KALAMAZOO, MI — Nick Riopel made 38 stops and Dajon Mingo snapped a four-month goal drought with a first-period game winner, and the Kalamazoo Wings defeated the Fort Wayne Komets 3-1 on Tuesday night at Wings Event Center.
In their second matchup in three nights, it was the Wings who flipped the script on the Komets and had the ferocious first period. While on their first power play of the game, Eric Kattelus fired a tape-to-tape pass to Josh Pitt, who punched in his eighth of the season.
Seven minutes later, Kalamazoo added to their lead with more terrific passing in the Komets’ zone. Justin Breton freed the puck along to Tyler Biggs, who delivered a dart to the backdoor, where Mingo banged it into the goal for his first tally since October 14.
Though the second period was scoreless, the intensity remained the same and both teams generated a multitude of chances. Riopel made 14 saves on all 14 shots faced in the frame, and Garrett Bartus did the same on each of the seven shots steered his way.
Fort Wayne clawed back into contention early in the third period, when Jason Binkley cut the Wings’ lead to a goal. After a scramble in front of the net, Binkley closed in on a loose puck and picked the top corner with a well-placed wrist shot that beat Riopel’s glove.
With time winding down and Bartus on the bench for an extra attacker, Peter Schneider shoveled a long-distance backhander down the ice and into the net to cap off the Wings 3-1 victory.
Kalamazoo and Ft. Wayne will battle again on Friday, February 17 at 8 p.m. at the Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne.
Notes: Mingo’s goal snapped a four-month goal drought… Riopel has won five-straight decisions… Mason Baptista was assessed a match penalty during the third period for kicking… Kalamazoo’s power play went 1-for-6 and the penalty kill went 5-for-5… Kalamazoo were outshot. 39-27.
Follow us on Twitter @prohockeynews
You must be logged in to post a comment.