KALAMZOO, MI – Former Wheeling Nailers forward Aaron Clarke scored twice on the power play, to lead the Kalamazoo Wings to a 4-2 victory over the Nailers in action Saturday night at Wings Stadium. The win extends the Wings lead in the North Division to ten points, while also extending their unbeaten streak to 16 games, going 13-0-0-3 during that stretch.
Things were quiet in the game’s first 10 minutes, but the Wings took advantage of their first power play opportunity of the game. Patrick Asselin fired the first shot of the game for the Wings, which was stopped by Nailers goaltender Patrick Killeen. However, the second shot was put into the net off the rebound by former Nailer Aaron Clarke who gave Kalamazoo the 1-0 lead at the end of the first.
The Nailers tied the game at 10:42 of the second period after an offensive zone faceoff. Paul Crowder found himself with the puck at the circle and ripped a hard wrsit shot play Wings netminder Ryan Nie to tie the game at one. Newcomer Brandon DeFazio was credited an assist on the goal, for his first professional point.
Moments later, Kalamazoo took the lead right back scoring their second power play goal of the game. Mitch Versteeg fired a shot from the point which was tipped in front by Clarke, who registered his second marker of the game. Versteeg logged a goal on the power play three minutes later, as he picked up a rebound on the backside and wristed it into the net behind Killeen to extend the Kalamazoo 3-1 after two periods.
In the third, the Wings continued to soar, as Kory Karlander scored his 30th goal of the season a 2-on-1 rush into the zone at 7:54 of the period. Wheeling attempted to rally, converting on a 2-on-1 of their own. Dan Henningson led the rush into the zone on the wing, and lifted a pass in front to Paul Crowder who deked to the forehand, and slipped the puck past Nie to pull the Nailers within two.
However, Nie and the Wings were able to hold off the Nailers to preserve the win. Wheeling outshot Kalamazoo 34-24 in the game. K-Zoo went three-of-six on the power play.
The two teams will conclude their weekend series on Sunday at Wings Stadium. Game time is slated for 4:00 p.m.
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