ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

Last Minute Tally Crumbles Wings' Comeback Efforts

Published on April 21, 2016 under ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Kalamazoo Wings vs. the South Carolina Stingrays
Kalamazoo Wings vs. the South Carolina Stingrays
(Kalamazoo Wings)

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC - Trading goals through the entire tilt, the Kalamazoo Wings were defeated by the South Carolina Stingrays, 3-2, after surrendering a last-minute power play tally on Thursday night at the North Charleston Coliseum.

Using a scrum in front of Joel Martin, the Stingrays were able to tally the first goal for a third consecutive contest. After Nick Jones worked the puck towards the goal, Caleb Herbert crashed the net and chipped the loose puck in for his third marker of the postseason.

With time in the period winding down, Kalamazoo equalized after creating havoc in front of the goal of Vitek Vanecek. Alex Mallet drove the goal on the backhand, flicking the puck into the crease of the South Carolina netminder. Racing towards the goal on the follow-up, Ludwig Blomstrand ladled the puck into the open net, tying the game with under a minute to play in the frame.

Controlling the tempo early in period number two, South Carolina re-built their lead after relentless pressure in the Kalamazoo zone. Joe Devin had the puck steered his way by Kelly Zajac, allowing Devin to capitalize with the extra space and squeak the puck past Martin. Though outshooting Kalamazoo by an overwhelming margin, Martin was able keep the Wings competitive by making 22 saves on the 23 shots steered his way during the second period.

Roaring back in the first minute of the third period, Kalamazoo were rejuvenated by a shorthanded tally by Justin Taylor. After breaking up a pass across the defensive zone blue line, Taylor sprung a two-on-one break with Lane Schiedl. Taylor carried up the right wing side, checked off Schiedl, and blasted a slap shot over the glove of Vanecek to tie the game.

In the waning moments of the third period, Kalamazoo found themselves shorthanded after a too-many-men on the ice infraction. With the extra attacker, South Carolina were able to work the puck into a soft-spot in the slot, where Devin was waiting to angle the puck into the goal for the game-winner with forty seconds on the clock.

Next: Kalamazoo @ South Carolina, Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, game five- Saturday, April 23, 7:05 p.m., North Charleston Coliseum.

Notes: Kalamazoo trails the best-of-seven series, 3-1. Kalamazoo were outshot, 23-3, in the second period. Martin made 43 saves in the loss and Vanecek made 27 stops in his playoff debut. Taylor led the Wings with seven shots on goal.

Stats: http://echl.com/stats/official-game-report.php?game_id=13737

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.

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Kalamazoo Wings vs. the South Carolina Stingrays
Kalamazoo Wings vs. the South Carolina Stingrays
   



ECHL Stories from April 21, 2016


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