IHL 2 Kalamazoo Wings

Kalamazoo Jumps Out to 2-0 First Period Lead Only to Fall 3-2 to Fort Wayne

Published on February 28, 2009 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Kalamazoo, MI - After showing the Fort Wayne Komets their best game in the first period, the Kalamazoo Wings were overwhelmed by the visitors the rest of the way, dropping a 3-2 decision at Wings Stadium Saturday night.

Mathieu Curadeau capped the Komets' three-goal third-period rally with a power play tally, his 23rd of the season, at 15:31. The game-winner was part of a three-point evening for the second-year Komet, who also assisted on goals by P.C. Drouin (27th) and David Hukalo (16th) earlier in the frame.

Anthony Battaglia (16th) and Tyler Willis (7th) lit the lamp for the K-Wings, who move into the fourth place with the loss. Glenn Detulleo picked up an assist, extending his point-scoring streak to a team current-high of six games.

Kalamazoo had netted the only two goals of the game entering the third, but Drouin's power-play slapper from the left side broke the ice for Fort Wayne at 4:44. Hukalo popped in a rebound to tie the score at 7:58.

One night after the Komets went 1-for-12 with the extra man, they converted both opportunities in the final stanza to disappoint the lively crowd of 4,476. With the win, Fort Wayne moves two points ahead of Kalamazoo for third place in the six-team IHL.

Fresh off ending their three-game home winless streak Friday against rival Muskegon, the K-Wings were shot out of a cannon for the first period. The home side carried the play for more than 12 minutes with only a huge advantage in shots on goal to show for it, but that would soon change with the Komets' Jay Holladay in the box for hooking.

Battaglia, who had his seven-game point streak snapped the night before, started a new one by whipping a wrister just inside the left post for his fourth power-play marker on the season. Mark Nebus and Detulleo assisted on the four-on-three goal at 12:48.

Almost five minutes later, Willis, in his third game back since his extended stint on the injured reserve, drilled his first goal since December 13th past Komets' netminder Nick Boucher for a 2-0 K-Wings lead. Blair Manning earned the primary assist, the 800th point of his professional career.

Kalamazoo outshot Fort Wayne 16-3 in the opening period, matching a season-low in output for the visitors.

The Komets are the IHL's most dominant second-period squad, outscoring opponents 75-46. On this night, though, the Komets fired nothing but blanks in the middle frame, launching a season-best 23 attempts at the Jason Tapp, all of which were turned aside by the K-Wings' goaltender.

While Tapp did most of the work in the second, both teams contributed a good deal of sweat to fruitless power play time. Each side wasted three chances with the extra man, keeping the score at 2-0 heading for the final period.

For Game Stats: http://pointstreak.com/prostats/gamesheet_full.html?gameid=735274

Before starting a three-game home stand, the K-Wings will travel to L.C. Walker Arena tomorrow, Sunday, March 1st for a 5 p.m. encounter against the Muskegon Lumberjacks.

The K-Wings will return home to Wings Stadium this Wednesday, March 4th for a special 10:30 a.m. face-off versus the Port Huron Icehawks on Education Day.

Single-game tickets for any of the K-Wings 38 regular season home games are currently on sale at the Wings Stadium Ticket Office. Ticket Office hours are Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information, call Wings Stadium Ticket Office during regular business hours at (269) 345-5101.

For more information about tonight's game, please contact Director of Public Relations/Broadcaster Mike Modugno at (269) 349-9772 extension 220.

Check out the Kalamazoo Wings Statistics

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from February 28, 2009


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