NORFOLK, VA — The Kalamazoo Wings used a 20-save shutout by Nick Riopel in his debut, three-points from Justin Taylor and blue-line production as they overtook the Norfolk Admirals, 3-0, on Saturday night at Norfolk Scope Arena.
Carrying over the momentum from the prior night’s victory, Kalamazoo struck early in the first period after sustained pressure in the offensive zone. Taylor swung a shot from the left-side boards that caromed off the body of Lane Scheidl and past Admirals’ goalie Eetu Laurikainen.
The Wings padded their lead eight minutes later as their first-period dominance continued. Taylor settled in behind the Norfolk goal and slipped the puck into the high slot, where Ben Wilson had space to step into a snap shot that sailed into the top corner of the net.
The game leveled out during the second period, as the end-to-end pace resulted in each team generating eight shots on goal, but no scoring.
Entering the third period gripping a two-goal lead, Kalamazoo were able to cement the weekend sweep of the Admirals with Michael Trebish’s first goal of the season. Stepping in from the left-side point, Trebish glided into an open lane and knuckled a slap shot that ricocheted off a Norfolk defender and into the goal.
On the back end, Riopel’s 20 saves against his former team helped carry Kalamazoo to a 2-0-0 start to the season.
Kalamazoo’s next game is this Friday, October 21th when the Fort Wayne Komets invade the Wings Event Center for a 7 p.m. face-off.
Notes: It was Wilson’s first goal since April 11, 2015 against Toledo. Kalamazoo went 0/5 on the power play for the second consecutive night. Trebish and Austin Wuthrich have each tallied points in the first two games of the season. Defenseman Kyle Bushee led Kalamazoo with six shots on goal.
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