INDIAN TRAIL, NC- Charlotte took a four goal lead in period two against a poorly performing, undisciplined South Carolina Stingrays team and then withstood a brief attempt at a comeback to win game two of their first round playoff series 5-3. Jeff Jakaitis was back in goal for the Checkers despite sustaining a laceration over an eye from a shot to his mask in game one. He stopped 41 of 44 shots for the win making a number of excellent saves. He was especially strong after the Stingrays started their late-game rally. Losing goaltender James Reimer faced 41 shots.
The score was not indicative of the game which was really never in doubt as the second intermission began. 1,115 fans at the Extreme Ice Arena watched Charlotte score five unanswered goals in the second period while the Stingrays scored once in the first period and added two goals in period three to account for the scoring.
In his pregame remarks âRayâs coach Jared Bednar said that âwe cannot take as many undisciplined penalties tonight as w e did Thursday.â In game one the âRays committed 12 infractions. His team apparently didnât hear him as they took 15 penalties in the first 40 minutes of play and 20 overall in the game. The 20 infractions produced 12 power plays for the Checkers and they cashed in three times.
Charlotte also spent a lot of time in the box racking up 15 infractions, however, many of their penalties came after they had gained the huge lead and were responding to South Carolinaâs frustration. South Carolina was zero for eight on power plays tonight.
“The most frustrating thing about it is our total lack of discipline,â said Bednar. Tonightâs game was to some extent dĂ©jĂ vu from game one of the series. In that game the Checkers scored three straight goals within a time span of 2:22 in the second period. In game two they were even quicker scoring three goals in the same period in a time span of 1:58 and adding two more goals later in the span of just over one minute.
The five goals against in period two and the time spent short-handed drained the last amount of whatever over confidence the Stingrays brought into the series. They could not fully regroup after the Checkers second period barrage although they scored two unanswered goals of their own in the final stanza. The Stingrays had one bright moment as they led the game 1-0 at the first intermission by scoring a short-handed goal. Forward Jeff Corey who was the “up man” on the penalty kill was forechecking against the Checkers power play and intercepted a pass. He promptly broke in against a lone defenseman. Pierre-Luc OâBrien, the other forward on the penalty kill, jumped into the play and Corey found the trailing OâBrien with his drop pass and OâBrien promptly whistled the puck past Jakaitis to give South Carolina their first lead in the series.
In period two, just as in the first game, the roof fell in; the wheels came off the wagon and it was a bad period for South Carolina and a great one for the home team. The Checkers enjoyed a productive night as five different20skaters lit the goal light in the period. Ryan Murphy, Matthew Ford, Ethan Graham, Michel Leveille and Mike Bayrack scored one after the other to seal the win.
Centers Nikita Kashirsky and Travis Morin gave the Stingrays a flicker of hope in the last period but after Morinâs goal at 13:20 the Stingrays drew four penalties in the last six minutes of the game to douse the flame of any comeback. âWe simply took the gun and shot ourselves in the foot,â said Bednar who was especially upset that once his team gained some traction three penalties quickly stopped their momentum.
The series moves to the North Charleston Coliseum Tuesday night for game three with game four of the best-of-seven series scheduled for Thursday. Unless the Stingrays find some magic the series looks to be a short one. The loss was the teams tenth straight road game loss in the playoffs dating back to last season.
Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com
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