(via the Stingrays)
Needing a big win to turn around their fortunes in this first round series, the South Carolina Stingrays returned home to a raucous North Charleston Coliseum. Their on-ice performance, a 6-0 victory, sent everyone home happy.
The Greenville Swamp Rabbits and South Carolina now sit two games to one in the best-of-seven series, with Greenville holding the edge.
Rob Flick scored three times twice in the win, with no goal coming farther than 10 feet from the crease of Jeff Malcolm. Domenic Monardo got the lone power play goal of the contest.
Scoring Correction: South Carolina's fifth goal last night is now credited to Andrew Cherniwchan with an assist to Rob Flick.
— SC Stingrays (@SCStingrays) April 18, 2017
The Greenville extra-man units went an astounding zero-for-nine, missing on two double-minor penalties on Joey Leach for high-sticking. Greenville spent about 21 minutes of the game on the power play.
The Stingrays pumped the puck toward Malcolm all night, firing a total of 44 — 19 in the first period. Olivier Archambault and Flick scored rebound goals within 90 seconds of each other for the early two-goal lead.
Malcolm stopped 38 of 44 shots. Parker Milner earned his second shutout of the year with 25 saves, 13 of which came in the second period.
After Joe Devin and Monardo doubled the advantage to four, the Swamp Rabbits reverted to goading the Rays into penalties.
Spiro Goulakos, booed every time he touched the puck, served as the main agitator. Referees ended his night when he and Andrew Cherniwchan went round-and-round without ever dropping the gloves. Goulakos got a ten-minute misconduct with nine minutes left for continuing the altercation.
For his part, Marcus Perrier was also sent to the showers a little early. After dominating Andrew Dommett in a fight, the linesmen escorted him to the box, then directed him to the locker room. Perrier flapped his arms, signaling the crowd to cheer the whole way off the ice.
While Perrier and Dommett fought, Bretton Cameron had to be helped off the ice after a hit. He did not return to the game.
As an exclamation point, Flick tallied his third goal while he stood in the blue paint. A few hats dotted the ice for the sixth goal of the night.
These teams will battle again tomorrow night from North Charleston Coliseum.
