BLANEY PLAYS OT HERO AS K-WINGS TOP WALLEYE 4-3

Toledo, OH.- Kyle Blaney scored 0:21 into the overtime to complete the comeback for the K-Wings on Thursday night as they topped the Walleye 4-3 in overtime.

Kyle Thomas extended his point streak to seven-games and his scoring streak to five-games with three points in the third period and overtime. Jake Hildebrand has now won each of his last four starts. The K-Wings now sit in fifth place in the Central Division.

The Walleye broke the ice in the opening moments of period number two as TJ Hensick extended his point streak to 13-games. Quick puck movement on an odd-man rush found Hensick alone in front of the net, tapping the puck past Hildebrand for the 1-0 Walleye lead 1:06 into the second. The Walleye doubled the lead ten minutes later. As the puck came out of the corner Tyler Spezia swatted at it, and snuck it past Jake Hildebrand’s blocker to make it 2-0 Walleye. With less than a minute left in the period the K-Wings broke through, cutting the lead back to one. In front of the net Tanner Sorenson got his own rebound and jammed the puck past Pat Nagle to cut the lead to 2-1 with 0:51 left in the period.  

In the third period the K-Wings knotted it up just over halfway through the period. Kyle Thomas fed a pass to Tyler Ganly who wristed a shot to the back of the net, tying the game at 2-2. Just over a minute later the Walleye retook the lead. Justin Kea took advantage of a turnover in front of the Kalamazoo cage, capitalizing to give the Walleye to 3-2 lead. Kalamazoo tied the game up at the 14:46 mark of the period. Kyle Thomas collected a loose rebound in front of the net, extending his scoring streak to five games, and tying the game at 3-3. The score would stand through regulation, sending Kalamazoo and Toledo into the overtime for the second straight game.

It only took 0:21 of overtime as Kyle Blaney tipped a pass from Kyle Thomas past Nagle, giving the K-Wings their second straight victory over the Walleye 4-3.

Jake Hildebrand stopped 32 of 35 shots claiming his fourth straight victory.

Kalamazoo wraps up the weekend on Saturday evening taking on the Wheeling Nailers, puck drop is set for 8:00pm in Wheeling.

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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