South Carolina Stingrays

Stingrays Trail Series 2-0

Adam Carlson (Sarah Hobday)

Greenville goaltender Jeff Malcolm last played in the playoffs in 2013-14. In his seven games with the team then known as the Greenville Road Warriors, he posted a .912 save percentage. In the last two games, Malcolm stopped 73 shots for a .948 save percentage.

Malcolm allowed one goal to the South Carolina Stingrays Friday night, ensuring his team a 4-1 win and a 2-0 series lead.

Once again, the Stingrays outshot the Swamp Rabbits. Of the 40 shots in game two, Patrick Gaul led the way with six, followed by Rob Flick and Scott Tanski with four.

Tyler Brown scored for the second time in two games on a four-on-four rush goal early in the first period. Brandon Alderson followed up 10 minutes later on the power play.

Stingrays captain Joe Devin gave his team a chance early in the second period. Rob Flick sent a pass Devin’s way to the left circle, but Devin sent the shot wide. Kelly Zajac collected the puck, and the Stingrays changed up their power play structure. Zajac drove the slot, and Olivier Archambault came up to the point.

Devin did not miss his second chance, scoring his 24th career ECHL playoff goal.

The Swamp Rabbits pulled away through the rest of the middle frame. With nine team shots in the 20 minutes, Ahti Oksanen and Tyler Brown scored to ensure victory for the home side.

Parker Milner stopped 27 of 31 shots in his ninth career playoff game.

Stingrays and Swamp Rabbits players alike ran into penalty trouble throughout the game. The first dust up started two minutes in when, after being whistled for going offside, Spiro Goulakos fired a shot at Milner. Anyone familiar with recent iterations of the NHL video games knows this triggers an automatic fight request. Wade Epp and Bretton Cameron ended up in the box for matching roughing minors. Goulakos was sent for unsportsmanlike conduct.

With play stopped and a faceoff coming early in the second, Epp and Goulakos again found each other. They would not stop jawing at each other, causing matching unsportsmanlike conduct minors.

Referees sent Cameron and Flick to the box for matching roughing and cross-checking minors after jousting with each other in the third period. Flick took his gloves and off and threw a few punches after the whistle. Cameron did not get his gloves off to fight back.

Game three will be Monday night from the North Charleston Coliseum.

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Max Wolpoff

Churchill High School graduate (2015) and current Boston University journalism student. Follow me on Twitter (@Max_Wolpoff) for game-day tweets or my random musings about being a college student.

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