ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

K-Wings Weekly

Published on April 12, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Game Rewind

Tuesday, April 6th Vs Reading (Kalamazoo 6-Reading 5-Overtime)

Kalamazoo, MI- For the Kalamazoo Wings it had to feel like dé(c)jé vu. Using a similar script from their first home game of the season, the K-Wings defeated the Reading Royals 6-5 in overtime to take a one-game to none lead in the best-of-five American Conference Quarterfinal series.

On October 24th, in their first ever ECHL home game, it was Mathieu Curadeau that scored in overtime to secure the victory 2:05 into the extra session to lead the K-Wings over the Royals.

On Tuesday, Curadeau (1st) needed 2:08 into the overtime to rekindle a similar result.

A quick flowing opening period benefited no one for the first two-thirds of the period. Reading broke the gridlock late in the stanza with a goal from Yannick Riendeau (1st). Finding an opening on the far post, Riendeau was able to knock in a cross rink pass from Scott Langdon.

A high-octane second period generated a combined seven goals between to the two teams. Riendeau (2nd) earned his second of the night his wrist shot was stopped by Ryan Nie; however, when the loose puck trickled behind Nie, the K-Wings accidentally swiped it into their own net.

Storming back 6:36 into the period, Sam Ftorek (1st) rifled a slap shot from atop of the right circle placing the K-Wings on a scoreboard.

Killing off a penalty, Trent Daavettila poked the puck free to the tape Andrew Fournier. Able to slide by the defense, Fournier (2nd) used a deke and beat Matt Dalton to tie the game at 2-2.

Regaining the lead midway into the second period, Ryan Cruthers (1st), as his team's power-play was elapsing, flung a slap shot off a K-Wings and into the net.

Bounding back later in the stanza, Fournier won a draw in the Royals zone and sent it quickly to Daavettila (1st), who earned his third point of the night an a backhanded tally.

Keeping the see-saw match-up going, Stefano Giliati (1st) pushed the Royals back ahead scoring on a give-and-go marker from Daniel Steiner.

With less than two minutes remaining in the second period, Kalamazoo pulled even for the third time in the contest with a goal from Rick Cleaver (1st).

The K-Wings took their first lead of the night early in the third period with a lamp-lighter from Ben Simon (1st), who was playing in his first game with Kalamazoo since December 30th. Since January 1st, Simon has been on loan to the American Hockey League's Toronto Marlies.

Reading erased the one-goal deficit and eventually forced overtime with a power-play marker midway in the period from Steiner.

Playing the second-most overtime/shootout games (20) in the ECHL during the regular season, Kalamazoo's overtime finish was the first in the league during this season's Kelly Cup playoffs.

Wednesday, April 7th Vs Reading (Reading 4-Kalamazoo 1)

Kalamazoo, MI- The best-of-five American Conference Quarterfinals between the Kalamazoo Wings is now a best-of-three, thanks to the Reading Royals 4-1 victory Wednesday night at Wings Stadium.

Down one-nothing in the series, Reading wasted no time in the game two. After a Aaron Brocklehurst shot hit off the pipe, Olivier Labelle (1st) was able to slide it over the goal line for a power-play goal 2:10 into the first period.

In similar fashion to their first goal, Reading swarmed the net 15:10 into the period. Forward Marc Cavosie (1st) found the puck loose in front and jammed it past Ryan Nie to extend the Royals lead to 2-0.

On a power-play in the second period, Reading's Daniel Steiner (2nd) sent a slap shot off the post and into the next to push the Royals ahead 3-0.

Late in the second, Todd Perry sent a slap shot through a wall of three players. Perry's shot was deflected by Labelle (2nd) for his second goal of the night.

Down 4-0 heading into the third period, Nie was pulled for Riley Gill, who made six saves on six shots in relief. Nie had 13 saves in 40 minutes.

Kalamazoo earned their lone goal of the night off the stick of Ben Simon, who now has two goals in the playoffs.

The K-Wings went 0-for-5 on the power-play and are 0-for-8 in the series, while the Royals went 2-for-5 for the game with the man-advantage and are 3-for-19 in the series.

Friday, April 9th @ Reading (Reading 5-Kalamazoo 2)

Reading, PA- The Reading Royals exploded for three goals in the first period and ever looked back, as they defeated the Kalamazoo Wings 5-2 in game three and in the process took a two games to one lead in the best-of-five American Conference Quarterfinals.

Starting quickly, Yannick Riendeau (2nd) put the Royals on the board 2:01 into the game with a wrist shot from the left circle.

Reading followed the goal from Riendeau with tally from Ryan Cruthers. The goal was Cruthers third of the playoffs and his eighth postseason goal, both team highs.

Following the goal, the K-Wings pulled goaltender Ryan Nie and replaced him with Riley Gill. Nie exited the game making 2 saves on four shots.

Killing off the first part of a 5-on-3 power-play, Kalamazoo wasn't able to stop Reading from answering the second half. Stefano Giliati (2nd) extended the Royals lead to 3-0, putting in a rebound slap shot from the right circle.

Special teams helped the K-Wings get back into the game in the second period. A roll reversal from game one where Andrew Fournier scored shorthanded with an assist from Trent Daavettila, this time it was Daavettila (2nd) that snuck in front of the Royals net and was the recipient of a Fournier pass that led to a shorthanded marker.

Pulling to within a single goal later in the period, Dean Strong (1st) scored on the K-Wings first power-play of the night, which snapped a 0-for-8 playoff drought with a man-advantage for Kalamazoo.

