Stingrays Win Playoff Tune-up 3-2 Over the Checkers
April 1, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
South Carolina Stingrays News Release
Charlotte, NC - In a playoff dress rehearsal against the Charlotte Checkers, the South Carolina Stingrays saw a two goal third period lead disappear, but Spencer Carbery got the game winner with less than eight minutes to go, and beat the Checkers 3-2 at the Time Warner Cable Arena.
"I felt like we played well in the first two periods," said Head Coach Jared Bednar. "We were kind of lulled to sleep by them, but were helped out by a nice play by Carbery's line."
The Rays jumped out to a 1-0 lead early in the first period on Nikita Kashirsky's third goal of the season. With the Rays on their first power play of the night, Kashirsky skated the puck from the far side boards to the bottom of the slot and fired a shot through traffic past goaltender Maxime Daigneault. The goal, scored at 2:39 of the period, was assisted by Patrick Wellar and Pierre-Luc O'Brien.
The second period played out much like the first one did with the Rays getting an early power play goal, and standing strong defensively. This time it was Mick Berge getting his third goal of the year at 4:04 of the period to give the Rays a 2-0 lead. The goal was assisted by the same tandem that assisted the first period goal, O'Brien and Wellar. In the period, Jonathan Boutin stopped all 13 shots he faced preserving the 2-0 lead heading into the third period.
Back to back goals by Matt Ford and Ryan Hillier of the Charlotte Checkers tied the game up in the third period with more than 14:00 minutes to go. It wasn't until the 12:31 mark of the period that Spencer Carbery took the lead back for the Rays, and for good. Kashirsky brought the puck in the zone on the far side wall and fired a shot on Daigneault. After Daigneault turned it aside, the rebound went to Wellar who fired a shot of his own. His shot was turned aside again, but this time the rebound went right on to the stick of Carbery who fired it between the legs of Daigneault, making it a 3-2 game. The goal, Carbery's 17th of the year, was assisted by Wellar and Kashirsky.
The winning goaltender was Boutin who stopped 32 of the 34 shots he faced. The losing goaltender was Daigneault who stopped 38 of the 41 shots he faced. The Rays went 2-6 on the power play while they killed off all six short handed situations they faced.
The Rays will be back in action on Friday night as they travel to Gwinnett for the final game of the regular season against the Gladiators. Game time will be at 7:35. You can catch all the action by tuning in to ESPN Radio 910 the Team with the Benitos Pre-game show beginning at 7:20.
ECHL Stories from April 1, 2009
- Steelheads beat Phoenix, 6-3 - Idaho Steelheads
- Steelheads Power Past RoadRunners 6-3 - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Jackals Lock In Playoff Spot - Elmira Jackals
- Blades win 6th straight; Baker hits 100 point mark in 6-3 win - Florida Everblades
- Nailers Comeback Thriller 4-3 Over Trenton - Wheeling Nailers
- Chiefs clipped by Cyclones - Johnstown Chiefs
- Cyclones Advance To Playoffs With 4-3 Win! - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Devils Fall in a Shootout to Wheeling, 4-3 - Trenton Devils
- Stingrays Win Playoff Tune-up 3-2 Over the Checkers - South Carolina Stingrays
- Gladiators Dropped by Everblades 6-3 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Checkers wake up in third but can't overtake Stingrays - Charlotte Checkers
- Cyclones Sign Forward Felix Petit - Cincinnati Cyclones
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Grizzlies Announce Playoff Schedule Scenarios - Utah Grizzlies
- Steelheads Sign Northern Michigan Rookie - Idaho Steelheads
- Wranglers Named Best Local Sports Team and Best Coach by Review-Journal - Las Vegas Wranglers
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- Checkers Agree To Terms With Lucyk - Charlotte Checkers
- Bordeleau recalled to Lake Erie - Florida Everblades
- Reading's Gordon Named In Glas Co ECHL Player Of The Week - ECHL
- Player Awards Banquet April 6 On E-Center Ice - Utah Grizzlies
- Royals' Ben Gordon Selected as In Glas Co ECHL Player of the Week - Reading Royals
- ECHL Today - ECHL
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