KALAMAZOO – Making a statement heading into the playoffs, the Kalamazoo Wings received a hat trick from Dane Fox and 35-save performance from Joel Martin to defeat the Fort Wayne Komets 6-0. The victory clinched the third-seed in the postseason for the K-Wings, who will meet the Komets in round one.
Jumping out to an early 1-0 lead, Gergo Nagy (17th) deflected a Jake Chelios wrister from the blue line for the eventual game-winner 6:22 into the contest. The goal extended Nagy’s point streak to six games. 
Extending their lead just over three-minutes later, Fox knocked in his first of the night and 27th of the season. Standing just outside the crease of Komets goaltender Pat Nagle, Fox pushed in a rebound from a Kane Lafranchise slap shot.
Building their cushion to three-goals, Fox would strike again, this time on the power play. Taking a pass from Eric Kattelus in the right circle, Fox lifted home a wrister to the far side of the cage for his 28th of the campaign.
After a scoreless second period, the K-Wings added to their lead when Lafranchise’s shot from the top of the left circle bounced off the back of the skate of Jean Bourbeau (10th).
Ready to litter the ice with hats, fans erupted 4:52 into the period after Fox (29th) lifted his third goal of the night off the crossbar for his first professional hat trick.
Lane Scheidl (13th) closed out the scoring for Kalamazoo by redirecting a Brett Ponich slap shot midway in the stanza.
As good as Fox was offensively, Martin matched between the pipes. Martin’s shutout set the team ECHL record for most shutouts in single season with four.
With K-Wings game report
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