Wings loss sets stage for win-and-in against Indy

KALAMAZOO, MI— The Kalamazoo Wings fell to the Brampton Beast by a 2-1 final on Saturday, setting the tone for a Sunday showdown with the Indy Fuel for the final playoff berth in the Central Division.

Forcing a steal in the Wings’ zone, the Beast earned the first lead of the night less than five minutes into the game. David Vallorani drove a shot to the net, but as it was batted down in front, it landed on the stick of Scott Jacklin. Jacklin spotted a teammate and slid a pass to the backdoor where Brandon MacLean deposited his shot.

Ten minutes later, the Wings earned a power play and used the extra space in the offensive zone to knot the game at one. Kyle Bushee opened up room at the top of the left circle and hammered a slap shot to the goal which Chris Driedger kicked away. The rebound landed on the stick of Lane Scheidl, who slid his 18th of the season into a wide open net.

In a highly-contested second period, it was Brampton who eventually generated the period’s only goal. A loose puck at the left-side circle was reached for by Alex Foster, who axed at the puck, sending it ricocheting off the stick of a Wing. The looping try arced over the head of Joel Martin before dipping under the crossbar and in.

The third period was controlled by the Wings for the most part, as they outshot the Beast by a 17-9 margin, but Driedger stole the show and was rock solid in net. Even with Martin on the bench for an extra attacker, the Wings couldn’t muster up a tying goal and fell in their regular season home finale.

Next: Kalamazoo @ Indy Fuel- Sunday, April 8, 3:05 p.m., Indiana Farmers Coliseum.

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

Stats: https://www.echl.com/stats/game-center/15884

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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