In a three game week against the Orlando Solar Bears, the South Carolina Stingrays needed wins to climb out from the bottom of the South Division standings. Two wins sandwhiched one loss, allowing the Stingrays to return to the Lowcountry eyeing a top-four spot.
Patrick Gaul opened the series with a four-assist night, helping South Carolina to a 5-1 win. Forwards Scott Tanski and Domenic Monardo each put in their first Stingrays’ goals. Tanski’s goal erased the go-ahead power play marker from Brett Findlay and Steven McParland put South Carolina in front for good on a short handed bid. Parker Milner stopped 17 of 18 shots in total, but had to leave the game twice with skate difficulties.
Adam Carlson came in for the first 13:50 of the second period, then Milner played the last 6:10. Milner again had skate trouble before the third and Carlson just finished the game from there. Milner got the win by virtue of being in net for the game-winner from McParland.
Monardo’s goal came in the second period, while Joe Devin and McParland added late goals to secure the victory. For the final goal, Gaul stole the puck at South Carolina’s blue line and went up ice with multiple back checkers harrassing him. Once dragged down at the Orlando blue line, he passed the puck with his hand off his skate, mindful of hand pass rules, for McParland to get the empty netter.
With Carlson in net for the whole game, the Solar Bears managed to take the lead in the second period and lean on Kasimir Kaskisuo for the shutout. The Maple Leafs signed this Finish goaltender after two years at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and assigned him to Orlando. He made 24 saves, but just 11 in the second and third periods, to secure the 3-0 shutout win. Jon Jutzi, Joe Perry on the power play, and Tony Cameranesi on the empty net scored for the Solar Bears.
Milner returned to the cage and kept South Carolina in a tight rubber match, coming out with a 3-2 win. Denver Maderson had his opening period goal equalled by Rob Flick’s first goal of the season in the second. Marcus Perrier and Alex Gacek — his first professional goal — gave South Carolina a third period lead to hold on to. Eric Baier scored with the extra attacker, but the two-goal hole was too much to overcome and South Carolina escaped Florida with two wins on the weekend.
NEXT WEEK
Keeping with the three-game series model, the Stingrays welcome the Colorado Eagles to the North Charleston Coliseum. Though leading the Mountain division, the Eagles only have 15 points on the season. They have taken more games to overtime and shootouts than any of their division foes, increasing their points percentage. The Eagles enter the week having won two of their six games this month.
Thursday night’s game is Help for the Homeless Night, where the Stingrays are asking for non-perishable food items. If you bring one item, you will recieve a “buy one, get one FREE” ticket for the game.
On Saturday night, the first 1,500 fans will be given a Stingrays Street Hockey Set containing two sticks and a puck, courtesy of Mix 96 and Pivotal Fitness.
Sunday afternoon, the Stingrays will give the first 2,000 fans a set of Stingrays Trading Cards.
CURRENT STANDING
T-4th in South Division, 5-5-1-0 (W-L-OTL-SOL), .500 percent points percentage
