IceMen Score Season High Seven Goals to Destroy Wings

February 21, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Evansville IceMen News Release


KALAMAZOO, Mich.- The Evansville IceMen, presented by Coors Light, scored a season-high seven goals to clip the Kalamazoo Wings in a 7-3 victory. Seven IceMen players posted multipoint games as Evansville claimed its largest win of the season.

Jarret Lukin and Troy Rutkowski led all scorers with three points. Each player finished with a goal and two assists. The three point game was a career best for Rutkowski as the IceMen scored five unanswered goals to knock off the Wings and snag their first win in February.

Evansville jumped on the Wings early. Mark Anthoine made a cross-ice feed that found Rutkowski charging into the offensive zone. Rutkowski blasted a shot that zipped underneath the cross bar. Travis Granbois earned the second assist on Rutkowski's sixth of the season that gave the IceMen a 1-0 lead just over three minutes into the game.

The Wings answered with a pair of goals. Tallies from Michael Neal and Dane Fox gave Kalamazoo a 2-1 lead late in the first period.

With less than five minutes to go in the opening frame. Rutkowski sent a pass down the ice to Colin Murray. The former Wing maneuvered around a Kalamazoo defender and potted a shot through the five-hole to knot the game at two entering the first intermission. Murray's strike gives him 10 goals on the season.

In the second period, the IceMen took control. On a power play, Jarret Lukin dealt a pass to Robin Soudek in the high slot. Soudek torched in a slap shot to give the IceMen a 3-2 lead. Brandon Wong picked up an assist on Soudek's team high 17th of the season.

As the clock ticked under the three-minute mark in the second period, Zack Currie rifled in a shot from the blue line to push the IceMen lead to 4-2. Lukin and Rutkowski added the helpers on Currie's fourth of the year. The IceMen held a two-goal lead after two.

Evansville continued to roll in the third. Daniel Johnston found Lukin at the side of the net. Lukin banged it past Joel Martin to give the IceMen a 5-2 lead. Lukin's 10th of the year came on a power play. Wong picked up his team leading 39th point of the season with an assist on Lukin's goal.

Just 70 seconds later, the IceMen found the back of the net again. Thomas Frazee took a shot that bounced off of a Wing defender and onto the stick of Peter Sakaris. Sakaris slammed in his seventh of the season to make it a four-goal IceMen lead. Granbois earned his second point of the night with an assist on the play that pushed the Evansville advantage to 6-2.

After a Kalamazoo goal, the Wings pulled Martin. Mark Anthoine rocketed a shot into the empty net to clinch a 7-3 win for the IceMen. Brandon Martell picked up an assist on Anthoine's fourth of the year.

Branden Komm pick earned his first win with the IceMen by making 28 saves on 31 shots. Komm also collected his first professional point by adding a helper on Anthoine's empty netter.

The IceMen will wrap up their season long seven game road trip with a visit to Fort Wayne to face off with the rival Komets on Wednesday night. Puck drop is set for 6:30 p.m. Central time.

Fans can enjoy that game live at Bar Louie, the Official Watch Party Destination of the Evansville IceMen. Saturday's game will also be available on ESPN Evansville 105.3, ESPNevansville.com and ECHL TV.

Evansville will return home to the Ford Center after three weeks away from home with a game against the Cincinnati Cyclones on Feb. 28. Season ticket holders will get to enjoy a post-game skate. Plus it will be Hockey Across America Night so wear your favorite IceMen jersey to the game.

Fans Get the 3-2-1 Countdown to Playoffs Pack: 3- games of your choice 2- tickets per game 1- IceMen t-shirt

Plus receive one entry per pack purchase to win a team autographed stick, Playoff Priority Pricing, and be eligible for early renewal for the 2015-2016 season. Packs start at just $60.

Single game tickets are on sale now for all games including the IceMen's Feb, 28 game against Cincinnati at the Ford Center Box Office Monday through Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and after noon on weekend game days. 2015-16 season tickets are on sale now. Plans start at just $10 per ticket. Call an IceMen ticket executive at 812-421-GOAL to get your discounted season and group packages.



ECHL Stories from February 21, 2015


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