K-Wings Weekly
Published on January 29, 2013 under ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release
Game Rewind
Friday, January 25th @ Toledo Walleye (Kalamazoo 3-Toledo 1)
Toledo, OH - The Kalamazoo Wings (18-19-3-1) came out of the ECHL all-star break the same way they went into it, utilizing their defense to grind out a win, this time a 3-1 victory at the Huntington Center over the Toledo Walleye (21-17-0-4).
An impromptu bounce off the end wall gave the Walleye an early 1-0 lead. After Andrej Nastrasil dumped a puck into the K-Wings zone, it caromed off the bottom plate of the wall and through the legs of Joel Martin, who went behind the net to play it. Patiently waiting at the side of the net for the puck was Trevor Parkes (1st), who placed it into the empty net 2:17 into the opening period.
Nick Sirota evened the game 2:13 later with a slap shot from the right circle. The goal tied Sirota with Aaron Clarke for the team-lead for goals scored with 14.
Jumping ahead for good midway in the period, Alexandre Grenier setup the go-ahead marker by sending a cross rink pass to the blade of cutting John Armstrong for his sixth goal of the season.
Putting the game out of reach in the third period, Dustin Cloutier (5th) stole the puck in his own zone and raced up the ice to score a shorthanded breakaway 3:22 into the period. The tally was Kalamazoo's third shorthander of the season and the first for Cloutier.
Nearly two minutes later, killing off another penalty, the K-Wings continued to pressure shorthanded. Tripped up on a breakaway, Armstrong would be awarded Kalamazoo's first penalty shot of the season. Armstrong's backhander in the ensuing attempt was denied by Kent Simpson.
Saturday, January 26th @ Cincinnati Cyclones (Kalamazoo 3-Cincinnati 2-Overtime)
Cincinnati, OH - Recently assigned defenseman Yann Sauve didn't have to wait long to earn his first goal as a member of the Kalamazoo Wings (19-19-3-1). In his second game with the K-Wings, the Vancouver Canucks prospect scored 38 seconds into overtime to lift Kalamazoo past the division leading, Cincinnati Cyclones (25-14-4-1) 3-2 in overtime Saturday night at the U.S. Bank Arena.
End-to-end action, but neither team could score in opening 20 minutes. Kalamazoo, who outshot Cincinnati 14-5 in the period, receive their best scoring chances on a four-minute power-play generated by a Trevor Lewis high-stick to Aaron Clarke late in the period.
Held off the scoreboard for 32 minutes, the K-Wings broke through for a pair of goals two minutes apart midway in the second period. Kalamazoo grabbed the 1-0 lead with a power-play strike from Alexandre Mallet (2nd). Camping out in front of the net, Mallet swept in a Brian Bicek rebound 12:49 into the period.
Not wasting time, Kalamazoo extended their lead 1:56 later, when Dustin Cloutier (6th) split the defense and lifted a wrist shot just under the crossbar.
Kalamazoo's lead held until the third period, when Andrew Luciani (4th) and Mathieu Aubin (10th) each registered power-play goals two minutes apart to tie the game at 2-2.
Sauve's marker snapped an overtime drought for the K-Wings, who won their first overtime contest in four attempts (1-3) this season.
Sunday, January 27th Vs Bakersfield Condors (Bakersfield 3-Kalamazoo 2- In Overtime)
Kalamazoo, MI - Despite posting a season-high 50 shots on net, the Kalamazoo Wings (19-19-4-1) squandered a two-goal third period lead, as the Bakersfield Condors (13-29-2-2) come-from-behind to the K-Wings 3-2 Sunday afternoon at Wings Stadium.
Fueled by a season-high for shots in a single period (22) in the first period, the K-Wings jumped ahead 4:17 into the game with a goal from Nick Sirota. The goal for Sirota was his team-leading 15th of the season.
Keeping the Condors in the game was Brian Stewart, as netminder turned aside 20 shots in the period, include six sprawling saves from point blank range.
While Stewart kept Kalamazoo at bay for a majority of the period, the netminder couldn't stop Brett Lysak's (12th) one-timer from the slot with 57.6 remaining in the period. Lysak's goal was his 400th point of his career.
A combined 38 shots on net in the second period, but it didn't translate to any goals. Bakersfield outshot Kalamazoo 21-17 in the period.
Similar to the night before, the K-Wings opponents would erase a two-goal third period deficit. Bakersfield started the comeback 5:57 into the third period with a goal from Peter Boyd (14th). Boyd's goal extended his point streak to eight games, while pushing his goal streak to five straight games.
With their goaltender pulled, Francis Verreault (12th) found room between the circles and fired the puck over the blocker shoulder Joel Martin with 1:15 remaining in regulation to force overtime.
Boyd gave the Condors their first overtime (1-2) win of the season deflecting an Erik Burgoerfer shot 4:30 into the extra session.
Stewart was huge between the pipes stopping 48 shots in the victory, while Martin was equal to the task turning aside 45 in the overtime loss. Martin has now stopped 130 shots in his last three home starts.
Fast Forward
The K-Wings will wrap up a brief two-game home stand at Wings Stadium on Wednesday, January 30th with a 7 p.m. face-off versus the Fort Wayne Komets on a Salute to Red Solo Cup Night, featuring a Toby Keith impersonator, presented by WNWN. The K-Wings are 5-5-1-0 versus the Komets, who start the week in third place in the North Division.
