KALAMAZOO, MI – Backstopped by a strong performance from Joel Martin, multi-point nights from Dane Fox and Alex Mallet, the Kalamazoo Wings defeated the Evansville IceMen 4-2 Friday night at the Wings Events Center.
Although the first period saw end-to-end action with quality chances for both teams, neither could find the back of the net and the first twenty minutes ended just as it started with the teams tied 0-0 with Evansville outshooting Kalamazoo 14-7.
Coming out of the dressing room for the second period, the Wings took advantage of the fresh ice and fresh legs to produce the first goal of the game. Cycling the puck around the back of the net, Lane Scheidl found Tyler Shattock on the doorstep and Shattock lifted the puck over the blocker of Christoffer Bengtsberg, giving Kalamazoo a 1-0 lead.
After killing off a five-minute major to Anton Cederholm for contact to the head, the Wings would extend their lead to two goals. Freshly out of the penalty box, Tanner Sorenson took a long pass from Mallet and fired a wrister on net. The initial shot was stopped by Bengtsberg but Sorenson followed his shot and deposited a wrap-around chance for his second career goal. The assist pushed Mallet’s point streak to four games.
Starting the third period with desperation, the IceMen cut the Wings’ lead to just one 2:29 into the period. Firing several pucks on net, Evansville forced Martin out of position and Tyson Fawcett buried the wrap-around chance.
Continuing their comeback bid, the IceMen struck for the equalizer just 2:11 later. While operating on their third power play chance of the night, Nathan Moon fed a pass to the blue line where Chris Rumble ripped a slap shot to the far post for his first tally of the season.
Not to be outdone, the Wings would regain their one-goal lead midway through the final stanza. Working on a four-on-four situation, Steven Kaunisto lifted a pass from the half boards to Fox in the slot. Fox showed great patience and rifled one past Bengtsberg. With the goal, Fox extended his point streak to six games.
Capping off the scoring with just 45 seconds remaining, Mallet buried an empty-netter for his team-leading sixth goal of the season.
Notes: Kalamazoo snapped a two-game skid…Dane Fox continued his scoring ways, pushing his point streak to six games…Alex Mallet also continued his scoring streak, pushing his streak to four games…Ludwig Blomstrand registered his 100th career point on an assist to Fox in the third period.
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