The South Carolina Stingrays were back on home ice for the first time since January 28, when they won in overtime against a relentless Wichita Thunder squad. They faced the Savannah Ghost Pirates for the third time on the weekend, looking for the sweep. The red-hot Stingrays have won nine of their last ten games and are 12-2-1 all-time against the Ghost Pirates. No major lineup changes for the Stingrays, but Mitch Gibson getting the start over Garin Bjorklunk. Gibson is looking for his fourth consecutive win.
Some familiar faces took the ice last night, as former Stingray’s Ryan Scarfo and Bear Hughes got the start in Savannah. Bear Hughes was sent down from Henderson, and this would be his first game of the year. Hughes was South Carolina’s All-Star last year, represented alongside Coach Brenden Kotyk, and posted 59 points in his rookie season. Tonight, however, he is a scratch.
South Carolina went on an early advantage within the first four minutes of play, with stripes calling a delayed penalty and the Rays keeping advantage for over a minute with an extra attacker. Savannah would touch up and later kill the penalty.
Savannah would strike first on the night, with Jordan Kaplan lifting one past Mitch Gibson, getting his ninth on the year. The Ghost Pirates would later be called for a bench minor for too many men on the ice, giving Ryan Leibold a breakaway opportunity.
The second period was full of great opportunities from the Stingrays, as they almost doubled their shots and held the Ghost Pirates to only four opportunities. Evans and Magera seemed to be the hot linemates, as they had many 2-1 opportunities and runaways with the puck. It finally paid off, as Brent Pedersen came out of the box on an interference call, and Jonny Evans tied the game with 35 seconds left in the period.
The third period picked up right where the second left off, with tensions continuing to rise. Michael Kim was sent to the box on a four-minute high-sticking call, putting Savannah in the driver’s seat for a while. The pace started to pick up on both ends during the penalty, both clubs wanting the advantage early in the third. Garet Hunt would get sent into the box later on in the period for an inciting misconduct, only to return with 1:14 left to go in the game. In the last three minutes of regulation, both clubs would get plausible shots on goal, but it wouldn’t be enough, forcing overtime.
The extra minutes were nothing short of extraordinary, but Mitchell Gibson and Vikman, respectively, kept their clubs in the game. With one minute remaining, a delayed penalty was called on Connor More for holding, giving the Ghost Pirates the extra attacker. Connor Moore would leave injured, shocking fans as he is the only player to play every single game this season. The Stingrays would survive, forcing their first shootout of the season.
Coach Koytk sent out Jonny Evans first, the only one who had successfully gotten past Vickman during regulation, and he did it again once more. The Ghost Pirates would send Peterson and Simon Pinard, both would get past Gibson. Austin Magera and Kevin O’Neil’s attempts would be stopped by Vickman, giving Savannah the game. The Stingrays hit the road to Atlanta on Tuesday and Greeneville on Friday but are back home on Saturday and Sunday to take on the Florida Everblades.
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