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The Kalamazoo Wings are pulling out all the stops in their effort to earn a spot in this years ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs.
Their efforts are paying off, for now anyway. After sweeping the Greenville Swamp Rabbits in three games this past weekend, the K-Wings moved up to the eighth and final playoff spot in the American Conference, which they share with the Elmira Jackals. Both teams currently have 77 points on the season.
Defeating the Swamp Rabbits by a score of 4-3 in overtime. The K-Wings took a 2-0 lead in the second period with a pair of goals by Lane Schiedl. The two teams exchanged goals in the first half of the third period, with Justin Taylor scoring for the K-Wings. The Swamp Rabbits added two more to send the game into OT.
With just one second left in overtime and the K-Wings fresh off from killing a four-on-three power play, Mallet scored the game winner during a last-second scramble in front of the goal.
On Saturday, the K-Wings knocked off the Swamp Rabbits by a score of 5-2. Sacha Guimond scored a pair of goals while Ludwig Blomstrand, Taylor and Tyler Shattock each added one.
Completing the sweep on Saturday night, the K-Wings defeated the Swamp Rabbits by a 3-1 score. Taylor, Mallet and Schiedl scored for the K-Wings.
Next Game: Kalamazoo @ Brampton- Wednesday, April 6, 7:15 p.m., Powerade Centre.
Notes: The Wings have won seven consecutive games. Taylor has registered a goal in six straight games. Ludwig Blomstrand’s eight game point streak came to an end. Kalamazoo finished the season 6-3-0 against the South Division. Joel Martin moved into fifth all time in ECHL wins with his 156th career victory.
In another news, the K-Wings claimed defenseman Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel off waivers and have signed him to a standard professional contract.
Dieude-Fauvel, 29, joins Kalamazoo from the Rapid City Rush, where he played in 28 games, scoring five goals and adding four assists. The 6-foot-2, 220 pound defenseman began the season in Evansville, but was traded to Rapid City after appearing in just four games with the IceMen.
The native of Bordeaux, France began his professional career in France during the 2004 season with Amiens. After five full seasons in the French professional ranks, Dieude-Fauvel made his North American debut in 2009 with the Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League, where he spent two seasons before making his ECHL debut in 2011 with the Elmira Jackals.
Dieude-Fauvel returned to the CHL, this time with the Quad City Mallards, in 2013 and registered career highs in goals (11), assists (29), points (40) and plus/minus (+17) in 65 games played. The following season, he split time with Quad City, who had moved to the ECHL, and the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey league.
The veteran has represented Team France in the last two IIHF World Hockey Championships.
Submitted by Mark McGlothlen
