Pride Down Stingrays, Win Second Straight

Published on February 17, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz News Release


N. CHARLESTON, SC - The Florence Pride won their second straight game Tuesday night, defeating the South Carolina Stingrays 4-2.

Florence scored the only goal of the opening 20 minutes, just past the midway point of the period. Luke Earl started the play, creating a steal behind the South Carolina net by taking Aaron Power to the end wall.

Earl swung the puck to Craig Brunel in the near corner, who quickly sent a centering pass in front of the net to Eric Naud, who was all alone in front of Kirk Daubenspeck. Naud one-timed a shot past the Stingray goaltender for his fifth goal of the season.

The Pride took a 2-0 lead at the 7:56 mark of the second period, scoring a power-play goal. Bobby Russell carried the puck across the South Carolina blue line, and dropped a perfect pass for Wes Goldie in the high slot. Goldie ripped a slap shot past Daubenspeck for his team-leading 28th goal of the season.

The Stingrays pulled within one late in the second period. Russell had a chance to clear the puck out of his zone, but was unable to do so. The puck ended up coming free to Jeff Boulanger down low. Sebastien Laplante made the first save, but the rebound came right back onto Boulanger's stick, and he roofed the rebound over Laplante's outstretched glove for his ninth goal of the season.

Adam Elzinga provided the Pride with an insurance goal early in the final period. The defenseman gathered in a loose puck in the neutral zone, and skated across the Stingray blue line. From the top of the right-wing circle Elzinga ripped a slap shot that beat Daubenspeck cleanly for his third goal of the season, and second in as many games.

That would turn out to be a big goal, as South Carolina pulled within one at the 13:44 mark on a power-play goal by Ed Courtenay.

But, the Pride put the game away with 1:21 to go. Naud carried the puck across the South Carolina blue-line, and dropped a pass to Mark McRae trailing the play. McRae's quick wrist shot beat Daubenspeck to set the final.

The Pride conclude their four-game road trip Thursday with a 7:00 face-off in Augusta. All of the action on WDAR Sunny 105.5 starts with the Palmetto Chiropractic Pre-Game Show at 6:40.

Florence returns home Saturday, hosting the Florida Everblades at 7:30 on NASCAR Night presented by Darlington Raceway. During the first intermission, it's the seventh annual Wiener Dog Nationals. Tickets for that game, and all remaining Pride home games, are available at the Florence Civic Center Box Office, or through TicketMaster at (843) 679-9333 or on-line at www.ticketmaster.com.

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ECHL Stories from February 17, 2004


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