K-Wings power past Thunder

The Kalamazoo Wings (32-26-4-2) defeated the Wichita Thunder by a score of 5-3 on Thursday night at Wings Event Center.  The win, coupled with a dramatic 3-2 overtime victory in Fort Wayne the night before, have given the K-Wings a three-game winning streak as they head into the final weeks of the season.

The remaining eight games will be crucial to the K-Wings playoff hopes.  The K-Wings remain in fourth place in the North Division and are currently in the playoffs.  The Kansas City Mavericks and Indy Fuel are just two and four points behind respectively, however.

With their latest victories, the K-Wings have closed the gap with the third place Cincinnati Cyclones and only trail them by three points.  All teams have 8 games remaining in the season.

On Wednesday night, the K-Wings traveled to Fort Wayne to take on the Komets.  The K-Wings took a 2-0 midway into the game on goals by Ben Wilson (3) and Justin Taylor (30). Taylor’s goal was scored on the power play.  Mounting the comeback, the Komets scored a pair of goals in the second half of the game. The game was tied 2-2 at the end of regulation.

In overtime, the K-Wings earned their third power play of the game and were able to capitalize in a big way.  Brendan Bradley (took a pass from Kyle Blaney and sent it into the net for the win.

Returning home for their second to last home game of the regular season, the K-Wings hosted the Thunder.

Taking a 2-0 lead after the first period, the K-Wings received goals from Josh Pitt (30) and Lane Schiedl (16).  Both goals were scored on the power play.

The Thunder’s Jeremy Beaudry scored early in the second period to cut the K-Wings lead to 2-1, but the K-Wings added two more to go up by a 4-1 margin.  Jimmy Mullin (19) and Danny Moynihan (14) scored for the home team. Moynihan’s goal was a power play goal.

Not giving up, the Thunder scored a pair of goals in the third period to cut the lead to 4-3, but the K-Wings Blaney scored an empty-net goal to secure the win.  The K-Wings are off until Sunday when they travel to Toledo to take on the first-place Walleye.

By: Mark C. McGlothlen