Wings' season ends in loss to Indy

INDIANAPOLIS, IN—The Kalamazoo Wings’ season came to a close on Sunday after suffering a 2-1 loss to the Indy Fuel at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum.

After feeling each other out for the first few minutes, the Fuel earned the game’s first lead, courtesy of a friendly bounce in front of the goal. Holding the puck in the zone on an attempted clearance, Josh Shalla snapped the puck to the goal, sending it off the stick of a Wings’ skater. The bouncing puck landed on the stick of Alex Wideman, who poked it into the back of the net.

Indy doubled their lead just 40 seconds later after converting on another point-blank opportunity. Mike Neal moved the puck towards the goal, and it dribbled across to Logan Nelson, who was camped out on the back post. Nelson hauled in the pass and lifted a quick shot over a sliding Joel Martin for his 10th goal of the season. The Fuel’s 2-0 lead held until the end of the period, sending the Wings into the break down by a pair.

The Wings controlled most of the play in the second period, earning a plethora of chances and outshooting Indy, 13-11. However, they couldn’t get on the board, as goaltender Etienne Marcoux stopped each and every effort from Kalamazoo. Martin was equally spectacular for the Wings, fighting off all 11 of Indy’s threats in the second period.

Just over one minute into the third period, the Wings got on the board and cut the deficit in half with a re-direct tally. Possessing the puck along the wall, Danny Moynihan slid a pass to the point where Aaron Irving unleashed a slap shot towards the net. Setting up in front of the goal, Justin Taylor tipped the drive past Marcoux for his career-high 35th goal of the season.

The Wings were in the driver’s seat the remainder of the game, but Marcoux stood tall and denied each opportunity down the stretch. With Martin pulled for an extra attacker, the Wings threw everything they had at the Fuel net, but couldn’t generate a tying goal.

Stats: https://www.echl.com/stats/game-center/15889

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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