KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Kalamazoo Wings (35-32-1-0) took it all the way to the buzzer versus the Fort Wayne Komets (38-24-6-1), but couldn’t find the equalizer and lost Saturday in front of a sellout crowd for Grateful Dead Night at Wings Event Center, 5-4.
With the net empty and down two, after Fort Wayne took a two goal lead in the third, Jake Slaker scored with the extra attacker to cut the Komets lead to one at the 19:46 mark. Kalamazoo was unable to score on two opportunities in the final 14 seconds. Justin Taylor and Eric Kattelus assisted on the goal.
The K-Wings took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission on the goal by Logan Lambdin at the 5:54 mark. Erik Bradford and Giovanni Vallati assisted on the goal.
Fort Wayne added two goals between the 5:17 mark and the 7:53 mark of the second to take a 2-1 lead, but Logan Lambdin scored to tie the game up at two at the 8:32 mark. Justin Murray and Erik Bradford assisted on the goal.
Then Fort Wayne came back to take the lead just 31 seconds later, but Olivier Leblanc tied it up at three with a minute and 12 seconds remaining in the period. Logan Lambdin and Justin Murray assisted on LeBlanc’s first career goal, while skating four aside.
Jake Kielly made 33 saves in the loss, and Justin Taylor set a new career high in assists on the Slaker goal.
Kalamazoo keeps pace in the Central Division playoff hunt due to Wheeling and Cincinnati losing on Saturday.
The K-Wings face the Komets again on Sunday for Teacher Appreciation Day at Wings Event Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. EDT.
590/106.9 WKZO will join the game in progress after the completion of the Tigers’ game. Approximate time is 4:20 pm.
THIS REPORT WAS WRITTEN BY CHRIS CADEAU, VOICE OF THE KALAMAZOO WINGS
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