Martin, Wings silence Admirals

NORFOLK, VA— Joel Martin made 32 saves, including 17 in the third period, between the pipes for the Kalamazoo Wings, as he backstopped a 3-2 victory over the Norfolk Admirals on Friday night at the Norfolk Scope.

The Wings wasted little time before getting on the scoresheet for the first time on the night, needing just over three minutes to produce. Off an attacking-zone faceoff, the puck dribbled to Brendan Bradley, who knifed a shot to the net from the low slot. Jamie Murray kicked the shot away, but the rebound landed on the stick of Jimmy Mullin, who converted with a put-back strike.

Finding their stride as the period progressed, the Admirals equalized with under two minutes remaining in the first. Breaking up a centering feed on the defensive end of the ice, Max Cook joined the counter attack and angled a re-direct into the top of Joel Martin’s net. The late goal tied the game at 1-1 entering the break.

Earning a power play early in the second period, Norfolk earned their only advantage of the night after a rink-wide feed from Christian Horn hooked up with TJ Moore on the backdoor for a finish.

The deficit the Wings faced lasted for 11 minutes before it was erased, as Tyler Heinonen evened the score with his 14th of the season. Lane Scheidl wheeled the puck to Heinonen, who fired a wrist shot that hit the pads of Murray and flew into the net.

Just over two minutes later and with 1:09 remaining in the second period, Kalamazoo went back on top and took a 3-2 lead. After Bradley got the puck to the net, a scramble ensued, resulting in the puck leaking to the stick of Josh Pitt at the right-side faceoff dot. Pitt lasered a shot into the short-side corner of the net for his 31st of the year and put the Wings in the driver’s seat at the second intermission.

The third period was highlighted by stellar goaltending from Martin and Murray. The Wings generated seven third-period shots which were all stopped by Murray, while Martin put on a clinic with a 17-save performance in the closing period. Even with an empty net in favor of an extra attacker, the Wings withstood the late flurry from the Admirals and earned a 3-2 road win.

Next: Kalamazoo @ Norfolk Admirals- Saturday, March 31, 7 p.m., Norfolk Scope.

Broadcast information: Saturday’s game will air on AM 590/FM 106.9 WKZO or online at http://player.listenlive.co/29131

Stats: https://www.echl.com/stats/game-center/15837

Photo credit: Kimberly Moss

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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