ECHL South Carolina Stingrays

Rays Defeat Elmira in OT

November 6, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
South Carolina Stingrays News Release


NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. For the second straight game, the South Carolina Stingrays (3-4-1-0) came back from an early deficit to defeat the Elmira Jackals (2-6-2-0) 3-2 in overtime at the North Charleston Coliseum.

Sunday afternoon it was Kelly Zajac who was right in the middle of the heroics once again. After scoring the overtime winner on Thursday, Zajac scored with 11 seconds left in the third period to even the score at 2-2. Then he recorded an assist after helping set up team captain Joe Devin, who is already best known in the Lowcountry for his extra session dramatics, for the game-winner at 33 seconds of overtime.

South Carolina outshot Elmira 40-15 in the contest and got goaltender Parker Milner his second victory in as many games over Jackals' netminder John Muse. Milner finished with 13 saves, while Muse was outstanding in defeat for Elmira with 37 stops.

The Jackals scored twice in the first period to jump out to an early 2-0 lead on goals by Sebastien Sylvestre and Kyle Rankin.

Finding themselves in a hole, South Carolina worked hard to try and get back in the game throughout the second period, outshooting the Jackals 18-9 in the first 40 minutes. But the Stingrays could not solve Muse, who was doing everything he could to keep Elmira in front.

After an early penalty to the Jackals for too many men on the ice 34 seconds into the third, South Carolina finally broke through just 43 seconds later at 1:17 when Patrick Gaul banged home rebound in front off the initial shot by defenseman Steven Delisle.

Gaul's second tally of the season gave both Delisle and defenseman Colton Saucerman their first points of the year with South Carolina.

The Stingrays outshot Elmira 21-6 in the third period and continually had chances to even the game, but were unable to tie things up until head coach Ryan Warsofsky pulled Milner for an extra attacker in the final minutes. It was then that Zajac struck, with assists from forwards Rob Flick and Domenic Menardo to tie it 2-2.

Just 33 seconds into overtime Zajac moved the puck from the Stingrays' defensive zone to defenseman Steve Weinstein who was on the left wing. Devin was able to beat his man to create a 2-on-1 rush, then deflected Weinstein's pass just inside the right post for his second goal of the season. All three of the Stingrays' victories this season have now come in overtime.

Both teams converted once on a power play opportunity, with South Carolina finishing 1-for-3 with the man-advantage and Elmira ending the game 1-for-4.

The Stingrays now head on the road to face the Orlando Solar Bears three times in the next week. The first of the three contests starts on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. South Carolina will return home on Thursday, November 17 to battle the Colorado Eagles.

Check out the South Carolina Stingrays Statistics



ECHL Stories from November 6, 2016


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