories from January 8, 2016


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