INDIANAPOLIS IN (WKZO AM/FM) – The Kalamazoo Wings (7-5-1-0) won their fourth game in a row, third straight in comeback fashion, and Justin Taylor became the K-Wings all-time goal scorer in a 4-2 victory against the Indy Fuel (9-5-1-0) Saturday in Indianapolis.
Justin Taylor (2, 3) notched career goals No. 239 and 240, tying and passing both Kevin Schamehorn and Mike Wanchuk in the contest. Hunter Vorva (1-1-0-0) was also rock-solid in his first action for the K-Wings since Oct. 26, as he made 35 saves on 37 shot attempts to earn his first ECHL victory.
Taylor tied the all-time record with the first goal of the game at the 9:57 mark of the first period. He rushed up the left side on a breakaway, going forehand then backhand as he crossed through the goalmouth for the goal. Anthony Collins (2) and Ryan Cook (3) earned the assists.
Indy then netted a pair, one in the first and one in the third, to take the lead.
And that’s when Taylor erased it with his record-breaker at the 6:03 mark of the third. Justin parked himself in front of the crease and tipped in a shot by Chad Nychuk (6) on the power play. Max Humitz (5) had the second assist on the historic goal.
Just two minutes and two seconds after Taylor’s game-tying goal, Humitz (3) delivered the game-winning goal. Mason McCarty (7) extended his point streak to four games with a masterful saucer pass, from the bottom of the right circle to his left, right onto Humitz’s stick that had top-shelf eyes. Brandon Saigeon (6) picked up the second assist on the goal.
The game got interesting at the end as both teams headed to the penalty box, first Indy and then Kalamazoo, allowing the Fuel to have a power play opportunity in the final minutes of the game.
That’s when Kalamazoo slammed the door.
Moments after the Fuel emptied their net, for a 6-on-4 advantage, the K-Wings defense stood tall on the Fuel’s zone entry at their own blue line, and Raymond Brice (5) flipped a puck with eyes from Kalamazoo’s zone into the empty goal. Brice’s insurance goal was unassisted.
The K-Wings have now won five of the last six games.
Kalamazoo and Indy play again Sunday afternoon for the back half of the home-and-home series at Wings Event Center. Puck drop will be at 3:00 p.m. EST for Kalamazoo’s ‘Autism Awareness’ game.
Broadcast time on 590/106.9 WKZO is set for 2:35 pm.
THIS REPORT WAS WRITTEN BY CHRIS CADEAU, VOICE OF THE KALAMAZOO WINGS
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