KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The penalty kill was successful on five opportunities and Isaac Poulter made 30 saves plus three in the shootout but the Bloomington Bison fell 3-2 to the Kalamazoo Wings at Wings Event Center on Saturday evening. With the point gained by reaching overtime, the Bison increased their season-opening point streak to five games and remain in first place in the Central Division.
Bloomington carried the pace of play throughout much of the opening period, and Nikita Sedov gave the visitors a 1-0 lead at 4:19 after he intercepted a clearing attempt and sailed the puck into the back of the net. Shortly after, Greg Smith scored his first goal as a Bison from Dylan Finlay and Mikhail Abramov to go up 2-0. That score held into the first intermission and Bloomington continued to mount pressure on Kalamazoo.
After taking an 11-8 shot advantage into the second period, the Bison added more attempts on goal until back-to-back penalties shifted momentum. The Wings cut into Bloomington’s lead on the powerplay at 9:38 and then tied the game 32 seconds later. Neither team would find the back of the net through the next 29 minutes and 50 seconds of play, despite Bloomington peppering Kalamazoo’s netminder with 14 third-period shots.
Bloomington was sent to the penalty box for a slashing infraction at 1:22 of overtime and completed the penalty kill. Poulter stopped eight shots in overtime, while the Bison were only credited for one shot on goal at the other end of the ice. Deni Goure answered the Wings with a second-round shootout goal, but Kalamazoo got the edge by scoring the game-winning shot in the fifth round.
The Bloomington Bison return home on Saturday, November 14 when they will be celebrating Teacher Appreciation Night featuring BOGO ticket deals for local educators!
Tickets to Teacher Appreciation Night and all Bloomington Bison home games can be purchased at bloomingtonbisonhockey.com or call (309) 965-HERD for more information on ticket memberships and group hospitality opportunities.
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