In Kalamazoo Monday, the Wings managed to avoid hitting the road in an 0-3 hole to the South Carolina Stingrays.
Joel Martin made 38 saves to backstop the K-Wings to a 5-3 win.
The Rays’ Nick Jones gave the visitors an early 1-0 lead and the goal had the Wings scrambling early on.
The K-Wings were now looking at an early deficit in a game that was the true definition of “must-win”. The prospect of heading on the road down 0-3 was numbing.
However, Kalamazoo found their “A” game as the match progressed.
Justin Kovacs scored the equalizer on a power play later in the first to give the K-Wings some life.
Zack Phillips picked up a goal to give the K-Wings a rare lead in the series.
Phillips and Kovacs each had two goals on the night and Alex Mallet added a marker for the Wings.
Joe Devin and Brett Cameron also scored for the Rays.
South Carolina’s Mark Dekanich took the loss in net on 17 saves.
Game 4 of the series is slated for Thursday at the North Charleston Coliseum.
Kalamazoo will be looking to continue their effort from game three and send the series back home.
