Taylor Scores Twice As K-Wings Fall on Thanksgiving Eve

Cincinnati, OH.- Justin Taylor scored twice for Kalamazoo, but it was four unanswered goals from the Cyclones that made the difference as Kalamazoo fell 6-3 on Wednesday night.

Taylor’s netted his third two-goal game of the season. Kalamazoo falls to 4-8-0-1 with the defeat.

The first period saw both teams net a pair of goals, surpassing Saturday night’s goal total in just 20 minutes. Justin Vaive opened the scoring, tipping a point shot from Devante Stephens past Jake Hildebrand just 1:29 in giving Cincy the 1-0 lead. Wade Murphy got the K-Wings on the board shortly after. Murphy found a rebound at the top of the circle, spun around, and wristed a shot to the back of the net tying the game at 1-1. Riding a five-game scoring streak, Myles Powell wouldn’t be held quiet for too long though as the forward gave the Cyclones lead once again at 2-1. A minute later though Kalamazoo knotted it back up. Justin Taylor collected the rebound of a Ben Betker shot, and tucked it past Michael Houser at the left post. The 2-2 tie held into the first intermission.

In the second period it didn’t take long for the tie to break, as the K-Wings scored just 0:30 in, taking a 3-2 lead. Justin Taylor, hovering at the far post once again, found a loose puck and notched his second goal of the night on the man-advantage giving the K-Wings the 3-2 lead. Cincinnati netted the next three goals of the game securing their second victory in a row over the K-Wings. Pascal Aquin tied the game up with a short-handed break-away less than two minutes after Taylor gave the K-Wings the lead. Before the period ended, the Cyclones retook the lead thanks to Vas Glotov. After forty minutes of play the K-Wings found themselves in one-goal hole, trailing 4-3.

Cincinnati capped off the scoring in the third with a pair of goals from Mitch Jones. The blueliner added the insurance goal just under five minutes into the final frame. Jones wristed a shot from the right side that beat Hildebrand high short side, giving the home side the 5-3 lead. Jones would add another goal into the empty net as time wound down to cap off the scoring.

Kalamazoo finished the night one-for-seven on the man-advantage, while the Cyclones finished two-for-five. Hildebrand stopped 28 of 33 shots, while Michael Houser stopped 28 of 31 en route to the victory.

The K-Wings are back at home on Friday, taking on the Fort Wayne Komets. Puck drop at Wings Event Center is set for 7:30 pm.

Kalamazoo Wings single game and half season tickets are available now! More information can be gathered at www.kwings.com.

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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