COLLINS LATE TALLY PUSHES K-WINGS PAST BEAST

For Immediate Release

Kalamazoo, MI.- Chris Collins scored with 1:03 to play in regulation to avoid overtime and give the K-Wings their third straight victory as they topped the Brampton Beast 4-3 on Saturday.

Justin Taylor netted his 19th goal of the season tying Utah’s Caleb Herbert for the league lead in goals. Brandon Anselmini recorded two assists for his second consecutive multi-point game. Tyler Biggs added an assist on Justin Taylor’s first period goal, giving the forward a point in each of his last three games.

The Beast jumped out to an early 1-0 lead thanks to former K-Wing David Pacan early in the opening period. Pacan’s 15th of the season found the back of the net just 5:26 into regulation, as Brampton took hold of the early lead. Before the midway point of the period though Justin Taylor tied the game back up. A pass up the middle of the ice from Tyler Biggs set Taylor free on a break-away. Taylor flipped the puck to his back-hand tucking it past Austin Lotz to tie the game. Late in the period the K-Wings took their first lead of the night. Ben Wilson found a rebound in front of the net, tapping home the loose puck to give Kalamazoo the 2-1 lead. Wilson’s first of the season sent the K-Wings into the intermission ahead 2-1.

In the second the Beast flipped the script, netting back-to-back goals to take a 3-2 lead 7:09 into the middle frame. Goals from Adrian Carbonara and Erik Bradford pushed the Beast back into the lead until Reid Gardiner tied it 3-3 with less than a minute to play in the second. Chad McDonald took a shot from the point the deflected off a defenseman and then off of Reid Gardiner’s face before hitting the back of the twine.

Tied 3-3 late in the third period Chris Collins had an opportunity and seized it. Collins tapped the puck around the Brampton defenseman, regained it, and wristed a shot from the right dot, low blocker side on Austin Lotz to give the K-Wings the lead with 1:03 to play in regulation. Collins tally was the last one of the night as Kalamazoo skated away with their third straight victory, and second straight over the Beast.

Ivan Kulbakov leads the way for the K-Wings stopping 49 of 52 shots in the victory. Austin Lotz finished the night with 27 saves on 31 shots for the Beast. Kalamazoo ended the night 0-for-3 on the man-advantage, while Brampton scored once on three chances.

The K-Wings wrap up a three-in-three tomorrow afternoon as the Wichita Thunder come to town for Incredibles Day. Puck drop is set for 3:00pm.

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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