FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2022
K-WINGS THRILL IN OT AT HOME, NOW IN PLAYOFF POSITION
Kalamazoo’s Iacopelli delivers in OT and K-Wings defeat Iowa, 4-3.
KALAMAZOO, MI - The Kalamazoo Wings (33-29-1-0) score three in the second period to overcome a 2-0 deficit, and beat the Iowa Heartlanders (27-27-8-1) in overtime on Wednesday at Wings Event Center, 4-3.
With the win, Kalamazoo has now moved into sole possession of fourth place in the Central Division.
Matheson Iacopelli (18, 19), now with 12 goals in his last 13 games and back-to-back multi goal performances, continued his electric play of late. And Trevor Gorsuch (21-20-0-0) slammed the door shut to propel the K-Wings to their ninth win in the month of March.
On the game-winner, while skating 3 aside, Erik Bradford (25) found Olivier LeBlanc (4) at the top of the offensive zone and skated to the bench for a change. Iacopelli replaced Bradford on the ice, accepted a drop pass from LeBlanc and sniped his second goal of the game into the back of the net from the right circle.
Yet, the win came with a little adversity, as Iowa took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission and tied it in the third.
But the second is when Kalamazoo took control. First it was Justin Taylor (22) that deposited a second chance opportunity into the back of the net, assisting on the goal was Zach Jordan (8). Then, Iacopelli buried the PPG from the right circle just 1:46 seconds later, assisting on the goal was Kyle Blaney (27) and Eric Kattleus (6). Finally, Max Humitz (13) scored on a beautiful Taylor (27) slot feed that Zach Jordan (9) dug out of the half-boards, giving the K-Wings the lead with 1:03 left in the second period.
With Taylor’s assist on the Humitz goal, Justin moved into a tie for No. 3 all-time with Kory Karlander (452) for points scored in K-Wings history.
Gorsuch (41 saves) made multiple highlight reel stops in this one, and finished the month with a 9-3 record, a 2.44 GAA and a .931 save percentage.
Kalamazoo now hits the road to face the Fort Wayne Komets (36-20-6-1) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. EDT.
–
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.
###
Adirondack Thunder
Allen Americans
Atlanta Gladiators
Bloomington Bison
Cincinnati Cyclones
Florida Everblades
Fort Wayne Komets
Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Idaho Steelheads
Indy Fuel
Iowa Heartlanders
Jacksonville Icemen
Kalamazoo Wings
Kansas City Mavericks
Maine Mariners
Norfolk Admirals
Orlando Solar Bears
Rapid City Rush
Reading Royals
Savannah Ghost Pirates
South Carolina Stingrays
Tahoe Knight Monsters
Toledo Walleye
Trois-Rivières Lions
Tulsa Oilers
Utah Grizzlies
Wheeling Nailers
Wichita Thunder
Worcester Railers