MOLINE, Ill. — Dane Fox had two goals and the Kalamazoo Wings erupted for a season-high seven markers against the Quad City Mallards on Sunday, as they skated to a 7-2 victory at iWireless Center.
The Wings roared out to an early lead over the Mallards just 17 seconds into the opening period. Curtis Valk, who returned to Kalamazoo on reassignment from the Utica Comets, caught a feed near the goal from Ludwig Blomstrand and one-timed the puck into the goal.
Minutes later, Brett Ponich stretched a pass ahead to Valk at the Mallards’ blue line, which created an odd-man-rush towards the Quad City goal. Valk saucered a pass to the goal where a waiting Fox punched it in for his team-leading 14th goal of the season.
Midway through the period, Ponich again created a chance for the Wings, as his long pass was raced down by Alex Mallet, who carried in behind the Mallards’ goal and wrapped the puck around to the far-side post for his 12th goal of the season.
Kalamazoo capped off a four-goal first period while operating on their first power play opportunity of the afternoon. Lane Scheidl saw time winding down in the frame and carried in towards Quad City goalie, Steve Michalek, Scheidl pushed the puck through the legs of the Mallards’ goaltender with just 1.6 seconds left on the clock in the first period.
Quad City showed tremendous resiliency in the early stages of period number two, and were rewarded for their efforts 1:36 into the period. While shorthanded, the Mallards moved the puck up the ice where Raphael Bussieres moved the puck to Kevin Henderson, whose one-timer beat Joel Martin to the glove side.
2:09 later, the Mallards were able to chip another goal off the Wings’ lead, courtesy of Kyle Follmer. After crashing a rebound off a save by Martin, Follmer was able to jam the puck over the line and light the lamp.
The Wings regained their dominant ways early in the third period, and padded their lead to three goals with a shorthanded tally from Justin Taylor. Upon being released from the penalty box, Taylor hauled in a pass from Scheidl and fired a stick-side wrister past Brody Hoffman, who relieved Michalek.
Five minutes later and working on a five-on-three man advantage, Fox received a pass from Sacha Guimond, and blasted a one timer from the high slot and into the goal, giving Kalamazoo a 6-2 lead.
Justin Kovacs capped of the scoring for Kalamazoo at the 12:15 mark of the third, as he re-directed a Taylor feed into the top corner of the goal. It was Kovacs’ second goal of the season and his first since October 24.
Notes: Kalamazoo’s seven goals tied a season high. Martin made 31 saves in his 15th victory of the season. Kalamazoo now has 34 points on the season, tied with Wheeling for second place in the North Division. Kalamazoo’s power play went 3/12 over the weekend against Quad City, and the penalty kill went a perfect 7/7.
With Kalamazoo Wings release
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