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Kalamazoo Wings

Walleye power past K-Wings

April 12, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Toledo - Led by hat tricks from A.J Jenks and Tyler Barnes, the Toledo Walleye clinched the Brabham Cup for best regular season record in the league and most importantly home ice advantage in the Kelly Cup playoffs with an 8-2 victory over the Kalamazoo Wings to close out the regular season.

Taking advantage of an early power play opportunity, the K-Wings jumped out to the early 1-0 lead. Joe Sova found Gergo Nagy standing free in the slot for his 18th of the season. With the goal, Nagy extended his point streak to eight games.

Hemming Kalamazoo in the defensive zone, the Walleye found the tying goal off the stick of Tyler Barnes (32nd). Skating through the slot, Shane Berschbach rifled a shot towards the net that Barnes tipped in past Joel Martin.

Just 1:01 later the Walleye would take a 2-1 lead. A.J Jenks walked into the slot from the right circle and lifted one in for his 14th of the season.

Not wasting any time, the Walleye extended their lead to 3-1 just 0:32 later. Scott Czarnowczan (2nd) took a cross-ice pass from Troy Schwab and wristed a shot over the blocker of Martin.

Continuing the offensive outburst, Toledo would stretch their lead to three-goals off the stick of Josh Holmstrom, who netted his 13th of the campaign.

Keeping the momentum rolling 4:19 into the second stanza, the Walleye found the back of the net once again. Jenks (15th) skated in alone on Martin and buried a backhander for his second of the contest.

Pulling back to within three, the K-Wings found the back of the net on a delayed penalty call from the stick of Patrick Kennedy (4th) from the top of the left circle.

Pushing their lead back to four-goals, Barnes knocked in a second-chance opportunity for his second of the night and 33rd of the season.

Completing the hat trick, Barnes (34th) roofed home a power play opportunity just 2:26 later. The goal pushed the Walleye lead to 7-2.

That would spell the end of the night for Martin, who made 26 saves on 33 shots.

Not giving Oscar Dansk a chance to settle in, the Walleye pushed their lead to 8-2. Jenks deposited his third of the game to earn a hat trick of his own.

Kalamazoo will begin the Kelly Cup playoffs with game one of the best-of-seven series this Friday, April 18th with an 8 p.m. encounter against the Fort Wayne Komets at Allen County Memorial Coliseum.

The K-Wings will return to the Wings Event Center on Wednesday, April 22nd for a 7 p.m. face-off in game three of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series against the Komets.

As a reminder anyone coming to upcoming to events at Wings Event Center, including K-Wings hockey, may have to find alternate routes to the facility due to the closure of the Sprinkle Road exit (exit 80) on I-94. The Wings Event Center has announced several ways for guests to arrive to the complex. Click here for alternate routes.

Tickets for all K-Wings home games, including round one of the Kelly Cup Playoffs are currently on sale at Wings Event Center Ticket Office, all Ticketmaster locations, including www.ticketmaster.com or by calling (800) 745-3000.

Season tickets for the 2015-16 season and group (15 or more people) ticket packages for the Kelly Cup Playoffs may be ordered through the K-Wings front office by calling (269) 743-6011.

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