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ECHL South Carolina Stingrays

Kiser, Stingrays KO Charlotte 5-2

March 25, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
South Carolina Stingrays News Release


North Charleston, SC -The South Carolina Stingrays got four unanswered goals, including the first goal of Matt Smith's professional career, and defeated the Charlotte Checkers 5-2 at the North Charleston Coliseum.

"It seemed we were a little rusty at the start," said Head Coach Jared Bednar. "But we fought hard tonight and played strong in the latter half of the game."

In the first period, the Charlotte Checkers came out strong and took a 1-0 lead off Jeff Kyrzakos' 21st goal of the season. Looking to breathe a little life into the Rays, Nate Kiser got into a fight with Jared Nightingale. As if on cue, Todd Griffith got his 17th goal of the season, his fourth as a member of the South Carolina Stingrays, to tie the game up at one. The goal came at 17:58 and was assisted by Scott Romfo and Pierre-Luc O'Brien.

The second period featured an early goal by the Checkers to retake the lead. But South Carolina responded when Pierre-Luc O'Brien got his 12th goal of the year, while the Rays had the extra attacker on during a delayed penalty. O'Brien's goal came at 7:08 from Tim Judy and Matt Smith and tied the game up at two. The Rays took their first lead of the night when Trent Campbell scored in the final minute of the period. For Campbell, it was his 15th goal of the season and was assisted by Travis Morin and Chris Chaput at 19:37.

The Rays continued where they left off in the third period by getting an early goal by Nate Kiser, his 5th of the year, at 5:48. The goal by Kiser was assisted by Chaput and Morin and extended the lead to 4-2. In the final minute of the game, the Checkers pulled their goalie in favor of the extra attacker. Rookie Matt Smith took advantage of that situation and scored on a backhander from the red line getting his first professional goal in just his second game. The goal made the score 5-2, the eventual final.

The winning goaltender was Davis Parley who stopped 30 of the 32 shots he faced. The losing goaltender was Chris Holt who stopped 36 of the 40 shots that he faced. The Rays went 0-2 on the power play while killing off all three of the short handed situations they faced.

The Rays are back in action Friday night when they play host to the Mississippi SeaWolves. Remember it is Post and Courier Hall of Fame night. Game time will be at 7:05 P.M.

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