K-WINGS POWER PLAY EXPLODES, DOWN FUEL IN OT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

April 2, 2023

K-WINGS POWER PLAY EXPLODES, DOWN FUEL IN OT

Kalamazoo scores three power play goals, plays strong defense and beats Indy for fourth win in last six games.

BOX SCORE

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The Kalamazoo Wings (27-35-4-0), proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Columbus Blue Jackets, outlasted the Indy Fuel (39-23-5-0) in overtime, utilizing strong special teams play to pick up the 3-2 OT victory Sunday at Indiana Farmers Coliseum.

Robert Calisti (11) scored his first goal in a K-Wings uniform with the overtime winner, blasting a one-timer from between the circles on a power play that was carried over from regulation. Ben Copeland (2) set up Calisti’s game-winner from the left circle, with Justin Murray (28) earning the secondary assist.

The K-Wings scored all three of their goals in the contest on the power play and went 5-for-6 on the penalty kill.

Indy opened the scoring, while skating 4-on-4 at the 12:10 mark of the first, and maintained the 1-0 lead through the end of the period.

But Kalamazoo struck back in the second, as Ben Copeland (4) took the puck around the world in the offensive zone before sending a wrist shot into the top-left corner for a goal at the 14:25 mark. Copeland’s power play tally was assisted by Murray (27) and Luke Morgan (17).

Less than two minutes later, on the power play once again, Aidan Spellacy (1) scored his first professional goal to put the K-Wings in front. On the play, Calisti (16) sent the puck from the left circle to Kobe Roth (15) at the right point, with Roth then skating down and sending a centering pass to Spellacy to one-time bury it from the bottom of the slot.

The Fuel wouldn’t go quietly, scoring a power play goal at the 8:47 mark to tie the game and hanging on for dear life defensively to the end, as Kalamazoo made a strong push late in regulation, to force overtime.

Hunter Vorva (11-9-1-0) made his first start in 30 days and didn’t miss a beat, making 27 saves on 29 shots faced in the victory.

The K-Wings head to Fort Wayne to face the Komets (32-27-4-3) on Friday at 8:00 p.m. EDT at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

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It’s the last regular-season $3 Friday game of the season, and we want to celebrate you, the fans, as the K-Wings take on the Toledo Walleye on April 14 at Wings Event Center. Get your ticket’s HERE, and we’ll supply the $3 beers, sodas and hot dogs so all you need to do is come cheer on your favorite team. We’ll also be giving away free team posters upon entry to the arena.

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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 the 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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