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ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

Kalamazoo Defeats Chicago 5-2

March 9, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Kalamazoo, MI- Dwight Helminen (2 goals, 1 assist) and Trent Daavettila (3 assists) kept it all in the family, as the cousins combined for six points to help the Kalamazoo Wings defeat the Chicago Express 5-2 Friday night at Wings Stadium during Old Burdick's Night.

An overaggressive Kalamazoo power-play led to a Chicago shorthanded tally midway in the first period. Sending a loose puck around a pinching K-Wings defenseman, Aaron Marvin found a streaking Mike Embach up the right boards, who finished an odd man rush scoring five-hole on Maxime Clermont.

While the power-play wasn't effective in the first period, that would change in the middle stanza for Kalamazoo, as the K-Wings scored twice with a man-advantage.

Earning his team-leading eighth power-play goal of the season, Mike Matczak (11th) utilized a screen to beat Rob Madore, who was making his professional debut for the Express.

Kalamazoo's special teams put the K-Wings ahead 2-1 less than three minutes later, as Dwight Helminen (1st) lifted a power-play backhander past Madore 8:07 into the period.

A slap shot from Eric Kattelus (9th) late in the second period pushed the K-Wings lead to two goals. With an assist, Nick Sirota extended his point streak to eight games, one game shy of tying Darryl Bootland, Bryan Haczyk and Daavettila for the team's season-high.

Chicago tried to mount a comeback early in the third period, as Danick Paquette (7th) threw a centering pass that bounced off the back of Clermont and into the net 5:08 into the third period.

Forging ahead midway in the period, Kalamazoo put the contest out-of-reach with goals from Helminen (2nd) and Steven Anthony (8th).

Clermont picked up his 12th victory of the season by stopping 28 of the 30 shots that the Express sent his way, while the rookie Madore took a loss in his first professional contest, while posting an impressive 41 saves.

The K-Wings will continue their six-game home stand with the third-leg of the stand tomorrow, Saturday, March 10th with a 7:30 p.m. face-off versus the Express during Eaton Corporation presents United Way Night and a Saturday "Celebrity" Series game, featuring SpongeBob SquarePants and a post-game concert with Douglas James Band.

Tickets for all K-Wings home games are $12.90 and $16.90 for adults and only $6.90 for kids ages 12 and under. The price for all K-Wings premium night games (all colored ice games and New Year's Eve game) are just $1 more. Fans can save money by purchasing K-Wings single game tickets in advance because tickets purchased on the day of a game increase by $1.

For more information about tonight's game, please contact Mike Modugno, director of public relations and broadcaster at (269) 349-9772, extension 220.

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