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ECHL Kalamazoo Wings

Wings' Season Concludes After Game Five Defeat

April 23, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Kalamazoo Wings News Release


Kalamazoo Wings Shake Hands with the South Carolina Stingrays
Kalamazoo Wings Shake Hands with the South Carolina Stingrays
(Kalamazoo Wings)

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC- The Kalamazoo Wings were eliminated from the Kelly Cup Playoffs in game five of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series against the South Carolina Stingrays, after a 5-1 defeat on Saturday at the North Charleston Coliseum.

Even with four power play tries over the course of 9:09 in the first period, the Wings were unable to penetrate Vitek Vanecek, who was making his second consecutive playoff start for the Stingrays. Joel Martin was equally impressive in the first, stopping all four of South Carolina's chances steered his way, as the two teams entered the first intermission scoreless.

Breaking the stalemate midway through the second period, the Stingrays got were the first to strike, courtesy of Nick Jones. Joining the rush from his defensive position, Jones caught a rink-wide feed from Stephan Vigier, and tucked a backhander past Martin.

After drawing a power play just seconds after their first tally, South Carolina padded their lead with the extra attacker on the ice. Controlling the puck on the left-wing wall, Derek DeBlois wired a pass to the high slot to Joe Devin, who angled his stick and deflected the puck through a screen and into the goal.

Capping off a three-goal run over the span of 2:14, Stephan Vigier upped the South Carolina lead to three goals. Vigier gained the zone along the right-wing side and raced towards the goal on the backhand, flicking the puck into the pads of Martin. After the play looked to be frozen, the puck dribbled through the legs of Martin and over the line.

Looking to mount a comeback late in the second, Kalamazoo cut the South Carolina lead to two by capitalizing on a scrambling Vanecek, who had lost his stick on the play. Brett Ponich had the puck fed his way and fired a slap shot that sailed over the shoulder of the Stingrays' goaltender, putting the Wings on the board.

After back and forth action highlighted the start of the third, South Carolina extended their lead after some crafty puck movement in the offensive zone. David Pacan worked the puck to the slot, where Austin Fyten was waiting to receive the pass and pick the top corner of the goal.

Sealing the game in the closing moments, Joey Leach struck the empty net with a long shot that ended the contest with a 5-1 final, advancing the Stingrays to round two of the playoffs.

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Kalamazoo Wings Shake Hands with the South Carolina Stingrays
Kalamazoo Wings Shake Hands with the South Carolina Stingrays
   



ECHL Stories from April 23, 2016


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