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IHL 2 Kalamazoo Wings

K-Wings Weekly

April 27, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Game Rewind Wednesday, April 22nd Vs Fort Wayne (Turner Cup Semi-Finals Game 4: Kalamazoo 2-Fort Wayne 0)

Kalamazoo, MI - Entering Wednesday's Game Four, Kalamazoo Wings goaltender Joel Martin hadn't seen game action since the opener of the Turner Cup Semi-Final series between the K-Wings and the top-seeded Fort Wayne Komets.

Judging from his play upon reclaiming his spot in the blue paint, he was certainly more rested than rusted.

Martin turned away the Komets 51 times on his way to earning the first shutout of the Turner Cup Playoffs, 2-0 at Wings Stadium to even the series at two games apiece. Kalamazoo was outshot 19-3 in the third period but was able to fend off the swarming Komets thanks to the confident stand-up style goaltending of Martin.

Martin's turning in of the 10th playoff shutout in the K-Wings' IHL history forced Fort Wayne netminder Nick Boucher to take a back seat to his counterpart for the first time in this series. Boucher had surrendered only five goals in three games, but the two he let in Wednesday proved to be enough for Kalamazoo to reduce the series to a best-of-three.

As it was the entire 60 minutes, the dominant storyline of the first period was the shield-like Martin. The K-Wings starter in Game One of the series got a second crack at solving the Komets and was finely tuned in the opening frame, calmly deflecting away 19 shots to keep the game scoreless.

Martin held his perfect form through the second period as well, and this time the K-Wings' offense responded to their goalie's hot play. Fort Wayne had outscored Kalamazoo 6-0 in the middle frame entering Wednesday's Game Four, but the trend was reversed when John Glavota and Justin Cross each registered their first goals of the postseason 1:34 apart.

Exactly seven minutes into the second, Glavota netted his tally from the inner edge of the left circle after a poised centering feed from Glenn Detulleo while the K-Wings enjoyed their second power play.

Cross followed with a wicked wrist shot from just above the right edge of the crease at 8:34 to put the home team up two. Trent Daavettila drew two Komets behind the net before finding Cross open to Boucher's right.

Friday, April 24th @ Fort Wayne (Turner Cup Semi-Finals Game 5: Fort Wayne 3- Kalamazoo 2-OT)

Fort Wayne, IN - For the second time in this series, the Kalamazoo Wings and Fort Wayne Komets would need overtime to settle their differences; however, unlike game two's double-overtime thriller, the Komets' Justin Hodgman spoiled the K-Wings party by netting the game-winner to give Fort Wayne a 3-2 victory and a three games to two lead in the best-of-seven Turner Cup Semi-Final series.

In the previous four games of the series, the two teams have only been able to muster a goal each. Friday's game five would be no different, as both teams were held at bay. Fort Wayne out-shot the K-Wings in the period 14-6 and both teams went 0-for-1 on the power-play.

After struggling with the man-advantage in the first, Kalamazoo and Fort Wayne found success in the second, as all four goals in the period were created because of infractions.

While not a power-play, Kalamazoo did capitalize on a four-on-four, as Tommy Lange left a drop pass to Rob Jarvis, who buried his first pro playoff tally 2:12 into the second.

Fort Wayne pulled back to even midway in the period with a power-play marker from Mathieu Curadeau. The goal was Curadeau's team-leading third of the playoffs.

Just over two minutes later, Lucas Drake regained the lead for Kalamazoo registering his team-leading third of the post-season, all with a man-advantage.

One-timing the equalizer, Curadeau (4th) tied the contest at two 15:05 into the period with this second power-play tally of the night.

Kalamazoo went 1-for-1 on the power-play in the second, while Fort Wayne was 2-for-2.

No scoring in the third period would force overtime. In the extra session, last season's playoff MVP, Hodgman (3rd) spun a slap shot off the skate of a K-Wing and beat Joel Martin to win the game for the Komets.

Martin made 49 saves in defeat, while Nick Boucher knocked aside 19 to earn his third victory of the post-season.

Saturday, April 25th Vs Fort Wayne (Turner Cup Semi-Finals Game 6: Fort Wayne 5-Kalamazoo 3)

Kalamazoo, MI - A three-goal third period authored by the Fort Wayne Komets closed the book on the Kalamazoo Wings' 2008-09 season, as southwest Michigan's favorites fell 5-3 at home Saturday night in Game Six of a Turner Cup Semi-Final series.

