ECHL South Carolina Stingrays

Checkers Top Rays 3-2 in OT

March 30, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
South Carolina Stingrays News Release


Charlotte, NC Mike Bayrack had two goals including the game winner in overtime as the Charlotte Checkers topped the South Carolina Stingrays 3-2 at Bobcats Arena. The win improved the Checkers to 9-1 on the season against the Stingrays and improved Charlotte to 31-32-5 and kept them in the hunt for the fourth seed in the South Division. The overtime loss was the 14th time this season that the Rays have lost in games beyond regulation (0-14). South Carolina's record fell to 30-23-14.

Bayrack's overtime winner beat the glove of Stingrays starter Maxime Daigneault from the right side of the slot at 1:23 in overtime. It was the seventh of the season for Bayrack in six games against the Rays.

"We had a better effort here tonight than we had on Tuesday," commented Head Coach Jason Fitzsimmons. "I was happy with the way that we did not give up, but we have let a lot of points slip by this season in OT and shoot outs."

The two teams finished the first period tied 1-1. Mike Bayrack gave Charlotte an early lead with a wrist shot off the right post for his 26th goal of the year at 3:35 but the Rays bounced back on a power play goal by Cail MacLean at 11:56. Matt Reid found MacLean cutting in front of Jeff Glass for his 14th of the season to even the score.

In the second Nathan Gillies split the legs of Maxime Daigneault with a wrist shot from the slot to put the Checkers up 2-1 at 15:24.

The Stingrays waited until the final minute of the game to even the score when Cail MacLean's second of the game. MacLean banked the puck off the pad of

Notes: Matt Reid jumped back in to the lineup last night for the Stingrays along with two rookies signed by the Stingrays on Thursday. The Rays signed rookie Brandon Schwartz from Michigan Tech and Christian Gagnon from the Columbus Cottonmouths before the game. Reid played defense for the majority of the game. Thursday's game was delayed 20 minutes due to the Stingrays team bus needing repairs and delaying the team's departure from North Charleston by ninety minutes. The Stingrays are now 0-18-5 in games that the team trails after two periods.

The Stingrays will play at home tonight against the Checkers at 7:05. Beer and parking are just one dollar as part of March Madness. The team's home slate wraps up on Saturday.

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ECHL Stories from March 30, 2006


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