ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

Kocavs, Martin Lead Wings over Stingrays

April 18, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Justin Kocavs of the Kalamazoo Wings
Justin Kocavs of the Kalamazoo Wings
(Kalamazoo Wings)

KALAMAZOO, MI- Led by Justin Kovacs' three point night, and Joel Martin's 38 save performance, the Kalamazoo Wings defeated the South Carolina Stingrays, 5-3, in game three of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series on Monday at Wings Event Center.

Putting the Wings on their heels for the second straight night, the Stingrays jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first period. While on the power play, Nick Jones received the puck in his own end, drove the length of the ice, and pushed a contested wrist shot on Martin. The initial shot was stopped by the pad of Martin, but the rebound landed on the stick of Jones, who followed his own play and capitalized with a goal.

Trading power play chances later on, Kalamazoo were able to even the score while operating on their third man-advantage of the game. Buzzing around the crease of Mark Dekanich, Zack Phillips knocked the puck towards the goal mouth, sending it caroming off the outstretched Stingrays' netminder. The loose puck on the doorstep gave Kovacs the opportunity to deposit the puck to the far post.

The Wings needed little time after the Kovacs' tally to establish their first lead since the first period of game one. Off a faceoff win from David Gilbert, Phillips fired a one-touch wrister towards the net that raised over the shoulder of Dekanich and into the goal.

While both teams were skating four-on-four during the second period, it was the Stingrays who would capitalize on the extra space between the glass and tie the game. Brett Cameron lifted the puck from the stick of a Kalamazoo defender, waltzed in towards Martin, and slipped the puck past his outstretched leg.

Creating havoc in front of Dekanich's goal later on in the period helped re-establish the Wings' one-goal lead. After a mess of bodies crashed the slot area in front of the Stingrays' net, the Wings were able to get a stick on the puck, and Alex Mallet glided it over the line.

Though hemmed in their own zone for most of the third period, Kalamazoo took advantage of the few shots they steered towards the South Carolina goal during the frame. Justin Taylor chased the puck deep into the Stingray's zone, tapped a backhander towards the goal crease, where Kovacs was whizzing across to knock the puck through the pads of Dekanich.

The Stingrays, undaunted by the Kovacs tally, continued to pour on the pressure and Joe Devin rewarded his team for their hard work. Derek DeBlois cycled the puck behind the net of Martin, tipping a pass to Devin, who was free in the slot for a quick shot that snuck just inside the far post.

Facing the extra attacker late in the game, Kalamazoo continued to withstand the Stingray barrage, escaped the zone, and buried an empty netter, courtesy of Phillips.

Next: Kalamazoo @. South Carolina, Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, game four- Thursday, April 21, 7:05 p.m., North Charleston Coliseum.

Notes: Kalamazoo trails the best-of-seven series 2-1. Kalamazoo snapped South Carolina's 18-game unbeaten in regulation streak. Kovacs had a career-high three points. Martin made 38 saves in the victory. Kalamazoo's power play went 2/5 and South Carolina's went 1/3.

Stats: http://echl.com/stats/official-game-report.php?game_id13736

Listen to all 72 regular season and post season games on AM 1660 The Fan in Kalamazoo, or online at www.1660thefan.com/listen-live . Live coverage begins fifteen minutes before puck drop with the Flame Tamer Pregame Show.

Single-game playoff tickets are now on sale! Tickets can be purchased at kwings.com or at the Wings Event Center box office. Box office hours are Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. A $2 discount is applied on all tickets purchased before the date of the game. Any student that shows a valid ID can get tickets for just $11.

Check out the Kalamazoo Wings Statistics




Images from this story

Justin Kocavs of the Kalamazoo Wings
Justin Kocavs of the Kalamazoo Wings
   



ECHL Stories from April 18, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central