(via Sarah Hobday)
One week after game two, the Stingrays and Eagles retook the ice, but this time in Charleston. South Carolina came out firing, but would surrender multiple one goal leads en route to a 5-4 overtime loss. All three games have been decided in overtime.
The Stingrays’ power play had come in struggling, but got an early goal from Kelly Zajac that put the Rays on top just over seven minutes in. The goal seemed to energize the team and the sellout crowd.
Rob Flick sets up Kelly Zajac who scores a power-play goal to give @SCStingrays a 1-0 lead in Game 3 of #KellyCupFinals pic.twitter.com/DsFnvWZxm6
— ECHL (@ECHL) June 4, 2017
Marcus Perrier then took a tripping penalty and the parade to the penalty box for the Stingrays began. The Rays would take numerous penalties before the Eagles tied it up right after a power play expired on a goal from Julien Nantel.
The teams went to the room tied at one. Andrew Cherniwchan would give the Rays another lead just over a minute in with this four-on-four goal.
ANOTHER ONE!
The home team gets another goal to open up the second period thanks to Andrew Cherniwchan… @SCStingrays lead 2-1 pic.twitter.com/sP6IYOMtM3
— ECHL (@ECHL) June 5, 2017
About 10 minutes later, Nantel would get his second point of the night when he assisted on this goal from Sergei Boikov.
Julien Nantel feeds Sergei Boikov who puts it past Parker Milner and the @ColoradoEagles are TIED at 2 with @SCStingrays #KellyCupFinals pic.twitter.com/yIX5kaUH3C
— ECHL (@ECHL) June 5, 2017
Steve McParland would score for the third time in the series, one each game, to give the Rays a 3-2 lead with just over four minutes left in the second. The Rays would take a one goal lead into the intermission once more.
Beauty of a goal for @Steve_McParland. #RaysYourGame pic.twitter.com/u2SIfjBZgb
— SC Stingrays (@SCStingrays) June 5, 2017
Halfway through the third, the Eagles would tie up the game. Parker Milner was looking for goalie interference on this goal, but alas, it was held up.
The only goal of the third period so far comes from Jake Marto who evens things up once again – less than 10 to play in Game 3! pic.twitter.com/xZINtDLaZH
— ECHL (@ECHL) June 5, 2017
The Stingrays would get a power play late in the third and captain clutch Joe Devin would put home a puck that went off the back boards and popped out right into the crease.
Joe Devin with the Power Play Goal and @SCStingrays take the 4-3 lead as they are minutes from their 1st 2017 #KellyCupFinals victory! pic.twitter.com/ZOic8PWs6Q
— ECHL (@ECHL) June 5, 2017
It appeared that the Stingrays were on their way to being back in this series until Marcus Perrier took a tripping penalty with 31 seconds left. For the second time in three games, the Eagles had an opportunity to tie the game while on a six-on-four advantage. They made no mistake. After calling their timeout, Matt Register had his shot blocked, but was able to fire his rebound past Parker Milner.
But Matt Register had other plans as his late game goal ties things up and once again we are heading to OT! #KellyCupFInals pic.twitter.com/QCazFqLZhy
— ECHL (@ECHL) June 5, 2017
Matt Garbowsky would fire a shot from center point to give the Eagles the win in overtime while it was four-on-four. The Stingrays will now need to win four in a row to hoist the Kelly Cup, but have to take this one game at a time. Game 4 is Monday night. For the Stingrays to win this, they will need to stay disciplined. The Eagles have a deadly power play that can strike at any moment, no matter how they have fared that night.
My album of pictures from last night @ColoradoEagles OT win over @SCStingrays. @ECHL #KellyCupFinals Game 3 https://t.co/inEwKLR1hU Enjoy:) pic.twitter.com/eeek3R0y2g
— Sarah Hobday (@Sarah_Hobday) June 5, 2017
