(via the Stingrays)
The South Carolina Stingrays jumped out to a large enough lead to hang on after penalties and shenanigans overtook the third period. For the first time in the series, the road team left victorious.
With the 4-2 win tonight at Bon Secours Wellness Arena, the Stingrays hold a 3-2 series lead over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits heading into game six at North Charleston Coliseum.
Rob Flick scored the game-winning goal, adding an assist on Domeinc Monardo’s tally for a two-point night. Flick ended his night early with a misconduct penalty in the third period.
The Swamp Rabbits went zero-for-eight on the power play, making their total extra-man efficiency one-for-28 in the series.
Matt Prapavessis started the night for Greenville with a high-slot goal, his first of the playoffs, in the early first period. Brodie Dupont, who was on recall to AHL Bakersfield, got his first assist of the playoffs.
The Norfolk Admirals traded Dupont to Greenville at the ECHL trade deadline back in March, but Dupont was with Bakerfield at the time. Tonight marked his first game in a Greenville uniform.
Monardo and Derek Arnold put the Stingrays in front for good early in the second period. Their tallies came 58 seconds apart.
Andrew Cherniwchan and Spiro Goulakos put each other in the box for unsportsmanlike conduct in the second period.
Rob Flick finished off a triple-pass play on the power play with Joe Devin and Kelly Zajac. Flick leads the Stingrays with five goals this playoffs.
With play whistled for Joe Houk to go to the box for a Stingrays power play, things got out of hand.
Flick and Wade Epp both took issue with a Swamp Rabbits player, with Flick delivering gloved hits and cross-checks while on the ice. Referees initially gave Flick a double minor for roughing, but Flick would not stop talking. After about two minutes, referees sent Flick to the room 12 minutes early.
With Justin DaSilva in the box for Greenville, Tristan King pulled one back shorthanded for the hometown team. King let it rip from the blue line, keeping the puck on the ice the whole way to Parker Milner.
Max Nicastro broke up a few breakways from his spot on the blue line, including one late in the third.
John Parker replicated Arnold’s release over a minute after the King tally for his second of the playoffs. Patrick Gaul, a frequent shot-blocker on this night, registered his first assist of the playoffs on the play.
Milner finished the night with 22 saves on 24 shots. Jeff Malcolm stopped 26 of 30 for Greenville.
Game six will be Monday night from North Charleston.
