Kalamazoo starts surge

KALAMAZOO , Mich. – The Kalamazoo Wings (18-17-2-2) gained momentum over the weekend by winning two out of three games and four of their last six. The recent surge gives the K-Wings seven wins since Christmas break. On Friday night, the K-Wings returned to Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo after completing a season-high six game road streak. Friday night’s game was Kalamazoo’s first at home since January 1. Facing off against North Division rival Cincinnati Cyclones (17-17-5-2), the K-Wings fought back from an early deficit to defeat the Cyclones 4-2. “We did come out hard regardless of them scoring first,” Coach Nick Bootland said. “It doesn’t really matter [who scores first] but at the same time it would be nice to go out and get one right off the bat.” In what is becoming typical of the match-up, the K-Wings and Cyclones played a rough and tough game evidenced by sporadic fighting and outstandingly high penalty minutes. Cincinnati enforcer Benn Olson squared off against K-Wings forward Bryan Jurynec in his first of three fights on the night. Despite giving up 20 pounds and nearly half-a-foot to Olson, Jurynec again faced off against Olson late in the second period while Kalamazoo held onto a three-goal lead. Andrew Fournier scored his team-leading 18 goal during a delay-of-game penalty against the Cyclones. As of January 24, Fournier is currently sitting on a five-game goal streak, with seven goals and one assist in that span. Kalamazoo wasted no time in the second period, scoring two goals to take a 4-1 lead. The K-Wings scored three straight power play goals and currently sit second in the league with a 22.2 percent power play conversion rate. The Cyclones broke out in the third period, spraying K-Wings goaltender Ryan Nie with a flurry of shots, eventually pulling within two goals with three minutes left in the game off a goal from forward Barret Ehgoetz. “It was a good confidence builder for us,” Nie said. “We’ve been on a little bit of a roll here lately so it was good to come out and steal two points from them.” Kalamazoo continued their home-and-away series Saturday night in Cincinnati. Despite owning a 7-10-1-1 home record, the Cyclones managed to exact their revenge on Kalamazoo with a 4-3 victory. The win kept the Cyclones ahead of Kalamazoo in the North Division standings. “Every game right now is like a playoff game for us because of the situation we’re in and where we’ve put ourselves with the slow start,” Bootland said. Fournier continued his hot play, tying the game at 1-1, late in the first period and then snatching the lead for the K-Wings early in the second period with his team-leading 20th goal of the season. It was the last time Kalamazoo would sniff victory as Cincinnati came back strong, scoring three unanswered goals to take the lead for good. Wings’ rookie Justin Taylor scored his 15th goal of the season 1:46 into the third period, but Kalamazoo failed to convert the rest of the way. On Sunday, the K-Wings returned home to get back on track again the Elmira Jackals (19-16-5-0). Kalamazoo entered the game 3-2-0-0 against the Jackals this season. For the first time in 11 games, the K-Wings scored the first goal of the game after Taylor converted on a tripping penalty against Elmira defenseman Alan Dorich. Taylor’s goal was his 16 of the season. With 26 points through 25 games, Taylor is eleventh in the rookie scoring race and second on the K-Wings in goals. Forward Trent Daavettila gave Kalamazoo a 2-0 lead 2:17 into the second period before Elmira took over. The Jackals scored three unanswered goals from AJ Perry, Josh Brittain, and Yannick Tifu, but couldn’t hold onto the lead, when forward Aaron Clarke tied the score only four minutes after Tifu’s goal. The third period was a different story after Kalamazoo hit for three more goals to put the game away for good, eventually winning 6-3. Fournier scored his team-leading 21 goal of the season at 10:22 into the third period and extended his goal and points streak to seven games. Patrick Asselin had a goal and three assists to lead the team and grab first star honors. After finishing up their six game road trip last week, the K-Wings began a seven-game home-stand with the victory over Elmira. “It’s a great stretch for us,” Nie said. “Finally we have our home ice advantage and we’re looking to take as many points as we can.” Contact: Ryan.Loren@ProHockeyNews.com