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ECHL South Carolina Stingrays

Stingrays Weekly Report

March 12, 2018 - ECHL (ECHL)
South Carolina Stingrays News Release


NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. - The South Carolina Stingrays are coming off a busy week that saw them clinch a spot in the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the 24th time in 25 ECHL seasons. The Rays finished with three wins in four games, including two victories at home over a weekend that saw games on three consecutive days. SC has been fueled by their resurgent power play unit that has now picked up a goal in seven straight contests. The man-advantage unit is fifth-best in the league at home through 31 games, scoring on 20.5% of its opportunities. The team has also continued their defensive prowess, recording the fifth shutout of an opponent this season on Saturday night against Atlanta. South Carolina allows just 2.19 goals per game, the lowest number in the ECHL.

South Carolina continues their five-game homestand this week with two games against the Idaho Steelheads on Thursday and Friday night in North Charleston. It will be the first and only contests for the Stingrays against a Mountain Division opponent this season. SC is just one win away from clinching at least second place in the South Division and matching their total of 40 victories during the 2016-17 regular season.

STINGRAYS RECORD: 39-13-6-1

LAST WEEK: 3-1-1-0

TUESDAY: SOUTH CAROLINA STINGRAYS 4, GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS 3 OT

(Bon Secours Wellness Arena - Greenville, SC)

Kelly Zajac scored twice, including the game-winner 57 seconds into overtime to help the South Carolina Stingrays defeat the Greenville Swamp Rabbits 4-3 and clinch a spot in the 2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs. South Carolina has a spot in the ECHL's postseason for the 24th time in their 25-year history. Their 37th win of the season gives the Stingrays 81 points in 56 games during the 2017-18 season.

FRIDAY: GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS 3, SOUTH CAROLINA STINGRAYS 2

(North Charleston Coliseum - North Charleston, SC)

Two goals and an assist from forward Evan Jasper and 35 saves by goaltender Brandon Halverson gave the Greenville Swamp Rabbits a 3-2 decision over the South Carolina Stingrays on Friday night at the North Charleston Coliseum. Marcus Perrier and Mike Chen had goals for the Stingrays in the loss, while forward Leo Fitzgerald earned a point in his professional debut and Parker Milner stopped 17 shots.

SATURDAY: SOUTH CAROLINA STINGRAYS 5, ATLANTA GLADIATORS 0

(North Charleston Coliseum - North Charleston, SC)

Goaltender Parker Milner earned his 21st win and third shutout of the season in front of 6,878 fans as he and the South Carolina Stingrays blanked the Atlanta Gladiators by a score of 5-0 Saturday night at the North Charleston Coliseum. Nick Roberto had two goals, while Danny Federico, Joey Leach and Taylor Cammarata all picked up two assists for the Stingrays in the victory. Milner saved 31 Atlanta shots in the game and lowered his ECHL league-leading goals-against average to 1.94 on the season.

SUNDAY: SOUTH CAROLINA STINGRAYS 6, JACKSONVILLE ICEMEN 3

(North Charleston Coliseum - North Charleston, SC)

Four unanswered goals got the South Carolina Stingrays out of a hole and into the win column for the 39th time this season, defeating the Jacksonville Icemen 6-3 on Sunday afternoon at the North Charleston Coliseum. Steven Whitney led the way for the Rays with four points in the game on a goal and three assists, while Kelly Zajac had two goals and an assist, including the game-winning tally with 4:15 to play. Whitney now leads the Stingrays in overall scoring this season with 49 points on 17 goals and 32 assists in 50 games.

THIS WEEK

Thursday, March 15 - vs. Idaho Steelheads, 7:05 p.m. (North Charleston Coliseum)

Friday, March 16 - vs. Idaho Steelheads, 7:05 p.m. (North Charleston Coliseum)

STINGRAYS LEADERS

Goals: 19 - Joe Devin, Kelly Zajac

Assists: 32 - Steven Whitney

Points: 49 - Steven Whitney

Plus/Minus: Plus-25 - Danny Federico

Penalty Minutes: 175 - Marcus Perrier

Shots On Goal: 164 - Joe Devin

Wins: 21 - Parker Milner

Goals Against Average: 1.94 - Parker Milner

Save Percentage: 0.929 - Parker Milner

POWER PLAY TURNING A CORNER

The Stingrays scored a power play goal for the seventh consecutive game during Sunday afternoon's win over Jacksonville. Dating back to Feb. 28 in Cincinnati, man-advantage tallies have been registered by defenseman Paul Geiger, forward Kelly Zajac (3), captain Joe Devin (2), Mike Chen and Steven Whitney. Zajac leads the team with eight power play goals on the season. SC is now 14th in the ECHL on the man-advantage with a 17.4% conversion rate.

WHITNEY PILING UP THE POINTS

Forward Steven Whitney is currently on a six-game point streak in which he has accounted for a total of two goals and 10 assists. With his recent outburst, Whitney is now leading the Stingrays with 32 helpers on the season. The Reading, Mass. native had points in all four Stingrays games last week, including two multi-point efforts with three points on Tuesday and four points on Sunday. Whitney has taken over the team lead in scoring for the year with 49 points and his assist total has matched his career-high from the 2015-16 season when he was with the Norfolk Admirals.

ZAJAC RETURNS TO TOP FORM

Stingrays' forward Kelly Zajac hasn't missed a beat since returning to the lineup after missing eight games with an injury and has registered points in five of his six games back in the lineup. Zajac scored twice in two of the Rays' four contests last week, first in Greenville to help the team secure a playoff spot and then at home on Sunday afternoon in a come-from-behind victory against Jacksonville. The Winnipeg, Man. native is third on the team in scoring this season with 43 points on 19 goals and 24 assists and racked up six points in four games last week.

FITZGERALD STARTS FAST

New forward signee Leo Fitzgerald didn't take long to get on the scoresheet in his professional debut with the Stingrays Friday night, picking up an assist on Marcus Perrier's sixth goal of the season just seven minutes into the first period. The forward recently signed with South Carolina after finishing his senior season at Bemidji State University in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). Fitzgerald also had a big day in Sunday's victory over the Icemen by scoring his first pro goal and adding two assists and finished the home weekend three-in-three with a total of four points.

Single-game tickets for the 2017-18 season are on sale now at the North Charleston Coliseum Box Office and ticketmaster.com.

Groups of 10 or more are on sale now featuring discounted pricing and great benefits! For more information or to place an order call the Stingrays front office at 843-744-2248 or stop by 3300 W. Montague Ave. Suite A-200 during business hours.

Check out the South Carolina Stingrays Statistics



ECHL Stories from March 12, 2018


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