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IHL 2 Kalamazoo Wings

K-Wings Weekly

February 16, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Game Rewind Wednesday, February 11th Vs Bloomington (Kalamazoo 6-Bloomington 3) Kalamazoo, MI - The Bloomington PrairieThunder toted an 11-game unbeaten streak into Wednesday night's game at Kalamazoo, where the K-Wings boast the IHL's best home record.

In the end, Wings Stadium's home cooking trumped the league's hottest team, as Kalamazoo buried Bloomington 6-3 behind five second-period goals. The PrairieThunder looked to be well on their way to their ninth win in 12 games, but their 3-1 first period lead evaporated under an avalanche of K-Wings goals.

Glenn Detulleo paced the lightning-quick Kalamazoo attack with three points, including the game-winner, and Lucas Drake nabbed a goal and an assist. The five goals in the middle frame matched a season high for the K-Wings, who have now won three in a row at home to improve to 17-5-0-0 in the friendly confines.

The ‘Thunder suffered their first regulation loss since Jan. 16 at Muskegon and fell 12 points behind the fourth-place K-Wings in the IHL standings. Four teams qualify for the playoffs in the six-team league. Each team has 28 games remaining in the regular season.

After outscoring Kalamazoo 6-4 in Sunday's tilt, Bloomington continued its slick shooting in the first period Wednesday. Bill Bagron (5th) swooped into the slot from the right-wing boards and ripped one high over Joel Martin's glove to open the scoring at 5:03.

Fifty-two seconds later, Kalamazoo's Drake (17th) showed off his booming shot, slapping one by Jason Wolfe from 30 feet away following a Bloomington turnover.

The tie wouldn't even last three minutes, though. With Rob Jarvis serving a holding penalty, Marty Standish found an open Brett Holmberg (18th) in front of the goal for a 2-1 PrairieThunder lead.

It would become a two-goal bulge at 11:27, as Jon Booras (27th) completed a Bloomington two-on-one rush by sliding the puck into the right side of the net. Henry Kuster was the catalyst during the odd-man break, as his cross rink pass for Booras was on time and perfectly placed. At that point the ‘Thunder had their three tallies on only five shots, and they would be outshot in the period 17-9 despite carrying a 3-1 lead to the locker room.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the opening frame was the PrairieThunder getting a power-play goal, since their PP unit is last in the IHL. Coincidentally, it would be the K-Wings' sputtering power play that would trigger their comeback.

Anthony Battaglia (12th) was the beneficiary of a good bounce at 9:26 when his centering pass for Blair Manning deflected off Wolfe's goal stick and over his shoulder into the goal. That bit of good luck seemed to tilt the ice in Kalamazoo's favor, as Justin Cross (3rd) tipped in the equalizer a little more than a minute later.

With the ‘Thunder suddenly shell-shocked, the K-Wings continued to pour it on. The top line of Detulleo, Drake and Justin DePretis dictated play in the Bloomington end until Detulleo grabbed a rebound in the crease and hoisted it over a prone Wolfe to push the home side on top for the first time.

To the delight of the Wings Stadium crowd, Kalamazoo still wasn't done in the second. Goals from Manning (7th at 17:37) off a sweet setup from Battaglia and Justin Little (2nd at 17:46) pushed the margin to 6-3 heading into the final 20 minutes of play.

Bloomington head coach Jarrod Skalde elected to switch goaltenders for the third, inserting Ryan Ludzik to handle the rest of the game and putting Wolfe on the bench. The PrairieThunder launched 15 shots in the third with the help of three power plays, but could get no closer, ending their franchise record 11-game unbeaten run.

Martin improved his record to 12-7-0-0 by turning away the final 21 Bloomington shots.

Friday, February 13th @ Fort Wayne (Kalamazoo 4 -Fort Wayne 3-Shootout) Fort Wayne, IN - Penalty killing was huge for the Kalamazoo Wings. The K-Wings killed off all 10 power-play chances they faced and even scored shorthanded en route to a 4-3 shootout victory over the Fort Wayne Komets.

With each team receiving three power-play chances in the opening period, it would only be natural to suspect a special team's goal would ensue. Unfortunately for the Komets, it wasn't a man-advantage tally, but a shorthander for the K-Wings that broke the tie.

