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ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

K-Wings Weekly

December 5, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Game Rewind

Wednesday, November 30th Vs Greenville (Greenville 5-Kalamazoo 2)

Kalamazoo, MI- Living up to their nickname, the Greenville Road Warriors overcame a first period deficit to score five unanswered goals to defeat the Kalamazoo Wings 5-2 Wednesday night at Wings Stadium.

Striking with back-to-back goals from Mike Matczak (3rd) and Kory Karlander (6th) the K-Wings jumped out ahead to quick 2-0 lead.

Utilizing a screen, Matczak blasted a power-play slap shot past Jason Missiaen 3:18 into the opening frame. Assisting on the goal were Sam Ftorek and Darryl Bootland. Ftorek, who was participating in his 800th career game, was also celebrating his 37th birthday.

Off the ensuing face-off, Kory Karlander registered his sixth-goal of the season 13 seconds later doubling the K-Wings advantage.

Cutting the deficit in half on their first shot of the game, Greenville's Jeff Prough (11th) made a quick deke in front of Riley Gill and beat the goaltender for his team-leading sixth power-play tally.

The marker was the second time in past three games that the K-Wings surrendered a goal on their opponents very first shot of the game. Kalamazoo's 2-1 lead was their first after the first period in their last five games.

The league's top road power-play unit kept their scoring dominance in the second period, as Greenville tied the game at 2-2 on their second power-play attempt of the night. Marc-Olivier Vallerand (6th) recorded the equalizer 3:38 into the stanza just 20 seconds into the man-advantage opportunity.

Pulling ahead for good just 40 seconds into the third period, Brandon Connolly (9th) gave the Road Warriors their first lead of the night.

Putting the game out of reach midway in the stanza, Conner Shields added the insurance marker off a rebound, his second goal of the season.

For good measure in the final minutes, Connolly (10th) notched his second of the night off an empty-netter.

Gill (7-5-0-1) recorded 15 saves in the defeat, while Missiaen earned his first professional victory with 37 saves.

Friday, December 2nd (Kalamazoo 5-South Carolina 2)

North Charleston, SC- The Kalamazoo Wings started off the four-game road swing by defeating the South Carolina Stingrays 5-3 and in the process snapping the Stingrays six-game home and four-game overall winning streaks.

Kalamazoo captured the lead 13:36 into the first period, two seconds following a two-man advantage for the K-Wings, Brandon Svendsen wrist shot caromed off the post right to the stick of Kory Karlander (7th) who jammed the puck into the net.

Special teams helped most teams in the second period, as the K-Wings extended their lead 6:44 into the period with a strike from Steven Anthony (4th).

Not to be outdone, South Carolina pulled back to within a single goal with a power-play goal of their own just over two minutes later, when Pierre-Luc O'Brien knocked down a cross rink pass and quickly rifled home his team-leading ninth goal of the season.

The K-Wings power-play kept clicking on all cylinders in the final period, as Dean Strong (8th) deflected a Brandon Svendsen slap shot 4:37 into the period.

Storming back later in the stanza, South Carolina pulled even with a pair of goals three minutes apart from Sean Dolan (6th) and Nick Tabisz (2nd)

Looking like the contest would be heading into overtime with two minutes remaining, the K-Wings registered their first even strength goal of the night, when a Joe Charlebois slap shot bounded off the back of Karlander (8th) and over Darcy Machesney for the eventual game-winner.

Less than a minute later, Kalamazoo tacked on an insurance goal from Darryl Bootland.

Saturday, December 3rd @ South Carolina (Kalamazoo 2-Florida 1)

North Charleston, SC- After winning six straight at home, the South Carolina Stingrays have now dropped two in a row, as the Kalamazoo Wings defeated the Stingrays 2-1 at the North Charleston Coliseum during South Carolina's annual Teddy Bear Toss Night.

Nick Sirota gave the K-Wings the lead 7:19 into the first period by recording his fourth tally of the season on a one-timer from the slot that was created from a pass by Trent Daavettila. The assist by Daavettila was his team-leading 16th of the season.

Kalamazoo's special teams were vital in the second period. Recording his 100th career point just 30 seconds into the stanza, Brandon Svendsen notching his 10th goal of the season on a backhander past Philipp Grubauer, who earlier in the week was named the ECHL's Goaltender of the Month for November.

With the tally, Svendsen earned his league-leading fifth game-winner.

The rest of the period the K-Wings had to be defensive, killing off five Stingrays power-plays, including a two-minute five-on-three attempt midway in the period.

