GAME DAY: HOME-AND-HOME WRAPS UP ON WMU DAY

GAME #42

Kalamazoo (19-20-0-2) vs Indy (22-18-2-1)

3:00 pm

Watch: ECHL.TV, 

Listen: 1660 the Fan

Last Time Out:

The Fuel notched a trio of goals in the third period, pushing them past the K-Wings 4-2 on Saturday night in Indy. Kalamazoo netted the first goal of the night in the opening period as Tanner Sorenson notched his 11th goal of the season, putting Kalamazoo up 1-0 after the first period. In the second period it was the Indy offense that got on the board as Josh Shalla picked up his first goal of the night, knotting the game at 1-1. Deadlocked after the second, the Fuel scored three times in the third period. Shalla picked up his second of the night in a controversial manner, as a no-call on the ice turned into a goal after a brief discussion with the goal judge. Indy's first lead of the night would last less than a minute, as Kyle Thomas wristed a shot low to the blocker side, tying the game at 2-2. From that point the Fuel would get the only offense on the scoreboard as a power play goal from Kevin Dufour gave the Fuel the lead for good at the 9:55 mark of the period, before an empty netter from Ryan Rupert capped off the scoring at 4-2. Keegan Asmundson finished the night making 25 saves on 28 shots in the defeat, while Matt Tomkins stopped 37 of 39 in a winning cause. 

Didn't We Just See You?:

Sunday afternoon is the second straight meeting between the Fuel and K-Wings this season. It is also only the fifth time this season that the K-Wings have played the same team in back-to-back games. Through the first four back-to-backs against a same team the K-Wings are 2-2 in the second game, including the most recent 10-8 victory over Fort Wayne in mid January.  Kalmazoo will play the same opponent in back-to-back games only once more this season. 

Career Long Streak:

A third period goal for Kyle Thomas on Saturday night extended the forwards point streak, tying a career long at five-games. In addition the forward has scored in each of his last three games, netting four goals over that span. During his five game streak Thomas has recorded six points (4g, 2a). Thomas et his career high twice last season, but never surpassed five games. 

Central Division Update:

After Saturday's loss the K-Wings fell to seven points back of Indy, who moved into third place in the division. However with the Komets idle the K-Wings remain five points out of the fourth and final playoff spot in the Central Division. Cincinnati and Toledo has a hold on the first two spots, followed by Indy (47 points), Fort Wayne (45 points), Wheeling (43 points) and Kalamazoo (40 points). Kalamazoo will play each of their next five games within the Central Division. After that the K-Wings end February by playing four of six games against non-division foes. 

Consistent Kat:

Eric Kattelus notched an assist on Saturday night in Indy, giving the K-Wings utility man at least a point in six of his last eight games. Kattelus has now tallied 13 points in 15 games for the K-Wings so far this season, including eight helpers. During the last eight games he has also added three multipoint games. 

Upcoming: 

After Sunday's game the K-Wings hit the road for a pair of games in Toledo and Wheeling, before returing home to face the Fuel on February 6. Home games will be scarce during the month of February as the K-Wings only play at Wings Event Center on four occassions. Three of the four home games during February are week day games with the lone weekend game coming on Saturday, Feb. 16 vs. Adirondack.