NORTH CHARLESTON , SC – The South Carolina Stingrays hammered the Charlotte Checkers 8-3 before a crowd of 2,422 to take a three games to two lead over the visiting Charlotte Checkers. The Stingrays, after dropping the first two games of the series on the road in Charlotte, have now won three straight at the North Charleston Coliseum. They can close out the best-of-seven games series with a win Sunday in Charlotte.
South Carolina defenseman Brad Farynuk scored a hat trick and added an assist and center Travis Morin scored once and had three assists to lead the South Carolina offense. The Stingrays scored five times on ten power plays as the Checkers emulating the way the Stingrays had played when they lost the opening two games took a number of penalties that clearly came out of frustration.
Farynuk’s hat trick was unusual as it came from a defenseman, all of his goals came on the power play and each was a carbon copy of the other. In each instance he scored after creeping in from the point and scoring on backdoor shots from the side of the net.
Maxime Daigneault started in goal for the Checkers but allowed four goals on ten shots in the first period and was relieved by Jeff Jakaitis at the start of the second period. Jeff Corey, Zack Tarkir, Spencer Carbery and Farynuk all scored in period one with the Tarkir and Farynuk goals coming on South Carolina power plays. Chris Capraro and former Stingray Marty Guerin scored for the Checkers. The Capraro goal came on one of the two Checkers’ power play opportunities in the game.
The Stingrays added to their 4-2 first intermission lead with second period goals from Keith Johnson and Morin. Johnson’s goal was the third power play goal of the night for the home team while Morin’s goal came with the teams at equal strength. The second period ended with South Carolina enjoying a 6-2 lead.
A problem with the ice resurfacing caused about a 20 minute delay before the third period could start and at first it appeared the delay had slowed the ‘Rays momentum. The Checkers got some life and pulled back within three goals when Michel Leveille scored in the first five minutes of the final stanza.
The Checkers were buzzing and had the Stingrays back on their heels until winger Ryan Murphy committed an unnecessary elbowing penalty to slow any hopes for a Charlotte comeback. Less than a minute later Farynuk got his second power play goal and the ‘Rays were back in control.
Finally at 13:46 of the third period Farynuk added his third back-door power play and the game was completely out of reach for the Checkers. Back-to-ack slashing penalties by Charlotte late in the game gave the ‘Rays a two-an advantage for most of the game’s final two minutes as they ran out the clock to secure the win.
Winning goaltender Jonathan Boutin swept aside 26 of the 29 shots on goal he faced and except for a brief period at the start of the last period got great defensive support. Daigneault made six saves on ten shots in 20 minutes of play and took the loss while Jakaitis in relief stopped 24 of the 28 shots he faced in the second and third periods.
The team really played well tonight,” said South Carolina assistant coach Cail MacLean. “Our power play did a great job of moving the puck and finding openings for opportunities.”
Games six is scheduled for Sunday in Charlotte at the Extreme Ice Center with a 7:00 PM faceoff. If a game seven is required it will be played back in North Charleston on Monday.
Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com
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