K-Wings hold on to defeat Royals

The Kalamazoo Wings (31-28-4-1) scored in the first two periods last night and goaltender Clay Witt held off the comeback minded Reading Royals to pick up their second victory in as many nights.

Curtis Valk and Justin Taylor scored just 24 seconds part in the first period to take a 2-0 lead. The goal by Valk was his 16th of the season why Taylor connected for his 19th.

Taking a 3-0 lead in the second period, Lane Scheidl connected for his 12th of the season.

The Royals came storming back in the third period as Yannick Tifu and Brandon Alderson scored a pair of goals 49 seconds apart to cut the K-Wings lead to one goal.

The goal by Alderson was initially ruled as “no goal,” but a discussion at the next whistle flipped the decision.

Even while shorthanded for five of the last six minutes, the Wings kept all of the Reading chances away and were able to acquire the two points.

New and Notes: Tonight marked the one and only meeting between the Wings and Royals. Valk’s point streak was increased to seven games, one shy of Alex Mallet’s season-high streak set from December 19-January 10. Witt and Joel Martin combined for a shutout streak of 119:13 over the course of three separate games. Kalamazoo ended the season with a 4-5-2-0 record against East Division teams.

Next Game: Kalamazoo vs. Wheeling- Friday, March 25, 7:00 p.m., Wings Event Center

Submitted by Mark McGlothlen