Stingrays Playoff Game Preview: Stingrays Take ECHL's Best Postseason Road Record to Ohio
Published on May 25, 2015 under ECHL (ECHL)
South Carolina Stingrays News Release
North Charleston, S.C. - The South Carolina Stingrays visit the Toledo Walleye tomorrow in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals at 7:35 at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio. The Stingrays lead the best-of-seven series 3-2.
#1 Toledo Walleye vs. #2 South Carolina Stingrays
Game 1: Friday, May 15 at Toledo 2-1 Win Box Score Recap
Game 2: Saturday, May 16 at Toledo 4-3 Win Box Score Recap
Game 3: Wednesday, May 20 at South Carolina 6-5 Overtime Win Box Score Recap
Game 4: Friday, May 22 at South Carolina 5-4 Loss Box Score Recap
*Game 5: Saturday, May 23 at South Carolina 5-4 Overtime Loss Box Score Recap
*Game 6: Tuesday, May 26 at Toledo 7:35 p.m.
*Game 7: Wednesday, May 27 at Toledo 7:35 p.m.
*if necessary
Where Are We Now:
The Stingrays are battling in the third round of a four-round Kelly Cup Playoffs and are one win away from capturing the E.A. "Bud" Gingher Memorial Trophy as the Eastern Conference champion and reaching the Kelly Cup Finals for the fourth time in team history. The winner of the Eastern Conference Finals will meet the winner of the Western Conference Finals between the Ontario Reign and Allen Americans in the Kelly Cup Finals.
Chasing the Gingher Memorial Trophy:
The Gingher Memorial Trophy is named in recognition of E.A. "Bud" Gingher, who was Chairman of the ECHL Board of Governors from 1992-95 and co-founded the Dayton Bombers in 1991. He owned the team for seven seasons, served as President and Governor until selling the team in 1998. Gingher, who passed away in 2002, was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2009. Beginning in 1997-98, the trophy was awarded to the playoff champion of the Northern Conference in the ECHL. The first recipient of the trophy following its renaming was the Dayton Bombers in 2001-02. From the 2004-05 season through 2009-10, the trophy was designated for the playoff champion of the American Conference. The Stingrays captured the Gingher Memorial Trophy in 2009.
Game 1 Recap:
Forward Wayne Simpson scored a goal and an assist and defenseman Michal Cajkovsky buried the game-winning goal with 3.3 seconds left in the second period to propel the Stingrays over the Walleye 2-1 in Game 1 in Northwest Ohio. Goaltender Jeff Jakaitis made 29 saves and stopped all 10 shots faced in the third period.
Game 2 Recap:
Looking to shake off a tough loss in the opening contest, the Walleye jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period of Game 2 Saturday evening, capitalizing on Stingrays turnovers. The Stingrays regrouped in the intermission and fought back with three goals in the second period off the stick of forward Caleb Herbert and Cajkovsky. Forward Derek DeBlois added a tally in the third period to make it 4-2 before the Walleye were able to squeak in goal late in the contest.
Game 3 Recap:
The Stingrays jumped out to 4-1 and 5-2 leads behind four-point games from forwards Derek DeBlois (two goals, two assists) and Andrew Rowe (one goal, three assists) and a three-point effort from forward Wayne Simpson (one goal, two assists). The Walleye did not back down as forward Martin Frk registered a hat trick and forward Kyle Bonis picked up a goal and two assists to tie the contest 5-5 and force overtime. Early in the extra session, Forward Rob Ricci buried the game-winning tally to give the Stingrays a 3-0 series lead.
Game 4 Recap:
The South Carolina Stingrays trailed 4-1 after the first period, but mounted a comeback in the second period with three goals only to fall 5-4 to the Walleye. Forward Andrew Rowe scored two goals and an assist and forward Wayne Simpson chipped in three assists.
Game 5 Recap:
The Stingrays carried 2-1 and 4-2 leads into the first and second intermission, but behind forward Martin Frk's second hat trick of the series, the Walleye rallied in the third period to force overtime and Frk buried his third goal of the game 5:29 into the extra sessions to send the series back to Toledo, Ohio. Forward Derek DeBlois picked up a Gordie Howe Hat Trick (goal, assist and fight) and finished the game with two goals and two assists for four points.
One Goal to Rule Them All:
Each of the five games in the series have been decided by one goal.
Lighting the Lamp:
Over the last three games, the Stingrays and Walleye have scored a combined 29 goals.
OOOVVEEERRTTIMMMEE:
Saturday's game marked the fifth overtime game for the Stingrays in the 2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs with all five taking place at the North Charleston Coliseum.
What does the Lowcountry and the Upstate Have in Common?
Both South Carolina destinations boast road warriors. The Stingrays hold the best road record in the 2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs, going 7-1 away from the North Charleston Coliseum.
Simpson Won't Back Down:
Stingrays forward Wayne Simpson leads the ECHL postseason scoring race with 30 points (eight goals, 22 assists) and is currently on an eight-game point streak with five goals and 15 assists for 20 points. His 30 postseason points is first all-time in Stingrays single-season playoff history, passing David Seitz's 28-point performance (13 goals, 15 assists) during the 2001 Kelly Cup Playoffs last Saturday with two assists in Game 5 against the Walleye.
Top Line Cashing In:
The Stingrays' top forward line of Andrew Rowe, Wayne Simpson and Derek DeBlois have grabbed a combined 31 points (12 goals, 19 assists) in the series against the Walleye.
