WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Despite outshooting the Chicago Express 42-23, the Kalamazoo Wings could not dig themselves out of a three-goal deficit as they lost 4-3 Friday night.
Flying out of the penalty box following a four-on-four, Kory Karlander (17) stole the puck in the Express zone and ripped a slap shot over Rob Madore 3:10 into the contest to give the K-Wings an early 1-0 lead.
Chicago pulled even just 1:17 later with a goal from Aaron Marvin (11th). With the puck at the side of the K-Wings net, Embach wacked at the loose puck three times to finally beat Riley Gill.
Taking advantage of their first power-play of the night, Maxime Gratchev (14th) one-timed a cross-rink pass from Chaz Johnson midway in the stanza to give the Express a 2-1 lead.
Before the end of the opening 20 minutes, former K-Wing Taylor Ellington (4th) gave Chicago a little cushion scoring on a right-circle wrist shot with 3.5 seconds remaining in the period.
Keeping their momentum from the end of the first period, the Express struck early in the second period with a tally from Danick Paquette 40 seconds into the period.
After 21 straight games without a goal, Justin Taylor has lit the lamp in back-to-back games, notching his 22nd marker of the season on a rebounder 13:22 into the period.
Extending his goal streak to a K-Wings’ season-high tying five games, Nick Sirota (18th) took a wrist shot from the slot late in the middle frame brought the K-Wings back to within a single-goal.
Kalamazoo will return to the ice Saturday, March 24th, as the K-Wings will travel to Sears Centre for a 7:30 (CDT) encounter against the Express.
The K-Wings will return to Wings Stadium this Sunday, March 25th at Wings Stadium with a 4 p.m. face-off versus the Cincinnati Cyclones on a Family Hockey in the ‘ZOO, presented by Meijer, Pepsi, Charter and the Kalamazoo Gazette. The first 500 kids will receive a FREE K-Wings Superhero, Courtesy of Charter. Sunday will be the final regular season home game for the K-Wings and will feature, a FREE post-game skate with the team (skate rental is $3) and post-game team awards.
Submitted by Mike Modugno
