ELMIRA, NY – Justin Taylor had three goals – including the game winner in overtime – and the Kalamazoo Wings snapped a five-game losing streak by toppling the Elmira Jackals, 4-3, on Wednesday night at First Arena.
Operating on their first power play try of the game, Elmira earned a 1-0 lead after crashing the goal and generating traffic on the doorstep. A long shot from Greg Amlong was kicked away by the right leg pad of Joel Martin, but right onto the tape of Kyle Rankin, who tapped in the rebound for his second goal of the season.
Kalamazoo knotted the game early in the second period after forcing a turnover in the Jackals’ zone. Anthony Camara stole the puck from an Elmira defenseman and dished to Michael Trebish, who wired a pass to Justin Taylor for a thunderous slap shot that leaked through the pads of goaltender Andy Iles and into the goal.
Four minutes later and on their second man advantage of the game, the Jackals re-established their lead after another efficient power play. Matt Lane fed Vaclav Karabacek, who snuck a wrist shot through a screen and under the glove hand of Martin, to build a 2-1 advantage going into the third period.
It didn’t take long in the third for Kalamazoo to strike back and tie the game, needing just 1:27 of the final period to equalize. Dajon Mingo received a pass from Tyler Biggs, and flung a slap shot that snuck through a web of bodies in front of the goal and through the pads of Iles.
1:20 later, the Wings sprung to their first lead of the game, generating more offense from the blue line. Charlie Vasaturo knuckled a long shot from the right-side point that was deflected by Taylor in the high slot and into the goal for his second of the night.
Elmira wouldn’t cave easily, though, and the home team fought back to force the game’s third tie with under ten minutes remaining. Forcing a turnover in his own end, Justin Kea raced ahead on an odd-man rush and called his own number, snapping the puck to the stick side of Martin. Kea’s goal was his second of the season and forced overtime.
Early in the overtime period, Kalamazoo hurried the puck out of their own end and attacked on two-on-one chance. Tanner Sorenson carried along the right side and played a perfect saucer pass to the tape of Taylor, who finished in the top corner with a forehand to backhand deke, finishing off the hat trick and earning the game winner.
Kalamazoo is off until Friday when they again visit the Jackals. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. at First Arena.
Notes: Taylor had three points and now has 250 in his career… The win for Martin was his 192nd as a Wing, leaving him four shy of the all-time team record held by Georges Gagnon… Kalamazoo snapped a season-long five-game losing streak… Sorenson had two assists and has seven points in his last seven games… Kalamazoo’s 19 shots on goal in the third period set a new single-period high.
Follow us on Twitter @prohockeynews
You must be logged in to post a comment.