O'Neil's Heroics Give Rays Third Straight Overtime Victory
April 1, 2022 - ECHL (ECHL)
South Carolina Stingrays News Release
NORTH CHARLESTON, SC - Kevin O'Neil's overtime snipe carried the South Carolina Stingrays (24-36-6-0) over the Orlando Solar Bears (31-27-5-1) by a final score of 4-3 at the North Charleston Coliseum on Friday evening.
Quickly into the opening stanza, the Solar Bears found themselves on top 1-0 thanks to Ross Olsson's 20th tuck of the year. Hunter Shepard stopped the initial deflection from Olsson, but the persistence beat Shepard on the rebound only 36 seconds after opening puck drop.
The Stingrays didn't let it last long as Jonny Evans evened the score at one goal apiece before the five minute mark of the first period. Derek Gentile collected a loose puck and circled the back of the net, feeding Evans on the left circle for the tap in over Alexei Melnichuk.
O'Neil gave the Stingrays their first lead of the contest four and a half minutes into the second period on his third tally of the season. Connor Moore halted a clearing attempt from Orlando and fed O'Neil in the slot for the Stingrays power play tally and 2-1 advantage.
South Carolina doubled their lead four minutes later as Gentile added a goal of his own in the contest. Gentile split two Orlando defenders and flipped a rebound over the pad of Melnichuk for the 3-0 lead midway through the middle frame.
Just over the halfway point in the second period, Aaron Luchuk found the back of the net for Orlando, cutting the deficit to one. Michael Brodzinski took a shot off a faceoff win and Luchuk fired the rebound quickly past a diving Shepard for his 15th goal of the year.
Luke McInnis finished the comeback for the Solar Bears, sending his seventh of the season past the blocker of Shepard to tie the game at three goals apiece early in the third period. McInnis poked the puck away from the South Carolina defense led an odd-man rush, ripping a shot from the right circle for the tie contest eight minutes into the final period to force overtime.
O'Neil was at it again in overtime, playing hero for the Stingrays with his first game-winning goal of his career. Newcomer Seamus Donohue started a rush into Orlando's zone, saucing the puck to O'Neil from the left circle where the UConn product sniped the puck to the far corner, beating Melnichuk for the final goal of the evening.
The Stingrays head to Orlando, Florida tomorrow, April 2nd, for the final time this season against the Orlando Solar Bears. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. at the Amway Center.
Season ticket plans are on sale now! For more information or to purchase, contact the Stingrays by phone at 843-744-2248.
ECHL Stories from April 1, 2022
- Thunder Loses on Friday in Tulsa, 5-3 - Wichita Thunder
- Rush Fall in Utah, 5-2 - Rapid City Rush
- Royals Earn Commanding Victory over Lions in Series Opener - Reading Royals
- Indy Kicks off Weekend with 4-3 OT Win in Wheeling - Indy Fuel
- Americans Nip KC 3-1 - Allen Americans
- Oilers Down Thunder 5-3 - Tulsa Oilers
- O'Neil's Heroics Give Rays Third Straight Overtime Victory - South Carolina Stingrays
- McInnis Scores to Give Solar Bears Critical Point in 4-3 OT Loss - Orlando Solar Bears
- Harris Scores Twice as Icemen Rally for 4-2 Win - Jacksonville Icemen
- Gerads Ties Game Late, Rabbits Fall 4-3 in Shootout to Gladiators - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Bennett Scores Again, But Iowa Doubled up at Cincinnati, 4-2 - Iowa Heartlanders
- Cyclones Start April with 4-2 Win - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Fornaris Leads Atlanta in Playoff-Clinching Victory - Atlanta Gladiators
- Walleye Use Three-Goal First Period to Skate Past Komets, 5-4 - Toledo Walleye
- Steelheads Shut out Everblades 3-0 - Florida Everblades
- Lions Fall to Royals in the First of Three Games - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Kupsky Halts 29 Shots in 3-0 Blanking of Everblades - Idaho Steelheads
- Nailers Start Strong, But Indy Rallies for Bonus Point - Wheeling Nailers
- Mariners Crush Thunder 7-0, Move Closer to Playoff Spot - Maine Mariners
- Railers Lose First of Road Three-In-Three to Growlers - Worcester Railers HC
- Growlers Roll Past Railers 4-0 - Newfoundland Growlers
- Mariners Add Reid Stefanson from Umass Lowell - Maine Mariners
- D'Astous Returns to Grizzlies, Kuzmeski Released - Utah Grizzlies
- ECHL Transactions - April 1 - ECHL
- Grizzlies Gameday: D'Astous Returns for Friday Night Battle - Utah Grizzlies
- Game Preview: Solar Bears at South Carolina Stingrays: April 1, 2022 - Orlando Solar Bears
- Lions on the Prowl for a Third-Straight Win - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Royals Open Three-Game Series with the Lions on Road - Reading Royals
- Game Notes: at Utah - Rapid City Rush
- Fort Wayne's Graber Named Warrior Hockey/ECHL Player of the Month - ECHL
- Fort Wayne's Harvey Named Warrior Hockey/ECHL Goaltender of the Month - ECHL
- Wichita Opens Weekend Tonight at Tulsa - Wichita Thunder
- Gladiators Kick off Greenville Series on Road - Atlanta Gladiators
- Everblades Trade for Forward Darik Angeli - Florida Everblades
- Daniel Brickley Returns to Norfolk - Norfolk Admirals
- Two-Game Road Trip Starts Tonight in KC - Allen Americans
- Bennett Wins ECHL Rookie of the Month for 2nd Straight Month - Iowa Heartlanders
- Iowa's Bennett Named Howies Hockey Tape/ECHL Rookie of the Month - ECHL
- Everblades Look to Filet Steelheads Again - Florida Everblades
- Morning Tea: Swamp Rabbits VS Gladiators - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
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.
