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ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

Game Recap: Dramatic Divisional Clash Swiped by Walleye in Shootout

November 18, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


TOLEDO, OH- The Kalamazoo Wings established a three-goal lead through the first two periods, but fell victim to a furious comeback by the Toledo Walleye, as Kalamazoo dropped a 4-3 shootout decision on Friday at the Huntington Center.

Kalamazoo came out of the gates firing on all cylinders, and were rewarded for their efforts in the first two minutes of the game. Anthony Camara darted into the Toledo zone and used his speed to get to the outside, loop around the back of the goal, and dish the puck to Ben Wilson for a one-timer that zipped over the shoulder of Toledo netminder Cal Heeter. Wilson's goal was his second of the season and his most in a single season since the 2013-14 season, when he scored two goals in 31 games.

Midway through the second period and operating on their first power play effort of the game, Kalamazoo were on the receiving end of a bizarre bounce from the Huntington Center boards. After Justin Taylor dumped the puck along the left wing wall, Heeter went behind the cage to play it, but the puck ricocheted off a stanchion and skipped to the crease for an easy tap in by Lane Scheidl.

Five minutes later, Kalamazoo opened up a three-goal lead after creating traffic in front of Heeter and taking advantage of his blocked view. Eric Kattelus flung the puck towards the goal, and Tyler Shattock- who was parked in front of the goal- angled the puck into the net with a waist-high tip.

Toledo began to chip away at the Wings' lead in the first two minutes of period three after a defensive-zone turnover opened up room for Dane Walters, who fired a tape-to-tape backdoor feed to Tyler Sikura, who deposited the puck into a wide-open goal.

Two minutes and twenty five seconds later, Evan Rankin forced a turnover in the Kalamazoo zone and walked in, untouched, on Wings' goalie Nick Riopel. With time and space, Rankin stuffed the puck into an open corner and brought the Walleye to within a goal.

Completing a three-goal comeback over the first 9:24 of the third period, it was yet another giveaway that plagued Kalamazoo and let Toledo pull even. A.J. Jenks stole the puck at the blue line and wired a wrist shot that cruised through traffic and snuck over the blocker of Riopel.

With the game tied at three, it headed to overtime after neither team could produce a winner.

It was the goalies who took control during the extra session, as Riopel made four stops for Kalamazoo and Heeter fought off two Kalamazoo tries. With the three-on-three session not yielding a winner, the game went to a shootout.

Tied through the first three rounds, the shootout entered the fourth and Rankin stepped up and delivered a between-the-legs deke that gave the Walleye the edge. With a chance to tie, Tyler Shattock was denied by Heeter on his try, ending the game by a 4-3 final.

Next: Kalamazoo @ Toledo Walleye- Saturday, November 19, 7:15 p.m., Huntington Center.

Broadcast information: Saturday's game will air on AM 1660 The Fan in Kalamazoo, or online at www.1660thefan.com/listen-live.

Notes: Wilson has scored two goals in the first 14 games of the season after scoring one total goal in the past two seasons... Kalamazoo are 0-1-0-1 against Toledo this season... The Wings are 0-2 in shootouts on the season...After starting the season 5-0-0 when scoring first, Kalamazoo have dropped the last two games in which they've scored first...Camara has points in three straight games.

Stats: http://www.echl.com/game-summary?game_id13979

Single-game tickets are on sale! Tickets start as low as $10 and can be purchased at www.kwings.com/tickets/schedule or at the Wings Event Center box office.

Wings Event Center, owned and operated by Greenleaf Hospitality Group, is home to the minor league hockey team Kalamazoo Wings and a full entertainment venue offering concerts, sporting events, family shows and trade shows. Built in 1974, Wings Event Center values partnerships with the community to bring events and attractions that enrich the lives of residents in the Kalamazoo area.

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