The K-Wings carried a 3-2 lead into the third after Mark Nebus netted his second playoff goal late in the second frame. However, the Komets quickly reversed their fortunes with goals 1:30 apart by Justin Hodgman (4th) and Leo Thomas, his second of the contest, to surge ahead 4-3. David Hukalo (3rd) tacked on an insurance marker late to provide the final margin.

Hodgman's game-tying goal came on the power play from along the goal line, and Thomas registered his game winner on a shorthanded breakaway at 2:39. Kalamazoo goalie Joel Martin later stoned Hodgman on a breakaway of his own to give the K-Wings a chance to rally back. Martin finished a heroic postseason run with 27 saves in Game Six, giving him a remarkable 127 stops in the final three tilts of the year.

First periods in the series had been rather uneventful, with only two goals scored total coming into Game Six, but the opening 20 minutes Saturday broke the trend decisively. The K-Wings had the first offensive thrust, with Justin Cross (1st) banging in a Lucas Drake rebound during a 5-on-3 power play at 8:04.

Tommy Lange (1st) followed just past the period's midpoint with a spectacular individual play, breaking in alone on Nick Boucher and stashing the puck under the Fort Wayne goaltender to make it 2-0. Shea Hamilton gave Lange the necessary space with a well-timed hit at the Kalamazoo blue line just moments prior to the goal.

The Komets then got their power play revved up, converting just nine seconds into their second opportunity courtesy of Thomas (1st) on the doorstep at 13:22. The K-Wings were still poised to carry a one-goal lead into the intermission, but Brad MacMillan's second of the playoffs in the final second of the frame got the Komets back on even terms.

The second period resembled a fencing match, with both clubs trading chances, hits and penalties, leading to three power-play chances for each side. Despite all the special teams play, the K-Wings grabbed their second lead of the game five seconds after a penalty to Komets captain Guy Dupuis.

Kalamazoo defenseman Chris Trick chased down a dump-in near the right corner, then turned to center the puck all in one motion. The pass found the stick blade of Nebus (2nd), who deposited a precise one-timer into the upper right corner of the net for a 3-2 lead at 14:23.

Fast Forward

The K-Wings will commence the 2009-2010 season in October. Season tickets for next year are currently available at the Wings Stadium Ticket Office. For more information give them a call at (269) 345-5101.

Team Playoff Leaders: Kalamazoo Wings

Goals: Lucas Drake (3 Goals)

Assists: Dominic Osman, Chris Trick (3 Assists)

Points: Justin Cross, Lucas Drake, Mark Nebus (4 Points)

+/-: Chris Trick (+4)

Penalty Minutes: Blair Stayzer (20 Minutes)

Power Play Goals: Lucas Drake (3 Goals)

Short Handed Goals: Entire Team (0 Goals)

Game Winning Goals: John Glavota, Mark Nebus (1 GW)

Shots: Rick Cleaver (26 Shots)

Shooting Percentage: John Glavota (20.0%)

Overtime Goals Mark Nebus (1 Goal)

Goals Against Average: Joel Martin, Jason Tapp (2.71)

Save Percentage: Joel Martin (0.936)

Finishing at Three

Three K-Wings players ended the post-season on point streaks. K-Wing forwards Justin Cross, Mark Nebus and defenseman Rob Jarvis each finished the playoffs on a K-Wings' playoff-high three-game point streak.

Consistent Between the Pipes

The best goaltender tandem during the regular season, Kalamazoo's Joel Martin and Jason Tapp kept their stellar play in the playoffs. Martin and Tapp are tied for second among playoff goaltenders with a 2.71 goals against average.

Minor Burden

Kalamazoo spent a fair amount of time in the penalty box in the Turner Cup Semi-Finals. The K-Wings had 43 minor penalties, which ties them with the Muskegon Lumberjacks for the most in the post-season.

Shake ‘N' Drake

Forward Lucas Drake scored three goals in the playoffs, all of which were on the power-play. The three man-advantage tallies places Drake in second with behind Fort Wayne's Mathieu Curadeau (4) for most power-play goals in the playoffs.

The Obscure Stat of the Week

In the K-Wings' 35-year history, when a series has ended at Wings Stadium it usually hasn't ended well for the home team. Saturday was the 16th time a series concluded at Wings Stadium, with the K-Wings falling in 10 of them.

Tickets! Get Your Tickets!!

Season tickets for all K-Wings 2009-2010 season 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

During the off-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.

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.

K-Wings Live

Join special guests General Manager Wade Welsh and Head Coach Nick Bootland as they join the "Voice of the K-Wings" Mike Modugno on the final edition of "K-Wings Live" tonight. 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.

Check out the Kalamazoo Wings Statistics



International Hockey League 2 Stories from April 27, 2009


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