Sirota Scores Game-Winner in a Shootout

Avenging a home loss to the Toledo Walleye the night before, the Kalamazoo Wings started a three-game road swing with a 2-1 shootout victory over the Walleye at the Huntington Center.

After a combined four goals in the opening period the night before, neither the K-Wings nor Walleye scored in the first 20 minutes on Sunday. Kalamazoo outshot Toledo 9-7 in the period, with the K-Wings generating their best scoring chances on their lone power-play.

The scoring drought continued in the second period. Both teams failed to connect on both of their power-play chances. Unlike the first period, Kalamazoo failed to gain as many shots as Toledo. The Walleye outshot the K-Wings 10-8 in the middle frame.

Darryl Bootland ended the stalemate 18 seconds into the third period with his 11th goal of the season. Bootland’s goal was his sixth goal this season against the Walleye.

The K-Wings lead held until the final two minutes of regulation. With the goaltender pulled and on a power-play, Harrison Reed (5th) evened the contest with a slap shot from the slot to force overtime.

Eventually heading into a shootout, Kalamazoo out-dueled Toledo 3-2 in the extra session. The K-Wings received goals from Taylor Ellington, Dustin Cloutier and the game-winner from Nick Sirota.

Making 31 saves in regulation, Maxime Clermont (7-4-0-0) secured the victory for the K-Wings stopping five of the eight shots he faced in the shootout.

Kalamazoo will continue their three-game road swing with the middle leg next Friday, January 20th with a 7:05 p.m. encounter against the Reading Royals at the Sovereign Center.

The K-Wings will return to Wings Stadium on Friday, January 27th with a 7:30 p.m. face-off versus the Cincinnati Cyclones on Culver’s Night and Frugal Fan Friday, featuring $1 Beers, $1 Pepsi and $1 Hot Dogs.

Tickets for all K-Wings home games are $12.90 and $16.90 for adults and only $6.90 for kids ages 12 and under. The price for all K-Wings premium night games (all colored ice games and New Year’s Eve game) are just $1 more. Fans can save money by purchasing K-Wings single game tickets in advance because tickets purchased on the day of a game increase by $1.

Submitted by Mike Modugno