ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

K-Wings and Komets Close Another Annual Chapter in Rivalry

Published on February 13, 2016 under ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Justin Taylor of the Kalamazoo Wings Celebrates a Goal vs. the Fort Wayne Komets
Justin Taylor of the Kalamazoo Wings Celebrates a Goal vs. the Fort Wayne Komets
(Kalamazoo Wings)

KALAMAZOO, MI- In the eighth and final meeting of the season between the two arch rivals, the Kalamazoo Wings battled until the final horn, but were held at bay and fell to the Fort Wayne Komets, 4-3, on Ladies' Heart Health Night presented by Consumers Energy with media sponsors WOOD TV 8 at Wings Event Center on Saturday.

Jumping out to the 1-0 lead, the Wings needed just seven minutes to break the game open. Ludwig Blomstrand outraced the Komets' defense to pick up a loose puck in the offensive zone, fed a drop-pass to Dane Fox, who sniped a rising wrister over the glove of Sean Bonar.

Fort Wayne answered with a goal of their own, just 5:24 later. Brett Perlini carried the puck along the left wing, and fired in an innocent-looking wrist shot that snuck past the glove of Clay Witt and tucked inside the post to even the score.

The Komets took advantage of fresh ice early in the second to earn their first lead of the night. Kyle Thomas, barreled ahead with his great speed, zipped into the offensive zone and rifled a shot to the top corner of the far-side post.

Less than two minutes later, the Komets continued to build momentum and made it a 3-1 game. Thomas' speed opened up the Wings' defense once again, allowing him to find Paul Crowder skating down the right wing boards. Crowder then found Jamie Shaafsma in the slot, who slid in a backhander through the five-hole of Witt.

Late in the middle frame, the Wings cut their deficit back to one, courtesy of a power play marker. Blomstrand took a feed from Sacha Guimond behind the Komets' net, circled around the right faceoff dot, and blasted a shot into the corner of the goal.

Despite extended pressure from the Wings, the Komets capitalized on a defensive miscue, and opened their lead back to two goals. Adam Phillips slid across the ice to break up a cross-ice feed attempt from Drew Daniels, but the loose puck landed on the tape of Garrett Meurs, who was able to hammer it past Witt.

Kalamazoo continued to battle, bringing themselves back to within a goal with just over five minutes left to play. Tyler Shattock won a puck battle along the left wing boards, and fed a pass to Lane Scheidl, who camped out in the slot. Scheidl one-timed the Shattock feed, and it was deflected in front by Justin Taylor and over the shoulder of Bonar..

With the net empty, the Wings generated numerous chances, but were unable to bury the opportunities, and dropped the game, 4-3.

Next: Kalamazoo vs. Brampton- Sunday, February 14, 4:00 p.m., Wings Event Center

Notes: Kalamazoo successfully killed off all four of the Komets' (#1 in the ECHL) power play chances. Witt made 29 saves on 33 shots. This was the final meeting of the season between the two clubs, with the Komets taking the series, 7-1-0-0. Blomstrand has 17 points in his last 11 games.

Stats: http://echl.com/stats/official-game-report.php?game_id=13305

The Kalamazoo Wings continue their weekend home stand on PINK ICE, February 14 at Wings Event Center. Sunday's Valentine's Day game features storybook princes and princesses as well as the annual Kibbles N Stix game, where fans can bring their four-legged friends for just $5.

Listen to all 72 regular season and post season games on AM 1660 The Fan in Kalamazoo, or online at www.1660thefan.com/listen-live. Live coverage begins fifteen minutes before puck drop with the Flame Tamer Pregame Show.

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 are Monday-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. Any student that shows a valid ID can get tickets for just $10.

Check out the Kalamazoo Wings Statistics

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Images from this story

Justin Taylor of the Kalamazoo Wings Celebrates a Goal vs. the Fort Wayne Komets
Justin Taylor of the Kalamazoo Wings Celebrates a Goal vs. the Fort Wayne Komets
   



ECHL Stories from February 13, 2016


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