WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Battling until the final horn, the Kalamazoo Wings season came to an end, as the K-Wings lost to the Florida Everblades 3-1 Saturday night at the Germain Arena and dropped their Eastern Conference Finals series four games to one.
While neither team was able to score in the opening period, the period’s best chance came from Florida’s Sebastien Piche, who right after stepping out of the penalty box received a pass for a breakaway. During the ensuing scoring opportunity, Piche tried to beat Gill low on backhander, but the netminder came up with the save late in the period to keep the game scoreless.
As they have all series long, Florida jumped ahead with the game’s first goal 9:02 into the second period. Skating from right-to-left, Mike Ratchuk (1st) utilized a screen in front the net and sent a wrister from between the circles over the shoulder of Gill.
Responding moments later, Kory Karlander (4th) evened the game at 1-1 redirecting an Eric Kattelus slap shot over the glove hand of John Muse.
Finding room in the high slot, Piche (3rd) regained a one-goal lead for the Everblades scoring on the power-play late in the stanza.
Trevor Bruess (5th) added insurance for the Everblades, who will now face the Las Vegas Wranglers in the Kelly Cup Finals, scoring 5:56 into the final period on a wrister.
Kalamazoo will begin their 39th season of hockey in October. Season Tickets for the 2012-13 season of K-Wings hockey are available now by calling (269) 349-9772.
Submitted by Mike Modugno
