Kalamazoo takes over first place

KALAMAZOO, Mich – The Kalamazoo Wings moved into first place in the North Division by flexing their offensive muscles over the weekend, spreading 18 total goals over three games with nearly every player earning at least one point. Team leader Kory Karlander took the lead for the K-Wings on Friday night, scoring three goals and adding an assist in an 8-5 victory over the Toledo Walleye. “[The hats] don’t fly down in any kind of number if you’re on the road but our fans are great and it’s good to be back home,” Karlander said. “It always feels great to have that kind of appreciation.” Karlander’s first goal came during a 4-0 run to start the game for the K-Wings. Newcomer Dean Strong marked the scoreboard early with his second goal of the season. Patrick Asselin and Karlander continued the high-flying reputation of Kalamazoo’s second-ranked power play with goals in the first and second period respectively. Forward Aaron Clarke capped the run with a short-handed goal while Karlander sat in the penalty box with a holding call. Toledo forward Christopher DiDomenico ended the scoring drought only 1:15 later with his sixth goal of the season. After that, the flood gates opened as both teams traded goals and penalties back and forth. Head Coach Nick Bootland expressed displeasure with his team’s defensive performance. “I’m not overly happy with the type of victory it was,” he said. “I’m obviously happy we got two points but we need to learn how to play with the lead and that’s something that we’re going to have to work if we want to be successful down the stretch. Toledo opened the third period with two unanswered goals to pull within one but couldn’t keep Kalamazoo from adding two more to the scoreboard to put the game away. “We would’ve liked a little different outcome but we’ll take the win,”Goaltender Ryan Nie said. “We’re first place and we’ll carry it into tomorrow with hopefully a little better defensive and goaltending effort.” Kalamazoo answered Nie’s prayers on Saturday night when they faced another inter-division opponent, beating the Cincinnati Cyclones 5-1 in front of a crowd of 3560 at Wings Stadium. The game started in familiar fashion, with Kalamazoo jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first period. The Cyclones threatened to turn the tide when forward Paul McIlveen deflected the puck into the net during a scramble in the crease. The goal was McIlveen’s ninth of the season. True to the divisional rivalry, penalty minutes outpaced scoring for the rest of the game. Forward Joe Charlebois, the only K-Wings player without a point on the weekend, chipped in two fights in the second and third period. Forward Mike Sellitto added two fights of his own. “Every time we play each other it’s usually a tight, close game and it’s usually a few mistakes that seem to break the game wide open,” said rookie Justin Taylor, who had two goals on the night. Nie only allowed one goal, Kalamazoo’s best defensive effort since giving up one goal to the Trenton Devils on February 10. “If we want to go where we want to go, and that’s first place and then have a deep long run in the playoffs and win a championship, then we’re going to have to be able to play with leads and take advantage of the times when you are up by a few,” Bootland said. Kalamazoo took their winning streak on the road against the Walleye Sunday afternoon without the services of Taylor who was called up by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers after Saturday night’s game. In response, the K-Wings added the services of defenseman John Kivisto via a trade with the Cyclones. Kivisto showed his value early by scoring the first goal of the game only 3:52 into the first period. DiDomenico tied the score five minutes later with Toldeo’s first of two power play goals. Kalamazoo ended the first period with three unanswered goals, including a power play marker of their own from forward Darryl Lloyd. The Walleye showed why their never a team that’s down and out by responding strong in the second period with three unanswered goals of their own to tie the game. Forward Andrew Fournier, who leads Kalamazoo in goals, added his 31st of the season in the third period to break the tie and give his team the win. Kalamazoo has not lost in regulation in 11 straight games, earning points 20 out of a possible 22 points since February 10. Contact Ryan.Loren@prohockeynews.com