WHEELING, WV (WKZO AM/FM) – The Kalamazoo Wings (33-25-3-0) used perfect penalty killing, 31 Hunter Vorva saves, and a clutch Erik Bradford third period goal to defeat the Wheeling Nailers (34-26-2-1) at WesBanco Arena Friday, 4-3.
Erik Bradford (26) scored the go-ahead goal with a one-timer from the right circle at the 16:18 mark of the third period. Josh Passolt (20) assisted Bradford after a tough hustle play from Brad Morrison (29) that kept the puck in the offensive zone.
The boys in red, white and blue then killed a 6-on-4 advantage in the final 1:28 of regulation after going short-handed late to seal the win.
Wheeling opened the scoring at the 2:31 mark of the first period.
Collin Adams (17) pulled Kalamazoo even at the 5:11 mark on a breakaway through the left circle. David Keefer (29) hit Adams with a crisp pass at center ice after a Wheeling turnover.
Passolt (21) made it 2-1 with a one-timer from the right circle on the power play at the 11:42 mark. Bradford (46) fed Passolt a skip pass from the left point while Michael Joyaux (18) notched the secondary assist.
The Nailers tied the game at the 17:15 mark.
Collin Saccoman (6) found the back of the net from just below the blue line with a one-timer at the 16:42 mark of the second.
Wheeling tied the game 3-3 just 1:04 later.
Goaltender Hunter Vorva (18-9-0-0) was stellar and stopped 31 of 34 shots against. The Kalamazoo native denied all 14 Nailer attempts in the third period.
The K-Wings finished the game 1-for-3 on the power play and a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. Wheeling took the final shot total, 34-24.
Kalamazoo is back in action Saturday at 7:35 p.m. EDT against the Cincinnati Cyclones (27-30-5-0) at Heritage Bank Center.
Broadcast time on 590/106.9 WKZO is 7:05 pm.
THIS REPORT WAS WRITTEN BY CHRIS CADEAU, VOICE OF THE K WINGS
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