Poking the puck away in the neutral zone, Rick Cleaver skated up the left wing side and passed the puck in front to Bryan Jurynec (4th), who deflected it past Nick Boucher 17:13 into the first.

The goal was the K-Wings seventh recorded shorthanded this season and the fourth they have scored killing a penalty against the Komets.

Extending their lead 23 seconds into the second, Tommy Lange (16th) walked around the Komets defense and scored on a wrister. The lamp-lighter from Lange ties him with Cleaver for the league-lead for goals scored by a rookie.

Answering back midway in the stanza, Mathieu Curadeau (18th) registered the Komets' first goal of the night on a right-circle wrap-around.

Reclaiming their two-goal cushion nearly two minutes later, Anthony Battaglia (13th), with assistance from a quick tip pass from Justin Cross, beat Boucher with a wrist shot from the slot to give the K-Wings a 3-1 advantage.

Fort Wayne brought the deficit back to a single-goal with just over four minutes remaining in the period with a rebound tally from Rick Varone (14th).

Despite having over 12 minutes (6 opportunities) in power-play time in the third period, the Komets lone goal in the frame occurred even strength. Konstantin Shafronov capped off a three-point (1 goal, 2 assists) night tying the game with his 15th goal of the season.

In the shootout, Lange and Cross each scored for Kalamazoo, as the K-Wings outscored the Komets 2-1 to earn the win.

The victory by Kalamazoo gave them 58 points and created a three-way tie with Fort Wayne and Muskegon for second place in the league.

Earning their sixth shootout victory, Kalamazoo is now 10-0 in games that end in either overtime or shootouts and are 4-0 versus the Komets in extra session contests, including three via the shootout.

Saturday, February 14th Vs Port Huron (Kalamazoo 5-Port Huron 4-Overtime) Kalamazoo, MI - While most men gave their significant-other flowers on Valentine's Day, Lucas Drake gave the Wings Stadium sellout crowd of 5,413 a pair of goals, including the overtime game-winner, guiding the Kalamazoo Wings to a 5-4 victory over the Port Huron Icehawks.

The Icehawks and K-Wings traded penalties early in the period before each team capitalized on the power-play opportunity. A blast from Daniel Tetrault (7th) on the five-on-three put Port Huron up 1-0.

Mark Nebus (23rd) answered back, flipping a rebound past goaltender Ryan Mior, giving the K-Wings a power-play tally of their own and knotting the game up 1-1.

Finishing the opening period strong, the Icehawks opened up a two-goal lead receiving tallies from Derek Patrosso (10th) and Tab Lardner (25th).

Customary with the K-Wings' Pink Ice Game, the K-Wings hosted the largest wedding in southwest Michigan during the first period intermission. Tying the knot this year were Chrystal Compton and Corey Fowler of Battle Creek, Michigan. Besides receiving the largest wedding in Kalamazoo, the couple received a night's stay at the Radisson, flowers for the wedding courtesy of Meijer and Heirloom Rose, a limousine by Starlight Tours and Travel and a wedding cake by Boonzaaijer Bakery. The second period turned in Kalamazoo's favor after Bryan Jurynec and Jason Selleke faced off at center ice just ten seconds into the period for a hard hitting showdown.

Defenseman John Glavota (4th) pulled the K-Wings to within one with a slap shot from the point that beat Mior over his glove hand.

Kalamazoo tied the game up when Drake (18th) had a clear path to the Icehawk goaltender. Drake's goal not only tied the game at three but also was Drake's 100th career goal.

Earning their first lead of the contest, Anthony Battaglia (14th) found a loose puck in front the Icehawk net and flung in a backhander midway into the third.

With less than four minutes remaining in regulation, Nick Lindberg (20th) scored the equalizer with a backhander of his own. Assisting on the goal was Lardner, who finished the game with four points (1 goal, 3 assists).

In overtime, an innocent dump-in from Jordan Little proved deadly for Port Huron, as the puck hit off the end wall and bound right to the stick of Drake, who netted his team-leading second overtime game-winner of the season.

With the overtime finish, the K-Wings were an incredible 10-0 in extra session finishes (5-0 in overtime and 6-0 in shootouts).

