Jackals Drop Series Finale Against Kalamazoo In Shootout

KALAMAZOO, MI - The Jackals battled back in the third period for the second straight game, but fell in the shootout in their season finale against the Kalamazoo Wings.

The Jackals and Wings combined for 11 shots in the first period, but neither team broke through in the opening 20 minutes. Halfway through the frame Justin Kea dropped the gloves with Josh Brittain and landed a few hard rights in his first professional fight. Travis Fullerton stopped all eight shots he faced in the opening period.

Kalamazoo struck first at 9:28 of the second period when Matt Caria tapped home the loose puck following Sam Ftorek's flubbed slapshot attempt. Kane Lafranchise added the secondary assist on Caria's second goal of the season. The Jackals generated eight shots in the second and 11 total through the first two periods, but Wings' netminder Joel Martin turned each shot aside.

The Jackals trailed by one goal going into the third period for the second straight night and once again they battled back to tie the game. Allan McPherson started the play along the wall and fed the puck across the ice to Steven Shamanski, who found Justin Kea in the slot for the tip-in on the power-play. Kea's second of the season came at 7:02 of the third period.

The Jackals and Wings competed for the remainder of the third period and into overtime, but neither team could find the tie-breaker. The game went to a shootout and it was Alex Mallet for the second straight game that netted the difference-maker. Nathan Longpre also scored for Kalamazoo in the shootout and the Jackals shooters went 0-for-4.

Fullerton stopped 25 of 26 shots faced and added three saves on five shootout attempts but was handed the loss. Martin turned aside 19 of 20 shots and all four in the shootout to earn the victory.