Entering Wednesday's Game Four, Kalamazoo Wings goaltender Joel Martin hadn't seen game action since the opener of the Turner Cup Semi-Final series between the K-Wings and the top-seeded Fort Wayne Komets.
Judging from his play upon reclaiming his spot in the blue paint, he was certainly more rested than rusted.
Martin turned away the Komets 51 times on his way to earning the first shutout of the Turner Cup Playoffs, 2-0 at Wings Stadium to even the series at two games apiece. Kalamazoo was outshot 19-3 in the third period but was able to fend off the swarming Komets thanks to the confident stand-up style goaltending of Martin.
Martin's turning in of the 10th playoff shutout in the K-Wings' IHL history forced Fort Wayne netminder Nick Boucher to take a back seat to his counterpart for the first time in this series. Boucher had surrendered only five goals in three games, but the two he let in Wednesday proved to be enough for Kalamazoo to reduce the series to a best-of-three.
As it was the entire 60 minutes, the dominant storyline of the first period was the shield-like Martin. The K-Wings starter in Game One of the series got a second crack at solving the Komets and was finely tuned in the opening frame, calmly deflecting away 19 shots to keep the game scoreless.
Martin held his perfect form through the second period as well, and this time the K-Wings' offense responded to their goalie's hot play. Fort Wayne had outscored Kalamazoo 6-0 in the middle frame entering Wednesday's Game Four, but the trend was reversed when John Glavota and Justin Cross each registered their first goals of the postseason 1:34 apart.
Exactly seven minutes into the second, Glavota netted his tally from the inner edge of the left circle after a poised centering feed from Glenn Detulleo while the K-Wings enjoyed their second power play.
Cross followed with a wicked wrist shot from just above the right edge of the crease at 8:34 to put the home team up two. Trent Daavettila drew two Komets behind the net before finding Cross open to Boucher's right.
For Game Stats:
http://pointstreak.com/prostats/game...?gameid=979228
The K-Wings and Komets will head back to Allen County Memorial Coliseum this Friday, April 24th for an 8 p.m. face-off for game five of the Turner Cup Semi-Finals.
The series will return back to Wings Stadium for game six this Saturday, April 25th with a 7:30 p.m. face-off.
Individual playoff tickets are on sale now to the general public. Tickets for K-Wings home games in the postseason will range from $10.90 (Blue Level)-$15.90 (Red Level). Seats for kids 12 and under will cost $7.90. Ticket will increase $1 on day of game purchases.
Single-game playoff tickets for any of the K-Wings Turner Cup Playoff home games are currently on sale at the Wings Stadium Ticket Office. Ticket Office hours are Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information, call Wings Stadium Ticket Office during regular business hours at (269) 345-5101.
K-Wings Goalie Martin Stops 51 Komets Shots in Shutout Win to Even Series
K-Wings Goalie Martin Stops 51 Komets Shots in Shutout Win to Even Series
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