BRAMPTON, ON — The Kalamazoo Wings used lockdown defense to withstand a late charge from the Brampton Beast on Friday night, as Joel Martin’s 33 saves led the Wings to a 2-1 victory at the Powerade Centre.
The first period was a highly-contested frame, with both teams generating a bevy of chances. The goaltenders were spectacular during the first, as Joel Martin made 12 stops, and his counterpart, Zach Fucale, turned away ten Kalamazoo tries. Fucale also stopped a penalty shot opportunity from Peter Schneider at the 8:42 mark of the period.
The second period had all the makings of the first as the first 13 minutes were highlighted by more defensive hockey. However, it was the Beast that broke the ice and earned the game’s first goal. David Ling set up along the back door and tipped a Reggie Traccitto shot into the goal.
Brampton’s lead lasted only eleven seconds, as Kalamazoo tied the game moments later on a net-driving play from Tyler Biggs. Off a face-off in the attacking zone, Dajon Mingo flicked the puck towards the goal and Fucale made the save, but Biggs crashed the net and deposited the rebound for his sixth of the season.
Later in the period, Kalamazoo kept their foot on the gas and upped the pressure on the forecheck in the closing seconds. Schneider forced a turnover from the Brampton defense and steered the puck towards the goal for Lane Scheidl, who shoveled the puck along for Kyle Blaney. Blaney was unmarked next to the goal and buried the back-door setup for his fourth of the season.
The third period was dominated by Brampton, but it was Martin who stole the show for Kalamazoo. The Beast fired 17 shots towards the Kalamazoo netminder in the final frame, but Martin fought off each effort on his way to the first star of the game honors and a 33-save win.
Kalamazoo’s next game is Saturday night when the Ft. Wayne Komets visit the Wings Event Center for a 7 p.m.puck drop.
Notes: Schneider’s first-period penalty shot was the second of the season for the Wings (0/2)… Biggs’s goal was his first since November 30… Scheidl is on a four-game point streak… Kalamazoo are 5-0-1-0 against Brampton this season… The Wings are 12-3-1-0 against Brampton all-time… Kalamazoo were 3/3 on the penalty kill.
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