Express Clip Wings 4-3
March 23, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Chicago Express News Release
Kalamazoo, MI - The Chicago Express, proud member of the ECHL and proud affiliate of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets, killed off all eight Kalamazoo power plays to defeat the Wings 4-3 at Wings Stadium on Friday night.
Kalamazoo started off the scoring early in the first period, as right after leaving the penalty box after 4-on-4 hockey, C Kory Karlander intercepted a pass in the attacking zone and rifled a shot past G Rob Madore to put the Wings ahead 1-0 at 3:10 of the opening frame. Just 1:17 later, the Express evened up the score at 1-1, as C Aaron Marvin refused to give up on the play and jammed the puck between the skates of G Riley Gill and the right goal post. Chicago earned their first lead of the game on the power play at the 13:23 mark of the period. Gill lost his footing but still managed to save the initial shot from RW Chaz Johnson. LW Max Gratchev was waiting on the doorstep, however, and slammed home the rebound to put the Express up 2-1. D Taylor Ellington capped of the first period scoring during 4-on-4 action, as he raced up the left wing and blasted a slap shot past Gill with just 3.5 seconds left. Chicago led 3-1 at the end of the period.
The Express started the second period the same way the ended the first, as D Scott Wietecha and D Jonathan Zion combined to find RW Danick Paquette open on the left wing, and fired a one-timer home to push Chicago's lead to 4-1. Kalamazoo continued to battle, getting back into the contest when F Justin Taylor slid a shot towards the front of the net that changed direction and bounced over the goal line to cut the lead to 4-2. The Wings struck once more before the end of the middle stanza when F Nick Sirota lifted a wrister into the top left corner of the net. Chicago held a 4-3 advantage heading into the final frame. G Rob Madore was the story for Chicago in the third period, as he stopped all 14 shots fired by Kalamazoo, keeping them off the scoreboard in third stanza. Madore finished the game with 39 saves on 42 shots, as Chicago took down Kalamazoo by the final 4-3 score.
RW Chaz Johnson returned tonight after missing the past two games due to injury. He had an assist in the game... Chicago played their final regular season game at Wings Stadium, finishing with a record of 4-3-1 record in Kalamazoo... G Rob Madore has stopped 106 of 114 shots faced at Wings Stadium for a .930 save percentage in Kalamazoo.
The Express host the Wings and the Toledo Walleye at the Sears Centre Arena tomorrow and Sunday. After Sunday's game, everyone in attendance is invited to skate with the team for free.
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