Stingrays Playoff Weekly: Stingrays and Royals Take Opening-Round Playoff Series to Reading
April 20, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
South Carolina Stingrays News Release
#2 South Carolina Stingrays vs. #3 Reading Royals
Game 1: at South Carolina 2-1 Win Highlights
Game 2: at South Carolina 4-2 Loss Highlights
Game 3: Thursday, April 23 at Reading 7:00 p.m.
Game 4: Saturday, April 25 at Reading 7:00 p.m.
*Game 5: Sunday, April 26 at Reading 5:00 p.m.
*Game 6: Tuesday, April 28 at South Carolina 7:05 p.m. Tickets
*Game 7: Wednesday, April 29 at South Carolina 7:05 p.m. Tickets
*if necessary
The Week That Was...
The South Carolina Stingrays qualified for the postseason for the eighth straight season and the 21st time in the 22-year history of the organization and kicked off their quest for an ECHL-record fourth Kelly Cup Championship last week with Game 1 and 2 of their opening-round series against the Reading Royals at the North Charleston Coliseum on Friday and Saturday night.
Game 1: East Division Semifinals - North Charleston Coliseum
The two sides established physical presences early in Game 1 and the Stingrays opened the series scoring in the second period with forward Joe Devin's power-play goal. The Royals responded late in the same frame when defenseman Maxim Lamarche jumped into a 3-on-2 rush to even the contest. A defensive-minded third period and a high-flying first overtime period followed, but Stingrays goaltender Jeff Jakaitis and Reading keeper Connor Knapp held the 1-1 draw. Rolling towards the halfway point of second overtime, the Stingrays were awarded a power play with former Rays defenseman Brett Flemming heading to the penalty box for holding. Defenseman Frankie Simonelli capitalized on the man advantage with a one-time blast from the left-wing point to give the Stingrays a 1-0 series lead.
Game 2: East Division Semifinals - North Charleston Coliseum
Frustrated with the Game 1 result, the Royals flew out of the gate in Game 2 grabbing a 3-0 lead after the first period. Defenseman Jordan Heywood found the back of the net twice and forward Brandon Alderson added his first postseason goal. The Stingrays retaliated in the middle stanza, outshooting the Royals 12-2 and picked up tallies from forwards Sean Dolan and Devin. In the third period, the Stingrays carried over the momentum, placing 12 more shots on target, but Royals forward Ryan Cruthers made in 4-2 early on to spoil the comeback.
By The Numbers: 2015 Playoffs
Record: 1-1
Home : 1-1
Road : 0-0
Goals : Joe Devin (2)
Assists : Drew MacKenzie (2)
Points : Joe Devin, Sean Dolan, Drew MacKenzie (2)
Penalty Minutes : Wade Epp (4)
Power-Play Goals : Joe Devin, Frankie Simonelli (1)
Power-Play Assists : Four players tied at one
Shorthanded Goals : N/A
Shorthanded Assists : N/A
Shorthanded Points : N/A
Game-Winning Goals : Frankie Simonelli (1)
Wins: Jeff Jakaitis (1)
Goals-Against Average : Jeff Jakaitis (2.06)
Save Percentage : Jeff Jakaitis (.911)
By The Numbers: 2014-15 Regular Season
Record: 45-20-1-6, 97 points (2nd East Division)
Home: 20-11-1-4
Away: 25-9-0-2
Last 10 Games : 8-2-0-0
Streak: 1-0-0-0
Goals: Derek DeBlois (21)
Assists: Wayne Simpson, Andrew Rowe (39)
Points: Andrew Rowe (56)
Penalty Minutes: Marcus Perrier (155)
Power-Play Goals: Joe Devin (9)
Power-Play Assists: Brandon Wong (14)
Power-Play Points: Brandon Wong (19)
Shorthanded Goals: Branden Gracel*, Patrick Gaul, Braden Pimm*, Lee Moffie, Derek DeBlois (1)
Shorthanded Assists: Rob Bellamy (2)
Shorthanded Points: Rob Bellamy (2)
Game-Winning Goals: Wayne Simpson (5)
Wins: Jeff Jakaitis (26)
Goals-Against Average: Adam Morrison (1.88)
Save Percentage: Adam Morrison (.928)
*No longer with team
League Leaders:
Goaltender Jeff Jakaitis is eighth among ECHL netminders in the playoffs with a 2.08 goals-against average.
Defenseman Frankie Simonelli is tied for first among league rookies and defensemen with one power-play goal and one game-winning goal.
This Week:
South Carolina Stingrays at Reading Royals
Game 3: East Division Semifinals
Thursday, Apr. 23
7:00 p.m.
Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania
Listen Live: StingraysHockey.com, ECHL.TV
Watch Live: Southside 17 at Tanger Outlets Watch Party
South Carolina Stingrays at Reading Royals
Game 4: East Division Semifinals
Saturday, Apr. 25
7:00 p.m.
Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania
Listen Live: StingraysHockey.com, ECHL.TV
Watch Live: Southside 17 at Tanger Outlets Watch Party
South Carolina Stingrays at Reading Royals
Game 5: East Division Semifinals
Sunday, Apr. 26
5:00 p.m.
Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania
Listen Live: StingraysHockey.com, ECHL.TV
Watch Live: Southside 17 at Tanger Outlets Watch Party
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from April 20, 2015
- Radio Recon's Ready to Fire a Couple of BBs... - Reading Royals
- K-Wings Weekly - Kalamazoo Wings
- ECHL Transactions - April 20 - ECHL
- Johnson, Keenan, Sauve Return to Orlando - Orlando Solar Bears
- Lamoureux, Rioux Return to Mallards; Dieude-Fauvel Joins French National Team - Quad City Mallards
- Doesn't Get Any Closer: Series Continues Friday in Boise - Utah Grizzlies
- Eagles, Pedersen Toyota Donate $25,000 to UCHealth Cancer Center - Colorado Eagles
- Forward Taylor Vause Reassigned to Colorado - Colorado Eagles
- Walleye Weekly - Playoffs Round 1 - Toledo Walleye
- Stingrays Playoff Weekly: Stingrays and Royals Take Opening-Round Playoff Series to Reading - South Carolina Stingrays
- Reign Pummel Eagles 5-1 - Ontario Reign
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.