WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Erasing a three-goal third period deficit, the Chicago Express scored four unanswered goals to defeat the Kalamazoo Wings 5-4 Saturday night at the Sears Centre.
Needing only 26 seconds to get on the scoreboard, Dwight Helminen’s (6th) wrister from between the circles gave the K-Wings a quick 1-0 advantage.
Scoring in similar fashion later in the period, Helminen (7th) netted his second of the game on an assist from Dustin Cloutier, who also assisted on the opening tally.
Increasing their lead midway through the second period while on a power-play, Nick Sirota (19th) deflected a Elgin Reid slap shot to extend his goal streak to a K-Wings’ season-high six games.
Slipping past the K-Wings defense, Jonathan Zion (9th) put the Express on the board 13:18 into the middle stanza with a power-play maker.
Special teams continued to play a pivotal role in the third period, starting with an early power-play goal from Darren Archibald (11th), which grew the K-Wings lead back to three goals.
Fighting back midway in the period, Darcy Campbell (8th) sparked Chicago’s comeback with a shorthanded tally.
Zion (10th) brought the Express back to within a single goal later in the period with his second power-play goal of the evening.
Recording the equalizer moments later, Taylor Ellington (10th) flipped in a backhander to knot the game at 4-4.
Stepping around two defenders with less than three minutes remaining in regulation, Danick Paquette put the Express up for good registering his 12th goal of the campaign.
The K-Wings will return to Wings Stadium 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
