Four Power Play Goals Lead Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo, MI- In a game that saw 28 penalties for 88 minutes, it was the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings, who got four power play goals, who topped the Janesville Jets in a battle of the special teams by a score of 5-2 on Sunday at the Borgess Health Rink at Wings West.

The first period was dominated by Kalamazoo, but stellar goaltending by Janesville’s Austin Priebe limited the Jr. K-Wings’ offensive production. The hometown Jr. K-Wings were able to pepper 19 shots at Priebe, compared to a total of four put on goal by the Jets. Kalamazoo was able to net one in the period, that being a power play tally by Robbie Payne, who lit the lamp for his team leading 23^rd time.

The Jr. K-Wings were stellar in the second period as well, as they were able to capitalize on a number of power play opportunities that were granted to them in the middle frame. 9:03 into the period, Taylor Burden got a feed from Kyle Gattelaro and was able to bury it home for his 18^th of the campaign.

Just three and a half minutes later, Burden would strike on the power play again. This time it was Payne taking a shot on a two-on-one, and Burden crashing the net to poke home his second of the game and 19^th of the season. It would be the eventual game-winning goal. Through the first three goals of the game for Kalamazoo, resulted in three points for each Payne (1 goal, 2 assists), Burden (2 goals, 1 assist), and Gattelaro (3 assists).

With the third period being plagued by penalties in the early stages, the Jr. K-Wings took advantage of a 5-on-3 presented to them. Mark Esshaki got a feed along the right side and ripped a slap shot past Priebe for his 2^nd of the season, giving the Jr. K-Wings a 4-0 edge.

46 seconds later, Janesville would finally break their scoreless drought. While on a power play of their own, team-leading scorer Jason Ford worked toward the Kalamazoo goal and was able to slam home a second effort rebound. It was his team-best 15^th of the season, and broke a shutout streak of Marcus Due-Boje that ranged for 198 minutes and 37 seconds.

The Jets would tally another power play marker just two and a half minutes later, as it wasRyan Dau who would light the lamp for the 11^th time on the season as he was able to beat Due-Boje from the right side.

That would be as close as the Jets would pull, as the Jr. K-Wings put home an empty netter from Sam Johnson (1^st) to seal the deal late in the third.

Official game stats can be found at: http://pointstreak.com/prostats/gamesheet_full.html?gameid=1993907

The Jr. K-Wings will take the ice again on Saturday, February 23^rd, as they travel to Flint, Michigan to take on the Michigan Warriors. The game will drop the puck at 7:05, and is the first game of a home-and-home series.  

For more information regarding the Jr. K-Wings, please contact: Mike Modugno, director of public relations/broadcaster at (269) 349-1125, extension 220.