ECHL: Stingrays Take 2-1 Series Lead with a 4-2 final over Alaska
The South Carolina Stingrays turned to goaltender James Reimer for the first time since the Florida series and he was up to the task stopping 22 of the 24 shots he faced getting the win for the Rays over the Alaska Aces 4-2 and giving them a 2-1 series lead.
"We really played well tonight for the entire 60 minutes," said Assistant Coach Cail MacLean. "All these games have been so close, but we fought hard all night."
The Rays struck first in the game with Johann Kroll's first goal of the playoffs. The goal came at 4:42 from Trent Campbell and Pierre-Luc O'Brien after Kroll fired one in from the blue line that fooled Jean-Philippe Lamoureux giving the Rays the 1-0 lead heading into the second period.
The 1-0 lead was doubled in the second period on a four-on-four goal by Nikita Kashirsky at 5:23 of the period on a shot from the far side circle that went over the shoulder of Lamoureux and just under the cross bar. The lone assist on the goal went to Kroll and made it a 2-0 score. Alaska cut the lead in half on a breakaway goal by Matt Stefanishion. Stefanishion scored his fourth goal of the playoffs getting a pass from Josh Soares right out of the penalty box and firing it through the legs of James Reimer at 6:46. South Carolina answered back on a Campbell goal, his fifth of the playoffs, from Josh Godfrey and Jeff Corey on a power play, the lone power play goal of the night for the Rays. It once again gave the Rays a two goal lead, but that too was short lived. At 15:21, while on a power play of their own, Alexandre Imbeault got his sixth goal of the playoffs from Soares and Matt Shasby to make it 3-2 heading into the third period.
The third period featured back and forth defensive play but the Aces were unable to tie things up, and the Rays were unable to pad their lead. It wasn't until the final minute of play, 19:19 to be precise, that Corey came up with the puck in the neutral zone with Alaska's net unoccupied. Corey got his ninth goal of the playoffs, and his second empty netter against Alaska, making it a 4-2 lead, the eventual final.
The winning goaltender was Reimer who stopped 22 of the 24 shots he faced. The losing goaltender was Lamoureux who stopped 22 of the 25 shots he faced. The Rays went 1-3 on the power play while killing off four of the five short handed situations they faced.
The Rays will be back in action on Friday night as they look to push the Alaska Aces to the brink with a 3-1 series lead right here at the North Charleston Coliseum featuring Free Parking! Game time will be at 7:05 and there will be a pre game Party on the Plaza beginning at 4:30 p.m. with $5 Jim ‘n Nick's Barbeque, $2 Bud Lights, music, games, fun, and more. Make sure to come early and enjoy all the festivities before the Stingrays and Aces game. If you can't make it out to the game, you can tune in to Fox Sports Radio 1450 for all the action with the Benitos Pre-game show beginning at 6:50.
|
ECHL: Stingrays Take 2-1 Series Lead with a 4-2 final over Alaska
Linear Mode