The win also extended the K-Wings home winning streak to four games and their pink ice win streak to six games.

The crowd of 5,413 was the largest crowd at Wings Stadium this season and the largest ever to witness a Pink Ice Game. It was also the first sellout for the K-Wings since March 17, 2007, when Kalamazoo defeated Port Huron 10-2.

Saturday's contest was also the 1,000th professional regular season game in the career of K-Wings' Equipment Manager, Eric Bechtol. Bechtol, who's in his fourth season with the K-Wings, spent nine seasons with the St. Louis Blues as there Assistant Equipment Manager. Besides working with the Blues, Bechtol has also worked in the Central Hockey League with Fort Worth Fire, which was coached by former K-Wings Head Coach Bill McDonald.

Sunday, February 15th Vs Fort Wayne (Fort Wayne 5-Kalamazoo 4-Overtime) Kalamazoo, MI - In a season that has featured more than its share of late-game drama, the most thrilling moment couldn't occur in a loss, could it?

That's just what happened at Wings Stadium Sunday afternoon, as Rick Cleaver's (18th) show-stopping tying goal with one-tenth of a second remaining was topped by Mathieu Curadeau's (20th) game-winner at 3:33 of overtime, boosting the Fort Wayne Komets to a 5-4 road victory.

The loss was the Kalamazoo Wings' first in 12 games that had gone beyond regulation. They had been the only team left in professional hockey still undefeated in overtime and the shootout. The Komets are now 3-10 when forced to play extra hockey.

Curadeau's sudden-death tally was his second of the game and occurred at the end of a long shift for the Kalamazoo Wings. Curadeau scooped up a loose puck at center ice, carried the mail directly to the goal and deked goalie Jason Tapp before dumping it in on the short side.

Cleaver, who had two goals and an assist to his credit, moved into the lead by himself on the IHL rookie goal-scoring list with 18. Mark Nebus added a goal and a helper for Kalamazoo.

The K-Wings trailed 4-2 with under four minutes left when Lucas Drake (20th) stuffed a Justin Cross goalmouth feed into the net to make things interesting. Cleaver then pounded the rebound of a Drake shot past Fort Wayne goaltender Sebastien Laplante to send the crowd into bedlam and the Komets into disbelief.

The Kalamazoo faithful had just settled into their seats when Fort Wayne dented the scoreboard first. Sean O'Conner (13th) provided the buzzkill, and threw a wrist shot from the left side over Tapp's left pad for a 1-0 lead at 22 seconds in the first. Rick Varone earned the lone assist on the play.

Leading by one, the Komets would trail by one just over three minutes later. Goals 1:18 apart by Nebus (24th) and Cleaver (17th) tilted the ice in favor of the K-Wings. Tommy Lange set up the Nebus marker with a smooth dish from behind the net, then Anthony Battaglia froze the Komets with a fake slapshot before assisting on Cleaver's five-on-three tally.

Fort Wayne was able to push right back, however. Maxime Gravelle (4th) poked in his own rebound from in front of the goal to forge a 2-2 tie at first intermission.

The Komets, who enjoyed a rare Saturday off prior to traveling to Kalamazoo, looked to be the fresher team in the middle frame. The third-ranked power play in the IHL struck for the tiebreaking goal at 7:28 when Rick Varone (15th) tipped in a Jay Holladay blast.

The K-Wings hoped to escape the period down only one, but the Komets had other ideas and doubled their lead in the closing minutes of the frame. A sharp neutral-zone feed from David Hukalo sent Konstantin Shafranov and Curadeau on a two-on-one rush which was neatly finished by Curadeau (19th) for a 4-2 score through 40 minutes.

Fast Forward With a lighter playing schedule for the first time in weeks Kalamazoo will head into the weekend looking at only two games on the schedule. The K-Wings will take on the Muskegon Lumberjacks, February 20th with a 7:30 p.m. face-off. This is the first meeting between the two teams in three weeks. The K-Wings will be looking to avenge their last meeting against Muskegon at Wings Stadium on January 30th when they were shutout by the ‘Jacks 5-0. With a record of 3-5-0-0, Kalamazoo trails the season series against Muskegon. The Lumberjacks enter the night in second place, just one point ahead of the K-Wings who are in third place.