Kalamazoo and Fort Wayne will clash again on Friday, February 1st with 8 p.m. encounter at Allen County Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The K-Wings will return to Vanrick Drive on Saturday, February 2nd for a 7:30 p.m. face-off versus the Wheeling Nailers on WRKR Mardi Gras Night. Saturday night will also be Noodles and Company and Big Brothers and Big Sisters Night. The first 2,500 fans will receive a limited edition giveaway item in celebration our grand reopening. Saturday will be the first of three meetings this season between Kalamazoo and Wheeling and the lone at Wings Stadium. Wheeling begins the week in tied for second place in the Atlantic Division.
Team Leaders: Kalamazoo Wings
Goals: Nick Sirota (15 Goals)
Assists: Sam Ftorek (22 Assists)
Points: Aaron Clarke, Eric Kattelus (32 Points)
+/-: Alexandre Grenier (+7) Penalty Minutes: Harry Young (43 Minutes)
Power Play Goals: Eric Kattelus (5 Goals)
Short Handed Goals: Dustin Cloutier, Eric Kattelus, Nick Sirota (1 Goal)
Game Winning Goals: Aaron Clarke (3 GW)
Shots: Nick Sirota (116 Shots)
Shooting Percentage: Eric Kattelus (17.3%)
Overtime Goals: Yann Sauve (1 Goal)
Shootout Goals: Kory Karlander, Eric Kattelus (2 Goals)
Shootout Percentage: John Armstrong, Michael Davies, Sam Ftorek (100%)
Goals Against Average: Joel Martin (2.67 )
Save Percentage: Joel Martin (0.919)
Martin Receives Honor
Kalamazoo has been gaining momentum away from Wings Stadium. The K-Wings have earned points in four (3-0-1-0) out of their last five road games.
Young Returns Earlier today, defenseman Harry Young was reassigned to the K-Wings by the New Jersey Devils. In separate transactions, Kalamazoo placed defenseman Kyle Page on the reserve and released Dwight Helminen.
Five Alive The K-Wings are riding a five-game (3-0-2-0) unbeaten streak in regulation. The five-game streak is the longest this season for Kalamazoo.
Firing Squad
On Sunday, Kalamazoo had no trouble generating shots. The K-Wings set season-highs for most shots in a single-period (22-first period) and for most shots in a single-game (50).
The Obscure Stat of the Week On Friday, forward John Armstrong received a penalty shot chance against Toledo. The penalty shot opportunity was the first taken this season by the K-Wings and the first for Kalamazoo since March 28, 2012, also against the Walleye.
K-Wings Live
Join special guests Head Coach Nick Bootland and the "Voice of the K-Wings" Mike Modugno on Monday, February 11th for the next edition of "K-Wings Live". The show is on WZUU (92.5 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 (92.5 FM WZUU & 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 20 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 1st @ Fort Wayne 8:00 PM
Saturday, February 2nd Vs Wheeling 7:30 PM (WRKR Mardi Gras, Noodles & Company and Big Brothers and Big Sisters Night)
Wednesday, February 6th Vs Evansville 7:00 PM ($5 Pack the House Night)
Friday, February 8th @ Elmira 7:05 PM
Saturday, February 9th @ Trenton 7:05 PM
Sunday, February 10th @ Reading 4:05 PM
ECHL Stories from January 29, 2013
- Las Vegas Wranglers to Play Topless Hockey - Las Vegas Wranglers
- K-Wings Weekly - Kalamazoo Wings
- Thunder Using The Force With Heart - Stockton Thunder
- Thunder Helps Collect, Donate 5,235 Stuffed Animals from Eighth "Teddy Bear Toss" Game - Stockton Thunder
- Owner Visits League of Dreams; "Krush Cancer" Pack Now on Sale - Bakersfield Condors
- Kevin Estrada Returns to Reign Lineup - Ontario Reign
- Stingrays Weekly: Stingrays Battle Gladiators in Key Division Contests this Weekend - South Carolina Stingrays
- FLORIDA EVERBLADES 'Blades Trade Forward Baker to Trenton - Florida Everblades
- Condors Youth Jersey and Cowboy Hat Giveaways on Tap this Weekend - Bakersfield Condors
- ECHL Transactions - January 29 - ECHL
- K-Wings Home for Two Games this Week - Kalamazoo Wings
- ECHL Announces Fines, Suspensions - ECHL
- Young Returns - Kalamazoo Wings
- K-Wings Martin Selected Goaltender of the Week - Kalamazoo Wings
- ECHL All-Stars Shine in Colorado - ECHL
- Stingrays Unveil 2013 Pink in the Rink Jerseys - South Carolina Stingrays
- Cameron Returns to Road Warriors - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Kalamazoo's Martin Named Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week - ECHL
- Weekly Warrior - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Froese Returns to Toledo; Malka Traded to Florida - Toledo Walleye
- South Carolina's McNeely Named Sher-Wood Hockey ECHL Player of the Week - ECHL
- Tyler McNeely Named ECHL Player of the Week - South Carolina Stingrays
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
