North Charleston, SC— The South Carolina Stingrays opened the 2008-09 season with an impressive 5-3 win over the visiting Augusta Lynx before 7,982 fans Saturday night at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Rays outshot their opponents 38-20 while dominating especially in the first and third periods. All of Augusta’s goals came during period two.
The game featured a battle of special teams as the Rays connected three times on five power play opportunities. Meanwhile, Augusta scored on two power play goals in eight chances and also added a shorthanded goal. This shorthanded goal was one of the few lapses the Ray’s had in a dominating performance both defensively and offensively not reflected by the final score.
The Rays jumped to 2-0 lead in the first period on two power play goals. The first by Paul Kelly with a close-in shot in a scramble with assists from Zack Takir and Pierre-Luc O’Brien at the 8:40 mark.
This was followed by a second power play goal at the 18:00 minute mark. This goal came on a beautiful set of passes that led to an almost empty net shot by defenseman Sasha Pokoluk who had crept in from the point and received a great pass from O’Brien at the goal mouth. Lynx goalie Joel Martin simply had no chance on the shot. Stingray rookie Johan Kroll who was also impressive on defense had the first assist on this goal
The Rays also struck first in period two when Tom Maxwell continued the scoring with an unassisted goal early in the period. At this point it appeared South Carolina would coast but as Stingrays Coach Jared Bednar said in his post game remarks “Augusta didn’t quit and displayed a gritty effort to climb back into the game.”
Augusta’s Patrick Bordeleau scored at the 8:47 mark of period two on a power play effort with assists going to Travis Fuller and Michael Mullen. Travis Fuller then brought the Lynx within one goal with a short-handed effort besting the Stingrays goalie Michal Neuvirth.
Sandwiched between the first two Augusta goals and their third score was the third power play goal by the Rays. Pierre Luc-Obrien scored with assists from left wing Trent Campbell and Captain and defenseman Brad Farynuk at 15:35 of the period.
It looked like South Carolina would carry a two goal lead into period three when Fuller struck again on assists from Patrick Bordeleau and Joel Hanson near the end of the period on a power play.
Stingray’s rookie Michael Dubuc a QMJHL product and who scored more than 60 goals in the regular season and playoffs last season in the “Q” displayed why at the 6:38 mark of period three. Skating in from the Augusta goaltender’s left on the receiving end of passes from Travis Morin and Maxime Lacroix another recent QMJHL graduate he blistered a wrist shot over the goalie’s shoulder electrifying the crowd and pushing the score to the final 5-3 result.
Lacroix and Dubuc combined for 11 shots on the night on a line centered by last year’s leading scorer for the Rays, Travis Morin. The Ray continued to dominate period three until they ran into three straight penalties including having to play the last four minutes shorthanded. This allowed August Coach John Marks to pull his goalie and play 6 on 4 for most of the last three minutes of the game. It was during this stretch of time that Nuevirth was at his best making several excellent saves.
Neuvirth, the Washington Capitals 2nd round draft choice in the NHL’s 2006 entry draft was assigned to South Carolina by Hershey late Friday was a surprise starter. It is expected that he will be called up or loaned to another American League team shortly. The Czech native played in the Ontario Hockey League the past two seasons before turning pro.
The Stingrays are back in action on the road against the Florida Everblades for games next Friday and Saturday nights.
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