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The Kalamazoo Wings (3-0-0-0) erupted for four third period goals in route to a 5-2 home opening victory over the Brampton Beast (0-4-1-0) on Saturday night.
The Beast scored the first goal of the game midway into the opening period while on the power play. Willie Corrin scored his first of the year. Corrin was assisted on the goal by Brandon Marino and Brandon MacLean.
Three minutes later, the K-Wings scored to tie the game 1-1. Lane Scheidl carried the puck down the ice toward the goal while being flanked by the Beasts Jordan Henry. Scheidl attempted to pass the puck to Peter Schneider on the other side of the net, but Henry pushed it away with his stick. The puck slid right toward a charging Kyle Bushee who put it into the net for his first of the year. The goal by Bushee was unassisted.
Bushee also made history on Saturday night as he played in his 526th game, which moves him up to the 29th slot on the ECHL list.
After a scoreless second period, where the K-Wings outshot the Beast 13-5, the floodgates opened for the K-Wings in the third. ,
Lane Scheidl scored his first of the season just over three minutes into the final period. After receiving a pass, Scheidl crossed the blue line and unleashed a wrister that sailed past the Beast netminder Michael McNiven for a 2-1 lead. Schneider assisted on the goal to give him a point in each of his last 16 games going back to March 5th of last season.
The K-Wings held on to their one goal lead until the 14:28 mark of the period.
Eric Kattelus gave the K-Wings a two-goal lead after swiping the puck from Henry and sending it over the pads of McNiven for his second goal in as many games. The goal by Kattelus was unassisted.
Answering back just over a minute later, the Beast cut the lead to 3-2 on a Corey Durocher goal.
Putting the game out of reach, Scott Henegar was able to score on a rebound from a Danny Moynihan shot to make it a 4-2 game.
Justin Taylor sank the empty net goal with just over two minutes to go to seal the deal for the home team.
The K-Wings went 0-for-5 on the power play while the Beast scored one in their six chances. Kalamazoo outshot the Beast 31-29. Joel Martin was in net for the win.
The two teams traveled to Brampton, ON, Canada for a Sunday matinee. The K-Wings held on for a 5-4 win. Justin Taylor scored a pair of goals and Lane Scheidl, Tyler Biggs and Josh Pitt each added a goal in the win. Michael Garteig was in goal for the K-Wings. The Beast outshot the K-Wings 40-35 while the K-Wings went 3-for-7 on the powerplay and the Beast went 2-for-8.
The K-Wings have won nine of their last 10 meetings with the Beast, dating back to last season.
The K-Wings will host the Kansas City Mavericks on Wednesday morning for their annual Education Day Game.
Submitted by: Mark C. McGlothlen
