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ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

Solar Bears Bite Wings at Home

January 12, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


KALAMAZOO, MI- The Kalamazoo Wings were led by goals from Dane Fox and David Gilbert, but they weren't enough to overcome multi-point nights from five members of the Orlando Solar Bears as they skated past the Wings on Tuesday at Wings Event Center.

After trading power play chances, the Solar Bears struck for the game's first tally. Just as the penalty to Kalamazoo had expired, Brady Vail found Erik Bradford alone in the slot, and his one timer slipped past the blocker of Clay Witt.

Taking control of the play in the middle frame, the Wings knotted the contest up at 1-1. David Gilbert, standing below the goal line, took a Justin Kovacs pass, and lifted a wrister in on Rob Madore, finding space just above the blocker.

The game remained tied for just 22 seconds before Orlando would re-establish their lead. Planting himself in front of Witt, Eric Faille created a screen, limiting Witt's vision, allowing Faille to pick up a rebound opportunity and push it in for his 16th of the campaign.

Extending their lead to 3-1, the Solar Bears continued to pressure the offensive zone. Ryan Shcwartz fed a pass to the tape of T.J. Foster, who was alone in the slot, and fired in a short-side wrister from just below the left circle.

Cutting their deficit to one, Kalamazoo were rewarded for extended offensive opportunities. Utilizing creative passing around the boards, the puck found Cory Pritz at the blue line for a one time slap shot. The initial shot was made by Madore, but the rebound found Dane Fox, who hammered away and chipped the puck over a sprawling Madore.

Not wasting any time to push their lead back to two goals, Orlando refused to let Kalamazoo carry any momentum. Foster potted his second of the contest with a one timer from the high slot, giving the Solar Bears a 4-2 advantage into the second intermission.

Earning their largest lead of the night, Orlando needed just 1:20 of the third period before making it a 5-2 score line. Entering the zone with speed, Nicklas Lindberg ripped a howitzer from the top of the circles, off the cross bar, and into the goal.

The Solar Bears pushed the game out of reach later in the period as Faille roofed his second of the night after racing into Kalamazoo territory and finishing off a pass from Lindberg.

Notes: Brett Ponich has a three game point streak (four total points). Alex Mallet's eight game point streak came to an end. It was the second straight game in which Kalamazoo allowed six or more goals. Fox had a team-high seven shots on goal.

Stats: http://echl.com/stats/official-game-report.php?game_id=13124

The Wings return home on January 29 and 31 as they host Star Wars Weekend presented by Celebration Cinema. Kalamazoo will welcome Star Wars characters and wear specialty jerseys that will be auctioned off after Sunday's contest.

The Kalamazoo Wings host the 2016 CCM/ECHL Hockey Heritage Week, presented by PNC Bank and Bronson Sports Medicine, from February 1-6 at Wings Event Center and throughout the city of Kalamazoo. The one-of-a-kind event features viewing/photo opportunities with the Stanley Cup, Hockey Hall of Fame exhibits and trophies, two games with the Toledo Walleye, and more. Group rates start as low as $12 per person for a group of six or more.

Single-game tickets are now on sale! Tickets can be purchased at kwings.com or at the Wings Event Center box office. Box office hours are Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. A $2 discount is applied on all tickets purchased before the date of the game.

Check out the Kalamazoo Wings Statistics



ECHL Stories from January 12, 2016


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