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ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

Late surge pushes K-Wings past Komets and into first place in the conference

March 23, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Kalamazoo, MI - Erasing a two-goal deficit, the Kalamazoo Wings rallied with four unanswered goals Sunday afternoon to defeat the Fort Wayne Komets and in the process move back into first place in the Eastern Conference.

Taking advantage of their first power-play of the match, Dustin Cloutier (7th) extended his point streak to four games by earning his 100th career point 1:59 into the period.

Fort Wayne's special teams replied with the next two goals. Tying the game on their first power-play of the game, Mike Embach posted his team-leading and tying 26th goal of the season 6:27 into the period.

Scott Fleming (15th) put the Komets ahead midway in the period with a shorthanded tally. The goal was just the third shorthander allowed by the K-Wings; however, the second surrendered this season to the Komets.

Nearing the end of the period, former K-Wing Aaron Clarke added to the Komets lead with notching his 20th goal of the campaign.

Cutting the deficit in half with the lone goal of the second period was Cloutier (8th). Finding space in the right circle, Cloutier lit the lamp with a slap shot with 40 seconds remaining in the stanza.

The K-Wings went on a scoring terror, playing fast and physical after the second period Ludwig Blomstrand found the back of the net on two consecutive scoring plays. Matt Caria hooked up with Blomstrand 8:32 into the third stanza and recorded his 11th goal of the season. Caria extended his season-high home point streak to a league-best 18 games. In a tied match, Blomstrand (12th) ripped in his second goal of the day by shooting a wrister from the blue line recording the eventual game-winner.

Justin Taylor got involved in the scoring as David Pacan sent a one-timer pass his way that Taylor sunk for his 19th goal of the season. Taylor extended his home game point streak to 15 games and Pacan pushed his overall point streak to five games.

Earlier in the afternoon the K-Wings Alumni took on the Komets Alumni in a matinee battle. The K-Wings got off to a hot start and a 2-0 lead when Mark Lawrence and Tim Turner each scored in the 1st period.

The Komets fought back with a pair of goals from Kelly Miller to tie the score 2-2 in the final ten minutes.

K-Wings head coach Nick Bootland put Kalamazoo back in the driver's seat with his breakaway goal assisted by Kory Karlander. However, Fort Wayne would tie the game up 3-3 with a shot from the point by Brian McKee.

A shootout was needed to decide the winner. The Komets prevailed in the extra session when Miller finished off his big day with the game-winner, providing 4-3 victory for the Komets Alumni.

The K-Wings will conclude a two-game home stand this Saturday, March 29th with a 7:30 p.m. face-off versus the Toledo Walleye during Hockey and Hops Night and Salute to Jeeps. This Saturday can purchase $2 Beers, $2 Hot Dogs and $1 Pepsi products.

Tickets for all regular season and playoff K-Wings home games are currently on sale at the Wings Stadium Ticket Office, all Ticketmaster locations, including www.ticketmaster.com or by calling (800) 745-3000. Ticket office hours are Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays.

Individual regular season ticket prices for home games are $13 and $17.50 for adults and only $7 for kids ages 12 and under. Fans can save money by purchasing K-Wings single-game tickets in advance. Tickets purchased on the day of a game increase by $2 (adults only).

K-Wings playoff tickets are also available. Thanks to Pepsi, the first 2,500 fans that purchase tickets specifically for game one of round one will enjoy special $4 ticket prices. These special $4 tickets for game one are part of the team's 2013-14 season long 40th Anniversary celebration and reflect ticket prices from the K-Wings Inaugural 1974-75 season.

Regular pricing for all other K-Wings Pepsi Playoff games are $17 and $20 for adults and only $8 for children 12 and under. And, courtesy of Pepsi, the team is offering special $10 tickets for groups of 15 or more throughout the playoffs.

Group ticket packages for the regular season or playoffs may be ordered through the K-Wings Sales office by calling (269) 743-6011.

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