ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

Third Period Surge Pushes Komets Past Wings

January 31, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


?KALAMAZOO, MI - Powered by a four-goal third period, the Fort Wayne Komets downed the Kalamazoo Wings, 6-2, on Star Wars night presented by Celebration! Cinema on Sunday night.

Despite extensive pressure from the Komets early on, the Wings found the back of the net for the game's first marker. David Gilbert used his speed to create space in the offensive zone, which allowed Sacha Guimond to walk into a slap shot from the top of the slot, and past Sean Bonar. The tally was Guimond's first of the season.

Just over three minutes later, Fort Wayne evened the game up at 1-1. Cody Sol blasted a one-timer from the left side boards, which hit the pads of Joel Martin, and found the tape of Brock Montgomery, who deposited the open-net chance.

With just over a minute to play in the first period, the Komets extended their lead to 2-1. Similar to the first Komets' marker, Sol let loose a rocket from the blue line, handcuffing Martin, allowing Jamie Schaafsma to push the puck to the back of the net.

Kalamazoo turned their fortunes in the middle frame, as they carried the majority of the offensive chances, which paid dividends in the form of a Gilbert marker. Evan McEneny fed a pass from behind the Komets' net to the point where Lane Scheidl lifted a backhander towards the net, allowing Gilbert to get a stick on it and deflect it past Bonar.

Jumping out to an early start in the third, Fort Wayne opened their lead back to one goal. Utilizing his speed, Shawn Szydlowski skated around a Kalamazoo defender, creating a two-on-one opportunity. Szydlowski found Mason Geertsen for the one-timer over the blocker of Martin. The goal was Geertsen's first professional marker.

Taking a two-goal advantage four minutes later, the Komets continued to buzz around the offensive zone early in the third frame. Trevor Cheek found a Montgomery rebound and lifted it over the pad of an outstretched glove of Martin.

Just 1:01 later, Brett Perlini pushed the Komets' lead to three. Taking an Embach feed from the blue line, Perlini walked down the slot and fired in a wrister to make it 5-2, midway through the third.

Moments later in the third and streaking into the offensive zone, Szydlowski garnered the attention of the Kalamazoo defense, allowing Embach to sneak to the far side and easily tap the puck into the open net, to give Fort Wayne the 6-2 lead. The marker spelled the end of the night for Martin, who finished with 29 saves on 35 shots.

Notes: Fort Wayne's Geertsen recorded his first professional goal. Clay Witt stopped the only shot he faced in 6:41 of relief duty in net. The Komets' power play is 8/27 against Kalamazoo this season. The Wings have a 1-6-0-0 record against the Komets this season. Dane Fox had a team-high five shots on goal.

Stats: http://echl.com/stats/official-game-report.php?game_id=13240

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 (2/5, 2/6), 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.

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ECHL Stories from January 31, 2016


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