Watch the Stingrays at Southside 17
Watch the Stingrays take on the Walleye in Game 6 action at Southside 17 at Tanger Outlets! Enjoy great food and drink specials! All drafts and well drinks are $3, $1 off wine and $5 top-shelf drinks! Appetizers are $5! Specials start 30 minutes before puck drop. Details
Regular-Season Recap:
The Stingrays went 1-2-0-1 against the Walleye in 2014-15 regular season with three of the four meetings taking place at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Walleye earned their first-ever win (including the Toledo Storm) at the Coliseum in the first meeting of the season on November 4 with a 4-3 shootout win. The two sides came together again at the Coliseum with the Walleye prevailing 4-3 and 7-2 on January 16 and January 18. The lone contest at the Huntington Center came on March 27 with the Stingrays rallying for a 5-3 victory and their ECHL record 23rd win in a row. Forward Derek DeBlois led the Stingrays in the series with four points (two goals, two assists) while Kyle Bonis led the Walleye with six points (three goals, three assists). In three appearances, Jeff Jakaitis went 1-2-0 against the Walleye with a 4.47 goals-against average and .863 save percentage. Toledo's Jeff Lerg went 2-1-0 with a 3.03 GAA and .912 save percentage.
How We Got Here:
South Carolina Stingrays
The Stingrays defeated the Reading Royals four games to three in the opening round, scoring three goals in the final period of Game 7 to rally for a 3-2 win. In the second round, the Stingrays jumped out to a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Florida Everblades in the East Division Finals behind two multiple-goal road victories in Game 1 and Game 2 down at Germain Arena in Estero, Florida and a 3-2 triumph in Game 3 at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Everblades rejected elimination in Game 4 and Game 5 with triple overtime and double overtime wins to force the series back to Southwest Florida. In Game 6 Monday night, the Stingrays took a 2-0 lead into the second intermission and added three goals in the final frame to cruise to a 5-2 victory and the series win.
Toledo Walleye:
Like the Stingrays, the Walleye needed all seven games to close their first-round series against the Wheeling Nailers and wrapped up a seven-game set against the Fort Wayne Komets Wednesday night on home ice. All three of the Komets' victories came in overtime (Game 3, Game 4 and Game 6), three of the four Toledo triumphs were decided by three goals and all four Walleye wins came on home ice. With the Game 7 win, the Walleye are the fourth team in ECHL history to win two Game 7s in the same playoff season.
The Stingrays, along with the ECHL, announced the 2015-16 regular season schedule. The schedule features six new teams and a rematch of the 2009 Kelly Cup Finals against the Alaska Aces. The schedule also features 33 of 36 home games on Friday, Saturday or Sunday at the North Charleston Coliseum.
Broadcast Central
Watch: ECHL.TV, Southside 17 at Tanger Outlets
Listen Live: StingraysHockey.com, Caps Radio 24/7
Twitter: @SCStingrays
Facebook: SCStingraysHockey
Game Notes
If necessary, the Stingrays and Walleye collide in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals Wednesday, May 17 at 7:35 p.m. at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio.
Do not miss a second of the action! 2015-16 Stingrays Ticket Plans are on sale NOW! Save money off of box office prices and receive great benefits like FREE parking, Buddy Passes, discounts off of merchandise, advanced ticket purchases to North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center events and more! Click here to see all the benefits and options!
Become a "Fan" of the Stingrays on Facebook at Facebook.com/SCStingraysHockey and join the conversation on Twitter at Twitter.com/SCStingrays. Stingrays Hockey - Wanna Go?
2014-15 Postseason Record
South Carolina: 11-7
Toledo: 10-9
All-Time Postseason Records
South Carolina: 95-88, 21-23 in Overtime
Toledo: 70-63, 18-14 in Overtime
2014-2015 Records
South Carolina: 45-20-1-6, 97 points (2nd place, East Division)
Toledo: 50-15-5-2, 107 points (1st place, North Division, Brabham Cup Champion)
South Carolina vs. Toledo, 2014-15 Season Schedule (Home Games in Bold, All times Eastern)
Nov. 4 vs. Toledo 4-3 Shootout Loss Box Score
Jan. 16 vs. Toledo 4-3 Loss Box Score
Jan 18 vs. Toledo 7-2 Loss Box Score
Mar. 27 at Toledo 5-3 Win Box Score
South Carolina vs. Toledo, Head-to-Head in 2014-15
1-2-0-1
2013-2014 Records
South Carolina: 43-23-2-4, 92 points (1st place, South Division, 3rd Eastern Conference)
Toledo: 21-44-4-3, 49 points (5th place, North Division, 13th Eastern Conference)
South Carolina vs. Toledo, Head-to-Head in 2013-14
4-0-0-0
Stingrays vs. Toledo, All-Time
20-3-1
Head Coaches
South Carolina: Spencer Carbery (4th year)
Toledo: Derek Lalonde (1st year)
NHL Affiliate
South Carolina: Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals
Toledo: Detroit Red Wings
AHL Affiliate
South Carolina: Providence Bruins and Hershey Bears
Toledo: Grand Rapids Griffins
ECHL Stories from May 25, 2015
- Americans to Honor Ralph Strangis Tomorrow Night - Allen Americans
- ECHL Transactions - May 25 - ECHL
- Stingrays Playoff Game Preview: Stingrays Take ECHL's Best Postseason Road Record to Ohio - South Carolina Stingrays
- Americans Take Game 5 from Reign, 6-2 - Ontario Reign
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