ECHL South Carolina Stingrays

In 13th Round of Shootout, Stingrays Win Record Breaking 11th Straight

December 30, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
South Carolina Stingrays News Release


North Charleston, S.C. - Chris Chaput scored in the 13th round of the shootout, and Josh Johnson stopped 12 of 13 shots in the shootout as the South Carolina Stingrays won their 11th straight game, a club record, over the Gwinnett Gladiators at the North Charleston Coliseum by a score of 3-2.

"We were outplayed early in the game," said Head Coach Jared Bednar. "But we kept playing hard and the veterans stepped up in the third period. And Johnson was great in the shootout and gave us the opportunity to win. Definitely a big win against a division rival, and to secure the record."

In the first period, the Gladiators got out first when Jeff Mason got his second goal of the season, on the power play, at 3:36. Coming into the game, Gwinnett's power play was at 25%, tops in the ECHL.

They would flex their special teams muscles again the in the second period when Jeff Campbell got his seventh goal of the year, from Jamie Milam and Bryson Busniuk at 4:32, making the score 2-0.

The Stingrays came alive in the third period getting two unanswered goals to tie it up. At 1:57 Matt Scherer got his fifth goal, his second in as many nights, from Pierre-Luc O'Brien and Derrick Byfuglien. With the lead cut in half, South Carolina leaned on the veterans and they came through. At 14:32 Cail MacLean scored a short handed goal, his sixth goal of the year, from Matt W. Reid and Nate Kiser to tie things up. For the Rays, it was their ninth short handed goal, most in the ECHL.

The game went to overtime, but neither team could score in the five minutes thus leading to a shootout. The first two rounds came and went without a goal. In the third round, Lou Dickenson got it passed Johnson to go up by one. In the fourth round it was Travis Morin who scored passed Dan Turple to tie it up at one. There were zeroes across the board for the next eight and a half rounds before Chaput, on his second shoot out attempt, put a backhander behind Turple to win it for the Rays.

Johnson made 23 saves on 25 shots in regulation plus the overtime, and stopped 12 of 13 shots in the shootout. Turple made 28 saves on 30 shots in regulation and the overtime period, and stopped 11 of the 13 shootout shots.

The Rays went 0 for 6 on the power play, and stopped 4 of the 6 short handed opportunities they faced. The Stingrays are now 3-1 when they go to overtime, and are 2-0 in the shootout.

Paul McIlveen left the game in the third period and did not return after suffering a knee injury. The extent and severity of the injury is currently unknown.

South Carolina looks to extend their record breaking winning streak to 12 games hear tomorrow, when they take on the Columbia Inferno for their annual New Year's Eve game. Game time will be at 6:00 P.M with a balloon drop after the game.

Don't miss all the fast-paced, hard-hitting action! Full season, weekend, and partial season ticket packages are available by calling (843) 744-2248 and speaking to a ticket sales manager.

Individual tickets can be purchased at the North Charleston Coliseum box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (843) 554-6060 and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Discounted groups tickets, birthday packages, Kids Club information and fundraiser opportunities are available by calling (843) 744-2248 or by visiting online at www.stingrayshockey.com.

Check out the South Carolina Stingrays Statistics



ECHL Stories from December 30, 2007


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