Port Huron, MI– The Kalamazoo Wings battled valiantly, but for the fourth time this season, the Port Huron Icehawks defeated the K-Wings in overtime, this time by the final of 5-4.
The Icehawks wasted no time registering on the scoreboard, as Donnie Margettie (8th) finished off a two-on-one scoring on a wrist shot 1:08 into the game.
A little over two minutes later, Nick Bootland (44th), who was camping in front of the Icehawks net, deflected a Kory Karlander shot from the left point to knot the contest at 1-1.
Gaining their first lead of the night 37 seconds later at 3:25, Lucas Drake lit the lamp off a brilliant pass from Glenn Detulleo. The assist by Detulleo was his league-leading 55th of the season.
Bootland (45th) propelled the K-Wings to a two-goal advantage at 3-1 midway through the period recording his second tally of the evening.
Battling back in the second, Port Huron responded with three goals. Jeff Zehr (32nd) brought the Icehawks back to within a single goal just 42 seconds into the period, with his team-leading 15th power-play marker of the year.
After Kris Vernarsky created a K-Wings turnover with a check on Detulleo, Vernarsky sent the puck up to Tab Lardner (38th), who scored on a breakaway to tie the game at 3-3.
Port Huron regained the lead midway into the stanza with Zehr’s second of the game and his 33rd of the season.
With 7:52 remaining in regulation, Kory Karlander (39th) lived up to his title of IHL’s Most Valuable Player, scoring on a backhander to tie the game at 4-4.
Neither team scored in the remainder of regulation, which forced overtime. In the extra session, Vernarsky gave the Icehawks the victory scoring his 20th of the season.
With the win, Port Huron secured home-ice advantage in round one of the Turner Cup playoffs.
While Kalamazoo earned a point with an overtime loss, the K-Wings were eliminated from playoff contention as a result of Muskegon’s 3-2 victory over Bloomington.
For Game Stats: http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/gamesheet_full.html?gameid=533998.
After playing tonight in Port Huron, the K-Wings and Icehawks will return to Wings Stadium tomorrow evening, April 12th for the regular season finale for both teams. Face-off is at 7:30 p.m. and the game will coincide with Fan Appreciation Night presented by WKFR. For the second straight year, the K-Wings will hold the Kalsee Credit Union Kash Drop during the first period intermission. Also featured during the game will be the Turner Cup and Huber Trophy. Following the contest, the K-Wings will hold their annual player award ceremony and hold their warm-up jersey auction with the proceeds going to the Ronald McDonald House.
Single game tickets for the entire K-Wings 2007-08 home schedule are currently on sale at the Wings Stadium Ticket Office. Tickets range from $9-$14. Fans are also encouraged to purchase their game tickets in advance, as they will save $1 per ticket by getting their seats prior to a game day.
Ticket Office hours are Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information, call the Wings Stadium Ticket Office during regular business hours at (269) 345-5101.
For more information about tonight’s game, please contact Director of Public Relations/Broadcaster Mike Modugno at (269) 349-9772 extension 220.
