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ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

Five-Goal Second Period Helps Wings Soar over Mallards

January 29, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


KALAMAZOO, MI- Curtis Valk earned his second four-point night of the season, and helped lead a five-goal second period to help the Kalamazoo Wings to a 6-5 victory over the Quad City Mallards on Star Wars night, presented by Celebration! Cinema at Wings Event Center on Friday.

Quad City struck for the game's first goal, 5:04 into the contest. Cory Pritz battled with Matt Neal for the loose puck in the defensive zone, but Neal was able to get just enough of the puck to chip it over the shoulder of Joel Martin.

Taking advantage of the fresh ice, the Mallards opened their lead to 2-0 just 51 seconds into the second period. Matt Carey lifted an innocent wrist shot on net from the top of the left circle and over the glove of Martin, who was screened on the play.

Wasting no time to cut their deficit to one, Kalamazoo potted their first marker of the night. Pritz found Valk standing near the goal line, and his quick, turnaround wrister found a hole over the glove of Brody Hoffman.

Using the momentum from the first goal, the Wings continued to carry the offensive play and were rewarded for their hard work. Tanner Sorenson saucered a pass to the tape of Justin Kovacs at the top of the left circle and Kovacs' shot trickled between the pipe and blocker of Hoffman to tie the game at two.

Not stopping there, Kalamazoo earned their first lead of the night, courtesy of Tyler Shattock. Standing in nearly the same spot as Kovacs, Shattock ripped a howitzer to the short side and over the blocker of Hoffman to make it 3-2.

Just 38 seconds later, the Wings extended to their lead to 4-2. Ludwig Blomstrand carried into the offensive zone, blasting a chance off the post, but the puck landed on the goal line, and had just enough to roll in.

Capping off a five-goal second period, Valk chipped in his second of the night. While operating on a five-minute power play opportunity, Alex Mallet found Valk, who was trailing on the play, and moved around the Mallard defender, depositing the puck into the top corner.

Quad City made a goalie change to start the third period, going with David Jacobson to replace Hoffman. Although he made several quality saves, he was unable to stop a Dane Fox laser from the high slot, off a faceoff win. With the assist, Valk earned his second four-point night of the season, to make it 6-2.

The Mallards stopped the bleeding moments later, courtesy of Miles Koules. The forward deflected a Ryan Tesink shot from the blue line, past Martin, making it 6-3 midway through the final stanza.

Attempting to mount a comeback, Quad City cut their deficit to two goals with eight minutes remaining in the period. Working on an extended power play chance, the Mallards created confusion in front of Martin's net, allowing Kevin Gibson to poke the puck over the line.

Popping in a marker with three seconds left, the Mallards made it 6-5, capping off the scoring for the night.

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ECHL Stories from January 29, 2016


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