Season over for the K-Wings

The 2015-16 season is in the books for the Kalamazoo Wings as the South Carolina Stingrays took the Round One of the Kelly Cup Playoff series four games to one.

After failing to take advantage of home ice in the first three games at Wings Event Center, the K-WIngs headed to South Carolina trailing 2-1 in the series.

On Thursday night, the two teams played an intense game that went down to the wire, even with the K-Wings being outshot 46-29.

The two teams traded goals throughout the game with Ludwig Blomstrand and Justin Taylor scoring for the K-Wings.

With the game tied 2-2 and less than a minute to go in regulation, the K-Wings were called for having too many men on the ice, giving the Stingrays a power play, and they took advantage of the situation.

Just 13 seconds into the power play, the Stingrays scored the eventual game winner, giving them a 3-1 series lead.

After an off day on Friday, the two teams met for Game Five, where the K-Wings hoped to find some footing to keep the series alive.

However momentum, like most of the series, was not on the side of the K-Wings. After a scoreless opening period, the Stingrays built a 3-0 lead by the midway point of the second period.

Brett Ponich scored the K-Wings lone goal later in the period. The Stingrays would tack on two more in the third for a 5-1 win, taking the series.

Submitted by Mark McGlothlen