Wings grind out 2-1 win over Rush

KALAMAZOO, MI— The Kalamazoo Wings—led by 25 saves from Joel Martin—and Rapid City Rush grinded out a low-scoring affair on Thursday night, with Kalamazoo earning two points during a 2-1 victory at Wings Event Center.

After feeling each other out in the early goings of the first period, the Wings eventually broke the scoreless first period tie, using Danny Moynihan’s ninth of the season to move ahead. Jimmy Mullin stole the puck in the offensive zone and carried to the side of the goal, looking to stuff in a tight-angle try past Adam Vay. Vay made two stops, but Moynihan cleaned up the rebound on the doorstep and earned the tally. It was the lone goal of the first period and sent Kalamazoo into the first intermission with a 1-0 edge.

Early in the second period and on the second half of a four-minute double minor assessed to the Rush, Kalamazoo’s potent man advantage made Rapid City pay. Setting up at the left-wing side, Kyle Bushee slid a pass to Eric Kattelus in the middle of the blue line. With a web of screens in front of the goal, Kattelus elected to shoot the puck, sending it sailing through the traffic and over the glove of Vay, giving Kalamazoo a two-goal advantage.

The Rush got on the board for the first time of the game less than three minutes later after a bouncing puck landed on the tape of Daniel Leavens. From point the top of the circle, Leavens punched the puck past Joel Martin for his eighth goal of the year.

Entering the third period with the game separated by just a goal, the Kalamazoo defense buckled down and refused to yield an inch to the desperate Rapid City attackers. Even with a late power play and Vay on the bench for an extra attacker, the Wings slammed the door shut and earned a home-ice victory.

Next: Kalamazoo @ Quad City Mallards- Friday, February 2, 8:05 p.m., TaxSlayer Center.

Broadcast information: Friday’s game will air on AM 1660 The Fan in Kalamazoo or online at www.1660thefan.com/listen-live.

Single-game tickets are on sale! Tickets start as low as $10 and can be purchased at http://kwings.com/SingleGameTickets or at the Wings Event Center box office.

Wings Event Center, owned and operated by Greenleaf Hospitality Group, is home to the Kalamazoo Wings professional hockey team and a full entertainment venue offering concerts, sporting events, family shows and trade shows. Built in 1974, Wings Event Center values partnerships with the community to bring events and attractions that enrich the lives of residents in the Kalamazoo area.

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