LOVELAND, Colo. – Another 3-2 win in a closely fought back and forth contest for the Colorado Eagles against the South Carolina Stingrays on Sunday night sends the best-of-seven Championship series to Charleston, South Carolina with the Colorado Eagles a 2-0 series lead.
It was the Stingrays getting the first goal of the game when Steven McParland tipped a
McParland scores against Hafner in period 1
Joey Leach rebound past Lukas Hafner to give the visitors the early lead at 3:59 of the opening period.
Early in period two, Matt Garbowsky, who scored game one’s tying goal with 2.5 seconds left in regulation, tied this game up at one apiece on a power play goal at 3:34.
Before the Garbowsky goal announcement was even completed, Eagles captain Sean Zimmerman had scored to give Colorado a 2-1 lead in the span of 1:13.
Late in the middle frame Garbowsky was called for a cross check, giving the Stingrays a power play. South Carolina converted at 19:09 on a controversial play where Hafner appeared to have been interfered with, preventing him from making a stop on the shot by Steve Weinstein.
Tied at 2-2 in third period of play, Colorado’s Shawn St-Amant flicked a one-timer from Casey Pierro-Zabatel past Parker Milner for what was ultimately the game winner at 9:51.
The remainder of regulation was dominated by the Stingrays in an attempt to score the tying goal, but even with Milner pulled for the last minute of the game, the Eagles’ defense held and Hafner stood tall to maintain Colorado’s win.
Colorado out shot the Stingray’s by a slight margin of 29-27.
Milner stopped 26 of 29 shots in a losing effort while Hafner corralled 25 of the 27 shots thrown his way to take the win.
Colorado scored on 2-of-5 power plays, while South Carolina did not have a power play goal on four opportunities.
The next game in the Kelly Cup Finals between the Eagles and Stingrays will be game three on Sunday, June 4th at 7:05pm EST at the North Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, South Carolina.
Article and Pictures courtesy of Terry Sanford for Prohockeynews.com.
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