The time in the box meant a lot of shots towards Riley Gill, who made 16 out of his 27 saves in the middle frame.

South Carolina fans finally had an opportunity they were waiting for, to throw their Teddy Bears, as David de Kastrozza (7th) redirected an Anthony Maiani cross rink pass 5:14 into the period to cut the K-Wings lead to a single goal; however, the K-Wings were able to keep the Stingrays off the board the 14 minutes to secure the victory.

The victory coupled with a loss to the Toledo Walleye by the Chicago Express, placed the K-Wings back atop the North Division standings.

Fast Forward

Kalamazoo will prepare for four games in five nights starting this Wednesday, December 7th with a 7 p.m. (CDT) face-off at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois against the Chicago Express. Wednesday will be the first of three consecutive contests between the K-Wings and Express. Friday, December 9th the teams will collide with a 7:30 p.m. (CDT) encounter at the Sears Centre.

On Saturday, December 10th the K-Wings will return home to Wings Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. face-off against the Express on Direct Air Beach Party Night and a FREE Saturday "Celebrity" Series Post-Game Concert, featuring the Zion Lion Reggae Band. On the season, the K-Wings are 3-1-0-0 versus the Express, who starts the week in second place in the North Division, one point behind Kalamazoo.

The K-Wings will conclude the week on Sunday, December 11th with a 4 p.m. puck drop at the Huntington Center against the Toledo Walleye. The K-Wings are 1-0-0-0 on the season against the Walleye, who are third place in the North Division.

Team Leaders: Kalamazoo Wings

Goals: Brandon Svendsen (10 Goals)

Assists: Trent Daavettila (16 Assists)

Points: Brandon Svendsen (25 Points)

+/-: Joe Sova (+10)

Penalty Minutes: Darryl Bootland (71 Minutes)

Power Play Goals: Brandon Svendsen (5 Goals)

Short Handed Goals: Brandon Svendsen, Justin Taylor (1 Goal)

Game Winning Goals: Brandon Svendsen (5 GW)

Shots: Brandon Svendsen (54 Shots)

Shooting Percentage: Dean Strong (26.7%)

Overtime Goals: Kory Karlander (1 Goal)

Shootout Goals: Entire Team (0 Goals)

Shootout Percentage: Entire Team (0.0%)

Goals Against Average: Maxime Clermont (2.50 )

Save Percentage: Maxime Clermont (0.911)

Revving Up the "Kar"

Forward Kory Karlander has had a knack of scoring clutch goals for the K-Wings. Karlander has recorded two out of past three game-winning goals for Kalamazoo.

Northern Battles

After play their last six games against teams from the South, the K-Wings will head back into the North Division. Kalamazoo's next six games will be against their own division, including three straight contests versus the Chicago Express.

Winning!!!

Forward Brandon Svendsen enters the week with five-game winning goals. The five-game winner's makes Svendsen the league-leader in that category.

Power Surge

Ranked second overall in the ECHL on the power-play at 25.3%, the K-Wings are ranked even higher at home. With an efficiency rate of 24.4%, Kalamazoo possesses the top home power-play in the entire league.

The Obscure Stat of the Week

Kalamazoo has a perfect record this season when they lead after the first period on the road. The K-Wings are 5-0-0-0 away from Wings Stadium when they enter the second period with a lead.

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 the team's brand new website at www.kwings.com . The site has player profiles, video on your hometown team, and much, much more.

Anthony and Haczyk

Join special guests Steven Anthony and Bryan Haczyk as they join Head Coach Nick Bootland and the "Voice of the K-Wings" Mike Modugno this Monday on "K-Wings Live". The show is on The Classic Hits Station WLKM (95.9 FM) and online through www.kwings.com from 6-7 p.m. at Old Burdick's Wings West.

K-Wings on Radio

Catch all the K-Wings games, home and away, on the K-Wings Radio Network (95.9 FM WLKM & 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

Wednesday, December 7th @ Chicago 7:00 PM (CST)

Friday, December 9th @ Chicago 7:35 PM (CST)

Saturday, December 10th Vs Chicago 7:30 PM (Direct Air Beach Party Night and

Saturday "Celebrity" Series Featuring a FREE Post Game Concert with Zion Lion Reggae Band)

Sunday, December 11th @ Toledo 4:00 PM

Tuesday, December 13th @ Cincinnati 7:35 PM

Check out the Kalamazoo Wings Statistics

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