(Joey Leach via Sarah Hobday)
The South Carolina Stingrays went 1-1-0-1 (wins, losses, overtime losses, shootout losses) over the holiday weekend in which all three games were on the road.
The Stingrays week started with a Thanksgiving win at the Atlanta Gladiators. Dylan Margonari opened the scoring with just under nine minutes remaining in the first period. Joey Leach would be credited with the assist. Atlanta responded in the second but Patrick Gaul scored early in the third to give the Rays all they needed. Jeff Jakaitis would go on to make 24 saves in his sixth win of the season.
The team then went on to face the Orlando Solar Bears for a pair of games Saturday and Sunday. In Saturday’s matchup, the Stingrays erased a two-goal hole in the third period. Tim McGauley would get his first goal of the season on the power play. Joe Devin would tie the game less than four minutes later but the Rays were unable to build on the momentum as they allowed a goal with just under seven minutes to play.
The next day, Stingrays net minder Carmine Guerriero would make his professional debut, but would end up short of a win as the Rays lost 3-2 in the shootout. Andrew Cherniwchan opened the scoring in the second period and Taylor Cammarata would add to the lead less than minute later to give the Rays a 2-0 lead heading into the third. Orlando would cut the deficit in half less than four minutes in and then tie the game with their goalie pulled with 31 seconds left.
A key part to getting three points over the week was the penalty kill. The penalty kill was a perfect 12-for-12 in the three game road swing.
The week ahead: The Rays will not need to wait long to try to get revenge on Orlando as they travel to face the Stingrays in Charleston on Saturday. Greenville then comes to town on Sunday.
Standings: The Stingrays sit second in the South Division and have two games in hand on everyone around them. They are seven points behind the Florida Everblades and one point clear of both Greenville and Atlanta.
Leaders: Cherniwchan leads the team with seven goals, Kelly Zajac has 10 assists which help him tie for the lead in points with Joe Devin at 12. Devin leads the team with a +6. On the goalie side, Jakaitis leads the way with his six wins, but Parker Milner still leads with a 1.71 goals against average and a .939 save percentage.
