Game Day: Black Friday Brings Komets to Town

GAME #14

Kalamazoo (4-8-0-1) at Ft. Wayne (6-8-0-0)

7:30 pm

Watch: ECHL.TV

Listen: 1660 The Fan

Last Time Out:

Kalamazoo took a 3-2 less than a minute into the second period on Wednesday night, but four straight goals from the Cyclones doomed the K-Wings as they fell 6-3. The teams traded goals in the opening frame as Kalamazoo got tallies from Wade Murphy and Justin Taylor. The 2-2 tie after the first period didn't last long once the middle frame began. Taylor scored his second of the night, and tenth of the season, just 0:30 into the period on the power play to give Kalamazoo the lead. The lead lasted for about two minutes before Pascal Aquin scored on a short-handed break-away to tie the game back up. Cincinnati would score once more in the middle period to take a 4-3 lead into the third period. In the third period the Cyclones added two more goals, including an empty netter, skating out with a 6-3 victory on the day before Thanksgiving.

Roster Update:

Kalamazoo made a trio of roster moves since Wednesday's game. The first move, made on Thanksgiving Day, was the signing of former ECHL All-Star Tanner Sorenson. The Anchorage, AK native rejoins the K-Wings after spending last season, and the start of this year in Europe. Sorenson spent two seasons with the K-Wings from 2015-17 scoring 72 points in 134 games. 

In another move on Thursday the Utica Comets recalled defenseman Jagger Dirk, while assigning goaltender Ivan Kulbakov. The recall is Dirk's second of the season. He's appeared in 12 games for Kalamazoo, netting five points (2g, 3a). Kulbakov comes to Kalamazoo after playing in 12 games in Utica during Thatcher Demko's absence. The netminder has posted a record of 5-5-2 with a 3.49 goals against average and a .892 save percentage. The second year pro split last season between Quad City and Cleveland playing in 30 combined games. The 22-year old netminder has represented his native Belarus on the international level at the U18, U20, and senior level in each of the last four seasons. 

Head-to-Head:

Friday is the fourth meeting f 13 meetings between the teams duirng the 2018-19 season. Kalamazoo has been victorious in two of the first three meetings, including the only meeting at Wings Event Center on Oct. 19. Justin Taylor leads all skaters in the series with three goals, while linemate Kyle Thomas leads the K-Wings with four points (1g, 3a). Fort Wayne's Justin Hodgman leads all skaters in the series averaging over two points per game so far, having netted seven points (1g, 6a) in the first three games. Defenseman Jason Binkley and forward Anthony Petruzzelli are the only Komets with more than one goal in the season series, each have scored twice. 

Scouting the Komets:

Fort Wayne heads into Friday's contest in the midst of a three-in-three that began on Thanksgiving Day at home against Brampton. After a three-game winning streak to start November, Fort Wayne has lost three of the last five games. Justin Hodgman leads the Komets with 20 points (5g, 15a) through the first 14 games of the season. Behind Hodgman is the recently acquired Jake Kamrass, who has 12 points on the season, with four of those (2g, 2a) coming since being acquired by Fort Wayne. Komet veteran Shawn Szydlowski is averaging over a point per game since returning to Fort Wayne from a brief stint in Europe, netting six assists in his first five games. 

Between the pipes Lucas Hafner (8gp) and Zach Fucale (6gp) have shouldered the bulk of the load for the Komets. Each netminder has faced the K-Wings at least once this season.

Upcoming:

Kalamazoo wraps up the month of November with a Tuesday evening showdown with the Wheeling Nailers. Tuesday's contest will be the first of two meetings in five days between the Central Division opponents, and also the first match up of the season. Tuesday is also a "Winning Weekday" meaning that a K-Wings victory will get everyone in attendance a free ticket to the following weekday game!

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.