K-Wings Top Beast in Final Game in Kalamazoo
March 17, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Brampton Beast News Release
KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN - The luck of the Irish wasn't on the side of the Brampton Beast on St. Patrick's Day as the Kalamazoo Wings scored four times in the second period en route to a 7-2 win at the Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo on Thursday night.
Steven Kaunisto and Steve Mele both lit the lamp early in the third period and Nick McParland chipped in with a pair of assists but K-Wings starting goaltender Joel Martin stopped the remainder of the 38 shots he faced to hand the Beast their seventh straight loss.
The Beast controlled the play in the opening minutes of the contest and led 5-0 on the shot clock until David Gilbert scored a power play goal at 4:31 to give Kalamazoo a 1-0 lead.
The Beast held control of the play into the first intermission and outshot the K-Wings 13-8 after the opening 20 minutes of play.
The K-Wings' Curtis Valk scored his first goal of the game just over two minutes into the second period to make it 2-0 for Kalamazoo.
Less than two minutes later, Beast defenseman Tim Billingsley took a vicious knee-on-knee hit from K-Wings forward David Gilbert. Dalton Thrower stuck up for his teammate and was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct, while Gilbert was only given two-minutes for kneeing.
The teams played solid four-on-four hockey for a full two-minutes but the K-Wings would capitalize on the subsequent power play as Justin Taylor beat Beast starting goaltender Jordan Ruby at 7:49 for a 3-0 lead.
Justin Kovacs and Curtis Valk would each light the lamp in the latter half of the second period, pushing the Kalamazoo lead to 5-0 after 40 minutes.
Kenny Reiter took over between the pipes for Brampton to start the third period and seemed to spark his team.
Just over a minute into the final period, Steven Kaunisto got the Beast on the board as he settled down a loose puck and sent a perfect wrist shot through a crowd that Beat Martin cleanly, giving Kaunisto his fifth goal of the season at 1:50.
Beast rookie Tim DiPretoro earned an assist on Kaunisto's tally, giving him his first pro point.
The Beast fed off the energy provided from Kaunisto's goal and kept their foot on the gas. Steve Mele located a loose puck in the crease and potted his second goal of the season at 2:57.
Reiter made several huge saves down the stretch for the Beast but that didn't stop the K-Wings from netting two more goals. Tanner Sorenson and Lane Scheidl both scored in the final six minutes of the third period, helping the K-Wings to victory.
Jordan Ruby and Kenny Reiter combined to make 22 saves between the pipes for Brampton, while Martin made 36 stops.
Notes: The Beast finished the game 0-for-5 on the power play and 3-for-6 on the penalty kill. Prior to the game, the Beast placed defenseman Dean Willmott on waivers. Molson Three Stars: 3) Cory Pritz 2) Justin Kovacs 1) Curtis Valk
The Beast continue their road trip tomorrow night with a trip to the Huntington Center to face the Toledo Walleye. The Beast return home to the Powerade Centre on Sunday, March 27 to host the Toledo Walleye at 2:00 PM. Single game tickets are now available, starting at $16.25. For more information or general media inquiries on the Brampton Beast please contact Chris Ballard, Public Relations Coordinator at (905) 564-1684 or cballard@bramptonbeast.com.
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