WHEELING, WV — Kalamazoo Wings goalie Keegan Asmundson stopped 41 shots and was the first star of the game in his debut, as the Wings dominated a start-to-finish effort against the Wheeling Nailers in a 5-1 victory on Saturday night at WesBanco Arena.
Storming out of the gates with relentless pressure, the Wings registered the game’s first goal just 37 seconds into the contest. Charlie Vasaturo knuckled a long shot from the right-side point that was initially stopped by Wheeling goalie Doug Carr, but the puck bounced straight to the stick of Lane Scheidl for a tap in at the crease.
As they continued to sustain pressure in the Nailers’ zone, Kalamazoo were rewarded with yet another first-period tally. Tanner Sorenson held the puck at the blue line and unleashed a rocket of a slap shot that powered through the pads of Carr and into the goal.
With time ticking down in the first, the Wings were on the receiving end of a fortuitous bounce from a stanchion behind the Nailers goal. Scheidl ended up with possession after a funny hop off the glass, and he dished to Kyle Blaney, who had loads of space to cash in on his third goal of the season.
The Wings’ roll continued into the second period and with their first power play try of the game, the lead was increased to four goals. Josh Pitt posted up at the right side circle and received a feed from Tyler Shattock, which Pitt snapped over the pad of Carr and in.
Four minutes later and on their second power play of the period, Kalamazoo struck for their fifth marker of the game. Kyle Bushee walked to the middle of the ice after a pass from Shattock, and wired a slap shot that slipped through traffic and angled into the net.
Trailing 5-0, Wheeling earned a power play effort and got on the board for the only time on the night. Wheeling defenseman Brett Stern was feathered a pass from Jordan Kwas that was drilled towards the goal and leaked through Asmundson.
The third period was back and forth with high energy and physical play, but there was no scoring, and the Wings’ 5-1 advantage held for their first win against the Nailers on the season.
Kalamazoo and Wheeling will meet again on Sunday, January 15 at 3:00 p.m. at Wings Event Center.
Notes: Scheidl has five points in his last two games… Bushee has points in five of his last six games… Ten of Kalamazoo’s 15 skaters had points… The Wings were outscored 11-1 at WesBanco arena this season before tonight’s game… Kalamazoo is unbeaten in regulation in their last six games… Carr was pulled in favor of Sean Macguire in the second period and then returned to the game in the middle of the third period.
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