Steven McParland (Sarah Hobday for the Sin Bin)
In front of the Norfolk Scope crowd for three games, the South Carolina Stingrays came away with three of six available points. After a close game won by Norfolk in the shootout, each team won a blowout over the other.
When these teams face each other again next Friday, the Stingrays will debut their new Washington Capitals-themed alternate jerseys. The jersey is essentially a Caps jersey with the fonts and numbers, except the Stingrays logo is on the front.
The week opened with the Hershey Bears assigning Tim McGauley, Domenic Monardo, and Joey Leach to the Stingrays. McGauley made his season debut after missing time with an injury while Monardo and Leach returned for their second stint with the Lowcountry.
Adam Carlson held South Carolina in the first game of the series with a stellar 43-save performance. The Admirals and Stingrays traded goals through the second period, with Derek DeBlois, Kelly Zajac, and Dylan Margonari getting the visitors on the board. A tying goal came in the third from T.J. Foster for Norfolk. The only goal of the shootout came from Brodie Dupont in the third round. South Carolina did not get more than 10 shots in a period all game while Norfolk got over 10 in each period.
Two nights later, South Carolina rebounded on the back of six goals from six different skaters. The first three Stingrays goals — from Steve Weinstein, Max Nicastro (his first), and Kelly Zajac — were cancelled out by three tallies from the Admirals — from Paul Rodrigues, Josh Brittain, and Ben Murphy. A late second period goal from Patrick Gaul did not get a response, and neither did third period goals from Joe Devin or Rob Flick. Parker Milner stopped 26 of 29 shots in the 6-3 win.
The Admirals returned favor the next night, winning 5-2 before a post-game skate with their fans. Josh Brittain and Mikael Tam had their second period goals cancelled out by two strikes from Derek DeBlois. All second period goals came on the power play. John Dunbar scored the only even strength goal of the night, which held as the game-winner, early in the third. Tam added another power play goal and the empty-netter to complete the hat trick. Adam Carlson stopped 25 of 29 shots.
NEXT WEEK
Two more games feature on the Stingrays’ calendar before a break for the Holidays. Greenville will make the three hour drive down I-26 for the seventh meeting of the season on Tuesday night. Beer and hot dogs will be $2 for the game.
Friday the 23rd will see the Admirals visit North Charleston. Santa Claus will also be at the game and will take pictures with Stingrays fans.
CURRENT STANDING
4th South Division, 12-10-1-1 (W-L-OTL-SOL), 26 points, 0.542 points percentage
