Komets eliminate Wings, advance to next round

Fort Wayne, IN-- The Kalamazoo Wings staved off elimination in the North Division semifinals with a 4-3 victory over the Komets at Kalamazoo Saturday night.The Wings opened the scoring at 11:53 of the first period with a power play tally by Ludwig Blomstrand. Shawn Szydlowski evened the score at 14:16 before Matthew Heard gave the Komets a 2-1 lead with two seconds remaining in the first frame.

The Wings responded with two unanswered goals in the second period by Sam Ftorek and Justin Taylor to take a 3-2 lead into the second intermission. Matthew Pistilli scored his third goal of the playoffs at 5:02 of the third frame to knot the score at 3-3. Kalamazoo then took the lead with a two-man advantage at 15:07 when Blomstrand netted his second marker of the night for the eventual game winner, setting the stage for game 5 tonight at Kalamazoo. Komet goaltender Roman Will suffered his first pro playoff loss making 36 saves on 40 shots in his fourth straight start. Kalamazoo goaltender Joel Martin earned the win allowing three goals on 34 shots. -Gamesheet-The Komets now lead the best-of-seven first-round series 3-1 and can advance to the second round with a win tonight at the Wings Even Center in Kalamazoo. Faceoff for tonight's match is slated for 7:30. If necessary, the series will switch back to Fort Wayne for game 6 Monday night at 7:30. If a game 7 is needed it will be held Fort Wayne Wednesday at 7:30pm.Special driving note-- To all fans driving to Kalamazoo for games this week, you may have to find alternate routes to the Wings Event Center due to the closure of the Sprinkle Road exit (exit 80) on I-94. The Wings Event Center has announced several ways for guests to arrive to the complex. Click here for alternate routes or visit wingseventcenter.com.ECHL North Division SemifinalsFort Wayne Komets vs Kalamazoo WingsFort Wayne leads best-of-seven series 3-1Game 1- Friday, April 17..................Kalamazoo 2 at Fort Wayne 4Game 2- Saturday, April 18.............Kalamazoo 0 at Fort Wayne 3Game 3- Wednesday, April 22.........Fort Wayne 3 Kalamazoo 1Game 4- Friday, April 24..................Fort Wayne 3 at Kalamazoo 4Game 5- Saturday, April 25.............Fort Wayne at Kalamazoo, 7:30pm (WOWO Radio AM 1190, FM 92.3; MyTV)Game 6- Monday, April 27...............Kalamazoo at Fort Wayne, 7:30pm* (WOWO Radio AM 1190, FM 92.3)Game 7- Wednesday, April 29.........Kalamazoo at Fort Wayne, 7:30pm* (WOWO Radio AM 1190, FM 92.3)*If necessaryTickets for the Komets' third and fourth home playoff games (Fort Wayne home playoff games #3 and #4 on the ticket) are on sale at the Coliseum Ticket Office or online at www.ticketmaster.com. 2015-16 Season Tickets are also on sale at the Komet office. For ticket information call 260-483-0011 or visit www.komets.com.All games will be broadcast on WOWO Radio AM 1190 and FM 92.3 and webcast at komets.com presented by OmniSource Radio Recycle. Also, all first-round playoff games at Kalamazoo are scheduled to be televised on MyTV. Fans are invited to watch all road playoff games live at the Komets' official watch zone, The Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery, in Jefferson Pointe on Illinois Road.