ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

Road Warriors Defeat K-Wings 5-2

Published on November 30, 2011 under ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Kalamazoo, MI- Living up to their nickname, the Greenville Road Warriors overcame a first period deficit to score five unanswered goals to defeat the Kalamazoo Wings 5-2 Wednesday night at Wings Stadium.

Striking with back-to-back goals from Mike Matczak (3rd) and Kory Karlander (6th) the K-Wings jumped out ahead to quick 2-0 lead.

Utilizing a screen, Matczak blasted a power-play slap shot past Jason Missiaen 3:18 into the opening frame. Assisting on the goal were Sam Ftorek and Darryl Bootland. Ftorek, who was participating in his 800th career game, was also celebrating his 37th birthday.

Off the ensuing face-off, Kory Karlander registered his sixth-goal of the season 13 seconds later doubling the K-Wings advantage.

Cutting the deficit in half on their first shot of the game, Greenville's Jeff Prough (11th) made a quick deke in front of Riley Gill and beat the goaltender for his team-leading sixth power-play tally.

The marker was the second time in past three games that the K-Wings surrendered a goal on their opponents very first shot of the game. Kalamazoo's 2-1 lead was their first after the first period in their last five games.

The league's top road power-play unit kept their scoring dominance in the second period, as Greenville tied the game at 2-2 on their second power-play attempt of the night. Marc-Olivier Vallerand (6th) recorded the equalizer 3:38 into the stanza just 20 seconds into the man-advantage opportunity.

Pulling ahead for good just 40 seconds into the third period, Brandon Connolly (9th) gave the Road Warriors their first lead of the night.

Putting the game out of reach midway in the stanza, Conner Shields added the insurance marker off a rebound, his second goal of the season.

For good measure in the final minutes, Connolly (10th) notched his second of the night off an empty-netter.

Gill (7-5-0-1) recorded 15 saves in the defeat, while Missiaen earned his first professional victory with 37 saves..

For Game Stats: http://echl.com/stats/official-game-report.php?game_id8970 .

Kalamazoo will begin a season-long tying four-game road swing this Friday, December 2nd with a 7:05 p.m. encounter against the South Carolina Stingrays at the North Charleston Coliseum.

The K-Wings will return to Wings Stadium on Saturday, December 10th with a 7:30 p.m. face-off versus the Chicago Express on Direct Air Beach Party Night and a Saturday "Celebrity" Series featuring a FREE post-game concert with Zion Lion Reggae Band.

Single-game tickets for the upcoming 2011-2012 season are 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, please call Wings Stadium Ticket Office during regular business hours at (269) 345-5101.

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.

Check out the Kalamazoo Wings Statistics

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ECHL Stories from November 30, 2011


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