ECHL South Carolina Stingrays

Stingrays Earn Thrilling Shootout Victory over Cyclones for 21st Straight Win

Published on March 21, 2015 under ECHL (ECHL)
South Carolina Stingrays News Release


North Charleston, S.C. - Forward Caleb Herbert scored the game-tying goal late in the third period and the game-winning marker in the last round of the shootout to send the South Carolina Stingrays' (39-18-1-6) record winning streak to 21 games with a 5-4 victory over the Cincinnati Cyclones (27-28-1-6) at the North Charleston Coliseum Saturday evening. Goaltender Jeff Jakaitis made 26 saves for his 13th consecutive win, tying the longest winning streak in ECHL history.

Stingrays forward Rob Ricci kick started the scoring 53 seconds into the game catching a pass from forward Wayne Simpson and ripping a shot past the blocker of Cyclones netminder Rob Madore (SOL, 24 saves on 28 shots). Forward Andrew Rowe added the second assist. Moments later, Cincinnati's Steven Hodges snuck a shot under Jakaitis (W, 26 saves on 30 shots) to tie the contest at 2:14. The tally ended Jakaitis' shutout streak at 321:46, the second longest streak in professional hockey. The Stingrays responded on the power play at 7:06 when defenseman Drew MacKenzie jumped in from the left-wing point to one-time a feed from Rowe past Madore. Forward Brandon Wong netted the second assist.

Cyclones made it 2-2 at the start of the second period with forward and former Stingray Stephan Vigier's 13th goal of the season 37 seconds in. Late in the frame, Stingrays Captain Andrew Rowe reclaimed the lead on the man advantage at 16:13 slipping a shot past the outstretched left pad of Madore from between the faceoff circles with help from Simpson and MacKenzie. Just over a minute later, Cyclones forward Nick Huard evened the scored for the third time snapping a drive between the legs of Jakaitis at 17:27.

The Cyclones took the first lead of the night at 10:33 of the third period as defenseman Shane Taker blasted a shot over the glove of Jakaitis. With the clock winding down and on the power play, the Stingrays pulled Jakaitis for the extra skater and 6-on-4 advantage and Herbert capitalized with 1:12 left in regulation time. Defenseman Lee Moffie and Simpson chipped in assists.

In the 4-on-4 overtime skate, the Stingrays defeated a Cyclones power play to force the shootout. Forward Joe Devin put the Stingrays in front in the first round, but the Cyclones tied the breakaway contest in the fourth. With the final shot, Herbert beat Madore past the glove for the game-winning marker. The Stingrays finished the game 3-for-5 on the power play while the Cyclones went 0-for-3.

The Stingrays open a season-high seven-game road trip Wednesday, March 25 against the Cincinnati Cyclones at 7:35 p.m. at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio and continue a Midwest journey Friday, March 27 at Toledo, Saturday, March 28 at Indianapolis and Sunday, March 29 at Evansville. The road trip continues with a trio of contests in The Sunshine State April 2-4 with tilts against the Orlando Solar Bears and Florida Everblades.

The Stingrays close the regular-season schedule on Saturday, April 11 against the Evansville IceMen at 7:05 at the North Charleston Coliseum on Fan Appreciation Night and The Post and Courier Hall of Fame Night. The first 1,000 fans receive a 2014-15 Stingrays team photo courtesy of Sheila Lauffer of Data Imaging and a new member of the Stingrays Hall of Fame will be inducted during the first intermission. Tickets

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ECHL Stories from March 21, 2015


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