KALAMAZOO, MI – The Kalamazoo Wings got seven power play opportunities against the Fort Wayne Komets, but were unable to overcome a five-goal barrage and lost, 5-3, on Friday night at Wings Event Center.
Finding the first goal of the young season, Alex Belzile took advantage of the Komet’s second power play chance of the period. Cycling the puck around the zone, Garret Thompson found Belzile with a cross-ice pass for the easy tap in.
Regrouping during the first intermission, the Wings found their offensive touch just 2:41 in to the middle frame. Eric Kattelus found unoccupied ice and took a backdoor pass from Steve McCarthy for a power play marker.
Just under five minutes later, Charlie Vasaturo struck for his first professional goal. Sliding down the left-side boards, Vasaturo fired a wrister from just below the circle and through the pads of Pat Nagle.
Evening the game up late in the stanza, Mike Embach fired a shot from the right side, beating Joel Martin top shelf on the blocker side.
Retaking the lead early in the final stanza, David Gilbert took a breakaway feed from Alex Mallet and fooled Nagle with a backhand-forehand move.
Just fifty seconds later, Trevor Cheek brought the Komets back even with another power play marker. Cheek walked in below the right circle and took a Garrett Thompson feed, one-timing the puck into the open net.
Continuing the scoring seesaw, Shawn Szydlowski skated to the backside of Martin and tipped in a soft pass from Drew Daniels to give the Komets the a 4-3 lead midway through the third period.
Adding an empty-netter with seconds remaining, Garrett Thompson put the game on ice for the Fort Wayne Komets.
Follow us on Twitter @prohockeynews
You must be logged in to post a comment.