Sports stats



ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

Kalamazoo Scores Three Times in the Third to Defeat Gwinnett 4-2

December 18, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Kalamazoo, MI- A week off didn't seem to hurt the Kalamazoo Wings. Using a complete 60-minute effort, the K-Wings defeated the Gwinnett Gladiators 4-2.

End-to-end action with a feverish pace led to plenty of scoring chances, but no scoring in the opening period. Both teams finished the period 0-for-2 on the power-play. Entering the night with 16 penalty minutes on the season, forward Rick Cleaver accumulated both of the K-Wings first period infractions. Combining for 24 shots in the period, Gwinnett out-shot Kalamazoo 13-11 in the first.

After missing the past 17 games because of playing with the American Hockey League for the Manitoba Moose, Darryl Bootland made the most of his return to the K-Wings breaking the scoreless gridlock in the second period. Bootland (4th) deflected a Ryan McGinnis slap shot 7:37 into the period to earn his ninth point in eight games for Kalamazoo.

Pulling away in the third period, Kalamazoo scored twice in the first five and half minutes of the stanza to take a 3-0 lead. Matt Jones (10th) 5-on-3 power-play goal 31 seconds into the period extended the K-Wings advantage to two goals.

Registering the eventual game-winner, Mathieu Curadeau tied Cleaver for the team-lead in goals scored recording his 12th marker of the season. Assisting on the tally, Cleaver extended his point streak to six games, one shy of the K-Wings' season-high of seven held by Sam Ftorek.

Matt Siddall (7th) broke the Tyson Sexsmith's shutout bid, snipping a wrist shot under the crossbar at the 13:11 mark of the period.

Answering back forty-four seconds later, Kalamazoo regained their three-goal cushion with a lamp-lighter from Brian McGuirk (5th).

Sam Roberts (7th) tacked on another goal for Gwinnett, but it would not be enough, as the K-Wings earned their third win in their last four games.

Sexsmith raised his record to 2-0-0-0 stopping 32 shots in the victory, while Gwinnett's David Brown (3-4-1-0) turned a side 28 shots in the loss.

The K-Wings and Gladiators will meet again tomorrow, Saturday, December 19th 7:30 p.m. encounter on Air National Guard Night. Bring the kids, as Santa Claus will also be visiting Wings Stadium.

Single-game tickets for any of the K-Wings 36 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

• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...

ECHL Stories from December 18, 2009


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.

OurSports Central