ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

Late Rally from K-Wings Falls Shy in Evansville

Published on February 12, 2016 under ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


EVANSVILLE, IN- The Kalamazoo Wings rallied down the stretch against the Evansville IceMen on Friday at Ford Center, but fell short in their comeback bid by a 4-3 margin in a cross-conference matchup.

The IceMen got the scoring started late in the opening period, with Andrew Harrison carrying the puck past the Kalamazoo defense and brushing a forehand past Joel Martin. The goal for Harrison was his first ECHL tally since January of 2014.

With time winding down in the opening period, Evansville padded their lead with a beautiful redirection play at the front of the Kalamazoo goal. With Jordan Sims crashing the goal, Andrew Himelson played a perfect pass to the tape of Sims, who angled the puck into the back of the goal with just 14.5 seconds left in the period, giving the IceMen a 2-0 lead at the break.

Picking up where they left off, the IceMen tallied on their first shot of the second period. Nathan Moon worked the puck to Sims, who was waiting patiently at the left faceoff circle. When the feed from Moon arrived, Sims blasted a one-timer over the shoulder of Martin and into the goal.

Seven minutes later, Kalamazoo struck for their first tally of the game. Tyler Shattock carried the puck into the attacking zone along the left wing side and played a feed to a cutting Ludwig Blomstrand, who was able to fire the puck past the stick side of Christoffer Bengtsberg to put the Wings on the board.

Kalamazoo's signs of life didn't last long, as the IceMen only needed thirty seconds to re-establish their three-goal lead. With the puck on the tape of Curtis Leonard at the blue line, Vincent Dunn scooted to the front of the goal to screen Martin and deflect the Lenoard shot in, lifting the Evansville lead to 4-1.

Less than a minute into the third period, Kalamazoo clawed to within two goals after Brett Ponich slid a wrist shot towards the goal that was tipped in front by Tyler Shattock and into the goal for his eighth marker of the season.

As they continued their pressure in the third period, Kalamazoo were able to cut their deficit to a goal, courtesy of David Gilbert. As Blomstrand came off the bench to corral a puck along the wall, he carried into the offensive zone and snapped a rink-wide pass to Gilbert, whose tight-angled backhander was able to sneak past the near-side post.

With Martin on the bench in favor of the extra attacker, the Wings generated relentless pressure and a series of chances that were denied by the IceMen, whose defensive zone play down the stretch sealed their home-ice victory.

Next: Kalamazoo vs. Fort Wayne- Saturday, February 13, 7:00 p.m., Wings Event Center.

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ECHL Stories from February 12, 2016


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