Putting the wind out of the K-Wings sails, Giliati (3rd) tacked on his second of the night to put the game out of reach.

Marc Carvosie (2nd) added an empty-netter with less than a minute remaining in the secure the three-goal Royals victory.

Matt Dalton (2-1) saved 42 shots for his second victory of the postseason. In relief, Gill (0-1) stopped 32 saves for the lost.

Sunday, April 11th @ Reading (Kalamazoo 4-Reading 3-Overtime)

Reading, PA- Saving his best for last Mathieu Curadeau kept the Kalamazoo Wings postseason hopes alive scoring twice to force overtime and then again in the extra session to lead the K-Wings past the Reading Royals 4-3. The victory evens the series at two games a piece.

Entering Sunday evening, the K-Wings were outscored 6-0 in the first period against the Royals in the first three games of the series. On Sunday, Kalamazoo continued their first period struggles, surrendering two goals in the opening 20 minutes of play.

For the third-time in four games, the opening goal of the contest would come off the stick of Yannick Riendeau (3rd), this time on a wrap-around 4:09 into the period.

Reading extended their lead later in the period, when Olivier Labelle (3rd) deflected a Ryan Cruthers shot past K-Wings goaltender Riley Gill.

Early in the second period, Labelle followed up his own shot with a rebound marker 2:54 into the period. The goal was Labelle's team-leading fourth of the playoffs. Also earning a point on the goal was Cruthers, who received his league-leading 10th point of the playoffs on a secondary assist.

Less than two minutes later, Kalamazoo rung up their first goal of the night, when Dean Strong won a face-off back to Mitch Versteeg. Shooting from the point, Versteeg's blast was deflected by Brian McGuirk (1st) over the shoulder of Matt Dalton.

With their season waiting the in the balance, Kalamazoo climbed back to within a single-goal on a tally from Trent Daavettila. The goal was Daavettila's team-leading third of the playoffs and team-leading fifth of the post-season.

Floating the puck up ice, Versteeg, found Sam Ftorek at the Reading blue line, creating a three-on two, Ftorek send a quick pass to Andrew Fournier, who found Daavettila open for the goal.

Trailing 3-2 with less than 40 seconds left and with an empty-net, the K-Wings pulled even with an equalizer from Curadeau (2nd). The puck loose in front, Curadeau battled for the rebound to net his second of the playoffs, which forced overtime.

With their backs against the wall, Curadeau looked off a pass and skated into the slot. Finding open space in the slot, Curadeau raced to the open ice and fired the game-winner 2:51 into overtime.

Curadeau, who now has three goals in the postseason, has recorded a game-tying and two overtime game-winners in his year's playoffs.

In his first playoff start, Gill (1-1) stopped 36 shots for the victory, while Dalton (2-2) saved 41 in defeat.

Fast Forward

It's win or go home, as the K-Wings battle the Royals in a decisive game five of the best-of five series at 7:05 p.m. tonight, Monday April 12th at Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. The winner of the K-Wings-Royals series will play the Florida Everblades in the American Conference Semi-Finals later this week.

Team Playoff Leaders: Kalamazoo Wings

Goals: Mathieu Curadeau, Trent Daavettila (3 Goals)

Assists: Andrew Fournier (4 Assists)

Points: Mathieu Curadeau, Trent Daavettila, Andrew Fournier (5 Points)

+/-: Andrew Fournier (+3)

Penalty Minutes: Darryl Lloyd (14 Minutes)

Power Play Goals: Dean Strong (1 Goal)

Short Handed Goals: Trent Daavettila, Andrew Fournier (1 Goal)

Game Winning Goals: Mathieu Curadeau (2 GW)

Shots: Sam Ftorek (21 Shots)

Shooting Percentage: Ben Simon (50.0%)

Overtime Goals: Mathieu Curadeau (2 Goals)

Goals Against Average: Riley Gill (2.40)

Save Percentage: Riley Gill (0.938)

Clutch Performer

Forward Mathieu Curadeau has recorded three goals in the playoffs and all of them have been timely. Curadeau has two overtime game-winners and a game-tying goal with 38 seconds remaining in the third.

Turning Them Aside

Rookie goaltender Riley Gill has been solid between the pipes for the K-Wings. With 75 saves on 80 shots, Gill ranks second in the playoffs with a save percentage of 0.938.

A Duo at Two

With a goal in game four, forward Trent Daavettila has recorded goals in back-to-back games for the K-Wings. The two-goal streak ties Daavettila with Ben Simon for the longest goal streak by a member of the K-Wings in the postseason.

Facing Elimination

In their 36-year history, the K-Wings are 16-21 (IHL: 9-18, UHL: 6-3, ECHL 1-0) in elimination games In their five previous playoff appearances, which dates back to the 2003-04 season, the K-Wings are 7-4 in contests with their season hangs in the balance.

The Obscure Stat of the Week

The K-Wings have had trouble scoring goals early in playoff games. Kalamazoo's earliest playoff goal was recorded 4:35 into the second period in game four of the American Conference Quarterfinals.

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 ECHL 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.

K-Wings Live

Join Head Coach Nick Bootland and the "Voice of the K-Wings" Mike Modugno next Monday 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 72 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

Monday, April 12th @ Reading 7:05 PM (Game Five, Round One, Kelly Cup Playoffs)

Check out the Kalamazoo Wings Statistics

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ECHL Stories from April 12, 2010


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