ECHL South Carolina Stingrays

Big Third Period Pushes Gladiators Past Rays, 4-1

January 15, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
South Carolina Stingrays News Release


??DULUTH, GA-Three goals in the third period, including two from defenseman Matt Register, led the Atlanta Gladiators (23-12-2-0) to a 4-1 victory over the South Carolina Stingrays (20-14-2-1) Friday Night at the Infinite Energy Arena. The Gladiators scored 34 seconds into the third period to break a 1-1 tie and added a pair of goals before the final horn to hand South Carolina its third straight loss.

With the Gladiators on the power play, Register scored his first of two goals early in the third period. His slapshot from the slot beat South Carolina goaltender Mark Dekanich to make it 2-1. Dekanich argued he was interfered with, but the goal stood and made it 2-1 Atlanta.

J.T. Barnett would add an insurance goal for Atlanta at 9:07, scoring on a breakaway with a forehand to backhand move. Barnett was able to get open after a Stingray player fell down, allowing the forward to streak in all alone and notch his fifth goal of the season.

Register would add the exclamation point for the Gladiators, scoring into the empty net with only 32.5 seconds to play to give Atlanta the commanding 4-1 lead.

While the scoring came fast and furious in the third, it took a bit for either team to get going offensively. Atlanta's Derek Nesbitt, the ECHL's leading goal-scorer, notched his 19th goal of the season at 14:26 of the opening period to start the scoring. Thomas Frazee fired a pass to Nesbitt who was streaking down the left wing. He snapped a quick shot that beat South Carolina goaltender Mark Dekanich short-side to make it 1-0.

It didn't take the Stingrays long to tie the game in the second period. Marcus Perrier scored his third goal of the season only 1:34 into the middle frame. After a great chance from South Carolina captain Andrew Rowe, the Stingrays cycled the puck back to the point. Perrier accepted a pass in the high slot from Stephan Vigier. His slapshot beat a screened Atlanta goaltender Matt Ginn to tie the game, 1-1.

Atlanta outshot the Stingrays 32-26 in the victory. South Carolina went 0-for-4 on the power play.

The Stingrays are back home this Saturday, January 16 and Sunday, January 17 versus Alaska. Saturday is our Trident Health Adult Jersey Giveaway to the first 1,000 adults and Sunday is Frozen Day, featuring the princesses and the snowman from the movie in attendance plus $5 Kids Tickets and $5 Kids Meals as part of the Crews Subaru and Charleston County Parks Family Days. Tickets information is available at StingraysHockey.com.

Tickets to both games this weekend are available via Ticketmaster online or at the North Charleston Coliseum Box Office.

Our biggest game of the year is almost here! The South Carolina Stingrays host South Carolina Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center Pack the House Night on Saturday, January 23. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. versus the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. All tickets for the game are JUST $5! The evening also features FREE parking. Fans may call 843-744-2248 to order tickets for this big night!

Check out the South Carolina Stingrays Statistics



ECHL Stories from January 15, 2016


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.

OurSports Central