The K-Wings will look to continue their winning ways in Fort Wayne on Saturday, February 21st. Kalamazoo has a record of 3-1-0-0 in their last four games at Allen County Memorial Coliseum, including their last victory on Friday, February 13th when the K-Wings defeated the Komets in a 5-4 shootout victory. The last two meetings between Fort Wayne and Kalamazoo have resulted in victories for each team in the extra session. The Komets are currently in fourth place trailing the K-Wings by one point for third.

Team Leaders: Kalamazoo Wings Goals: Mark Nebus (24 Goals)

Assists: Glenn Detulleo (38 Assists) Points: Glenn Detulleo (57 Points) +/-: Lucas Drake (+19)

Penalty Minutes: Bryan Jurynec (108 Minutes) Power Play Goals: Mark Nebus (6 Goals)

Short Handed Goals: Anthony Battaglia, Glenn Detulleo (2 Goals)

Game Winning Goals: Glenn Detulleo (5 GW)

Shots: Tommy Lange (171 Shots)

Shooting Percentage: Blair Manning, Tyler Willis (17.1%) Overtime Goals: Lucas Drake (2 Goals)

Shootout Goals: Anthony Battaglia (4 Goals)

Shootout Percentage: Justin Cross (100%)

Goals Against Average: Joel Martin (2.75) Save Percentage: Joel Martin (0.919)

Nearing 400 Defenseman John Glavota is closing in a personal milestone. Glavota is one game shy of 400 in his career.

Rolling Right Along Forward Mark Nebus continues to have the scoring touch for the K-Wings. Nebus had two goals in his last two games. With his 24 goals, he is now ranked 6th in goals scored overall in the league.

All You Need is Love The K-Wings love playing on pink ice. With their 5-4 overtime victory over the Port Huron Icehawks on Saturday, February 14th Kalamazoo extended their winning streak on the painted pink surface to six games, their last loss coming against Adirondack in 2003.

Manning Nears 800 Forward Blair Manning is getting ready to eclipse an impressive milestone. Manning is just two assists away from reaching the 800-point plateau mark in his career.

The Obscure Stat of the Week With a crowd of 5,413, the K-Wings earned their first sellout of the season last Saturday during the 9th Annual Pink Ice Game versus the Port Huron Icehawks. Before Saturday, the K-Wings last sellout at Wings Stadium was March 17, 2007 against the Port Huron Flags.

Tickets! Get Your Tickets!! Tickets for all K-Wings home games are now on sale. Catch all the action as your K-Wings play the very best the IHL has to offer. Tickets are on sale now by calling the Wings Stadium Ticket Office at (269) 345-5101.

Get On-Line This season, the best way to keep track of the K-Wings is to log onto www.kwings.com. The site has player profiles, information about Wings Stadium events, and much, much more.

DePretis and Nebus on the Radio Join special guests Justin DePretis and Mark Nebus as they join Head Coach Nick Bootland and the "Voice of the K-Wings" Mike Modugno on "K-Wings Live". The show is on The Classic Hits Station WLKM (95.9 FM) and online through the B-2 Networks through www.kwings.com from 7-8 p.m. at Old Burdick's Bar and Grill inside the Holiday Inn Kalamazoo on South 11th Street.

K-Wings on Radio Catch all the K-Wings games, home and away, on the K-Wings Radio Network (95.9 FM WLKM & B-2 Networks on kwings.com). Join the "Voice of the K-Wings" Mike Modugno for all 76 regular season games plus the playoffs. Pre-game coverage begins with the Kalsee Credit Union Pre-Game Show 15 minutes prior to face-off. For the most complete coverage of the K-Wings from the opening face-off to the final buzzer, keep your radio tuned this season to the K-Wings Radio Network.

Upcoming Games

Friday, February 20th Vs Muskegon 7:30 PM (U.S. Army Night, Presented by WRKR)

Saturday, February 21st @ Fort Wayne 7:30 PM

Wednesday, February 25th Vs Port Huron 10:30 AM (Education Day)

Friday, February 27th Vs Muskegon 7:30 PM (Exteriors of Kalamazoo Night)

Check out the Kalamazoo Wings Statistics



International Hockey League 2 Stories from February 16, 2009


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