K-WINGS USE 'THE FORCE' TO BEAT OILERS, END WINLESS STREAK

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 5, 2022

K-WINGS USE 'THE FORCE' TO BEAT OILERS, END WINLESS STREAK 

Kalamazoo dominates special teams and dismantled Tulsa on home ice, 6-2. 

BOX SCORE

KALAMAZOO, MI - The Kalamazoo Wings (25-26-0-0) scored three power play goals, made some history, snapped an eight game losing streak, and beat the Tulsa Oilers 6-2 Saturday on 'Star Wars Night' at Wings Event Center.

It took a minute and 18 seconds for the K-Wings to take firm control of the rematch from a night ago, and the Kalamazoo special teams was the reason this game ended in lopsided fashion. 

Logan Lambdin (21) started the K-Wings Saturday night assault with a wrister from between the circles at the 8:23 mark. But even more impressive was Lambdin’s compete level on the play, as he won a puck battle that created a Kalamazoo scoring chance moments before his score. Erik Bradford (19) and Tyler Rockwell (9) assisted on the goal.

Then, right after that, with the K-Wings on the 4 on 3 advantage, Justin Taylor (17) scored his 8th power play goal of the season. On the play, Kyle Blaney (15) found Taylor on the doorstep and the captain did the rest with a beautiful backhander.  Eric Kattelus (2) took home the second assist on the goal, notching career point No. 289. Kattelus now sits alone at No. 11 all-time in K-Wings points, passing Kevin Evans.

Kalamazoo kicked off the second period with a power play goal at the :52 mark, as Justin Murray (4) rocketed one from the top of the circles past Tulsa goaltender Daniel Mannella (19-12-1-1). Blaney (16) and Matheson Iacopelli (8) assisted on the goal.

Tulsa then connected on the power play at the 7:23 mark of the second to make it a 3-1 game. The K-Wings found the penalty box again just minutes later but no damage was done. With the lead securely intact, it was time for a filthy, tough angle, top shelf goal fromIacopelli (8) at the 13:27 mark of the second. The scoring play came off the heels of a heads up cross-ice pass from goaltender Trevor Gorsuch (2) to a streaking Lambdin (14). 

The K-Wings went into the third up 4-1, and continued to put on the pressure. At the 8:49 mark, Kalamazoo scored it’s third PPG of the game, and it was the first career goal for Tanner Nagel (1). In just his second game with the K-Wings, Nagel chipped home a beautiful centering feed from Tanner Sorenson (26). Lambdin (15) took home his third point of the night with the second assist.

Tulsa finished it’s scoring at the 15:33 mark on the power play, but just 24 seconds later Cody Corbett (2) scored the game’s final goal. Sorenson (27) and Bradford (20) set up the goal with precision passing, and Corbett used a heavy slapper to put this one in the books. 

Trevor Gorsuch (13-18-0-0) made 43 saves on the evening, including fighting off 22 shots in the final frame.

In a game where 20 minor penalties were assessed, the K-Wings went three for seven on the power play and killed three of five down a man. Also, five Kalamazoo players finished with multiple points in the contest (Blaney 2, Bradford 2, Sorenson 2, Iacopelli 2 and Lambdin 3).

Next up for the K-Wings is the Idaho Steelheads (29-22-3-1) on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. at Wings Event Center. 

It’s also a rarity to see a 2-6-9 Night on a Tuesday, but it’s happening! Take advantage of $2 beers, $6 wing baskets and $9 tickets. Also, make sure to hang on to your ticket stub, because fans can redeem that ticket at the box office for a free ticket to the next weeknight game if the-K-Wings win (*redemption must occur up to one half hour following the conclusion of the game).

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The Kalamazoo Wings are a professional hockey team located in southwest Michigan that has been a staple in the Kalamazoo, MI professional sports landscape since 1974. The K-Wings compete in the ECHL and are the AA affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Columbus Blue Jackets and American Hockey League’s Cleveland Monsters. Kalamazoo plays their 36 regular season home games at Wings Event Center from October through April.

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