KALAMAZOO 3, Cincinnati 2 - OT


KALAMAZOO, Michigan – Kalamazoo Wings (2-0-0-0) forward Kory Karlander netted the game-winning goal with just 13 seconds left in overtime to beat the Cincinnati Cyclones (1-1-1-0) by a 3-2 count in front of 4,772 at Wings Stadium on Saturday night.

For the first time this season, the Cyclones were able to score first when Mathieu Aubin cut around the Kalamazoo net and wristed a shot past Wings goaltender Ryan Nie (W, 21 saves, 2-0-0).  But the lead would last a mere 15 seconds, as Jordan Fulton pushed a loose puck past Cyclones netminder Jeremy Smith (L, 27 saves, 0-0-1-0) to knot things at one.  After an Adam Bartholomay holding penalty, the Wings power play cashed in; when Smith misplayed the puck behind the net, Trent Daavettila was able to stash it into a nearly empty net, giving the Wings a 2-1 lead at the 16:45 mark.  Luckily, Cincinnati was able to counter with a power play goal of its own at 18:18 as T.J. Fast blasted home his second goal of the season to tie things up at two heading into the first intermission.

Little did they know it then, but that’s how the game would remain through all of regulation and for the second game in a row, Cincinnati went to overtime.  In the extra session, Fast got beat at the end of his shift by Kalamazoo’s Brandon Svendsen, forcing Fast to take him down and draw a penalty.  With a four-on-three man advantage and time running down, former Cyclone Sam Ftorek set up Kory Karlander for a wide open wrist shot that beat Smith for the game-winning tally.

It was the first overtime loss for the Cyclones since February 17, 2010 when they dropped a 2-1 contest to Toledo.  Cincinnati finished the night 1-for-4 with the power play.  The Wings went 2-for-6.

The Cyclones and Wings will go at it again tomorrow afternoon in the final game of a brief weekend series.  The puck drops at 4:00pm at Wings Stadium with pregame coverage on CyclonesHockey.com getting underway at 3:45pm.

The defending Kelly Cup Champion Cyclones open their home schedule on Saturday, October 30 at U.S. Bank Arena against the Wheeling Nailers.  Discounted ticket packages and single game tickets for the 2010-2011 season are available now.  For more information, call 513.421.PUCK (7825) or visit CyclonesHockey.com.
    
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