SAAR SCORES TWO AS K-WINGS PUSH PAST FUEL 4-3

Kalamazoo, MI.- The K-Wings reversed the script from Saturday night, scoring three times in the third period to skate past the Fuel 4-3 on Sunday afternoon.

Zach Saar scored twice for Kalamazoo en route to his first multi-goal game. Kyle Thomas scored in the third period, extending his scoring streak to four games, and his point streak to six. Jake Hildebrand, who made 28 saves, won his third consecutive start.

The Fuel opened the scoring just over two minutes into the first. Brett Welycka took a pass from Kevin Dufour, wristing a shot past Jake Hildebrand to give the Fuel a 1-0 lead. Kalamazoo answered back before the end of the period. Zach Saar tipped a Chad McDonald shot right in front to tie the game at 1-1. On the power play late in the period Logan Nelson was the beneficiary of a strange hop as a bouncing puck snuck past Hildebrand, giving the Fuel a 2-1 lead.

That lead stayed in place until the early stages in the third period. Tanner Sorenson got the K-Wings on the board 1:08 into the third, netting his 12th goal of the season to tie the game at 2-2. Midway through the frame the Fuel retook the lead as Matt Rupert collected the rebound on a power play, tucking the puck into the back of the net, giving the Fuel the 3-2 lead. With the hot hand for the K-Wings as of late, Kyle Thomas netted his eighth goal of the season a fifth in the last four games, tying the game at the 11:54 mark of the third. Less than three minutes later the K-Wings took the lead for the first time of the afternoon. Chad McDonald cut through the slot and sent a pass towards the post. Colin Jacobs used his feet to redirect it to Saar who buried the puck past Defiel, giving the K-Wings the 4-3 lead. The late tally from Saar capped the scoring, and gave the K-Wings the 4-3 victory, ending the three-in-three.

Jake Hildebrand, winning his third consecutive start, stopped 28 of 31 shots in the victory, while Gordon Defiel stopped 31 of 35.

Kalamazoo returns to action for a morning game on Thursday morning in Toledo taking on the Walleye.

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.