Stingrays Outlast Checkers 4-3; Move on to Second Round
Published on April 19, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
South Carolina Stingrays News Release
Indian Trail, NC - The South Carolina Stingrays scored twice in the first period to help pace them over the Charlotte Checkers 4-3 in game six of their best-of-seven game series, clinching the series four games to two.
"We scored some very timely goal," said Head Coach Jared Bednar. "Getting up early was big in this game; we came out strong like we did all three games at home."
The Rays got off on the right foot in game six, scoring twice in the opening frame. The first goal came off a rebound that popped onto the stick of Keith Johnson. Johnson was able to corral the rebound and fire it by Jeff Jakaitis to give the Rays a 1-0 lead. The goal came on the power play at 1:28 and was assisted by Maxime Lacroix and Brad Farynuk. Later in the period, Trent Campbell and Jeff Corey broke out on a two on one that resulted in Corey's second goal of the playoffs. At 14:26, Corey received the pass through the crease from Campbell and buried it behind Jakaitis to give the Rays the 2-0 lead. The goal was assisted by Campbell and Farynuk.
While on the power play, Charlotte cut the lead in half in the first three minutes of play. Jeff Miles got his first goal of the playoffs at 2:58 making it a one goal game and putting the momentum on the side of the Checkers. That momentum however, would be short lived as less than :30 seconds later, Matt Scherer got his fourth goal of the playoffs to make it a 3-1 game. At 3:25, Scherer took a pass from Nikita Kashirsky and found the back of the net to give the Rays the two goal lead heading into the third period.
Just like the second period, the Checkers scored on a Peter Tsimikalis tally at the 1:04 mark of the third. The Rays though responded in kind with a Spencer Carbery goal 1:44 later. At 2:48, Carbery brought the puck in the far side and fired a shot from the top of the circle that snuck by Jakaitis on the short side. The goal, assisted by Nate Kiser and Kashirsky, gave the Rays another two goal cushion, making it a 4-2 Stingrays lead. At 6:11, Michele Leveille got a power play goal to cut it to within one for a third time, a 4-3 score. They pulled their goaltender late in the third to try and tie things up, but they would never get to as the Rays won 4-3.
The winning goaltender was Jonathan Boutin who stopped 32 of the 35 shots he faced. The losing goaltender was Jakaitis who stopped 36 of the 40 shots he faced. The Rays went 1-2 on the power play while killing off four of the six short handed situations they faced.
The Rays return to action when they take on the Florida Everblades in the second round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. The schedule for the series will be released early in the week. Stay tuned to www.stingrayshockey.com for details.
ECHL Stories from April 19, 2009
- Thunder Lead Series 3-2, Push Ontario to Brink of Elimination - Stockton Thunder
- Stingrays Outlast Checkers 4-3; Move on to Second Round - South Carolina Stingrays
- Devils Force Game Seven with Double Overtime Thriller, 3-2 - Trenton Devils
- Reign Drops Match To Thunder, 4-2 - Ontario Reign
- Checkers Season Concludes With Game Six Loss To Stingrays - Charlotte Checkers
- Wranglers Kelly Cup Daily - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Blades announce dates for opening games of round two - Florida Everblades
- Tifu's late goal pushes Blades into second round - Florida Everblades
- Gladiators Season Ends with 2-1 loss to Everblades - Atlanta Gladiators
- Salmon Kings To Meet Aces In Second Round Of Playoffs - Victoria Salmon Kings
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Cyclones-Wheeling Game Seven Preview - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Checkers Must Win Game Six Or Season Is Over - Charlotte Checkers
- Game Preview (game 5): Stockton Thunder Vs. Ontario Reign - Stockton Thunder
- Cyclones, Nailers Play 14th ECHL Game Seven Monday - ECHL
- Kelly Cup Quest Daily - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Aces Polish off Grizz; Victoria Next - Alaska Aces
- Derlago snipes OT winner, Condors lead series 3-2 - Bakersfield Condors
- Condors Take 3-2 Series Lead With 4-3 OT Win In Game Five - Las Vegas Wranglers
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