NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – The South Carolina Stingrays (33-26-5, 71 points) are now winless in five straight games, after they dropped a 5-4 shootout Sunday afternoon at the North Charleston Coliseum against the Cincinnati Cyclones. The visitors won three straight games in a series played over five days starting last here Wednesday. Sunday’s win kept the Cyclones (28-25-9, 65 points) tied for the eighth and final playoff spot in the ECHL Eastern Conference with Gwinnett. South Carolina is clinging to fourth place, only three points ahead of the Florida EverBlades. In unusual fashion, the ‘Rays allowed Cincinnati to come back from two goal deficits, three times, with the Cyclones scoring twice in the third period, to gain a tie and then the ultimate win in a shootout with a final score of 5-4. The loss was unusual since the locals came into this game having won 22 out of 25 times when ahead at the end of the second intermission. They led 4-2 at the end of two periods in this afternoon’s matinee. The win by the Cyclones before 5,399 Military Appreciation Day attendees came as Mathieu Aubin had the only successful attempt in the round robin shootout. Brian Foster, in goal for Cincinnati, recorded his third straight win over the ‘Rays in this series. He stopped 27 of the 31 shots he faced and stonewalled all five Stingrays’ shooters in the shootout. Losing goalie Shane Owen faced 36 shots in the game. The ‘Rays jumped out to a lead in period one, as Luke Popko beat Cyclones goalie Brian Foster high from the right side circle. Two defensemen, Patrick Cullity and Derek Keller set up Popko’s fourth goal of the season at the 9:35 mark. A minute and two seconds later, the large crowd roared as defenseman Nate Kiser and forward Tommy Goebel provided helpers on Matt Scherer’s 15 of the season. This was the ‘Rays’ first two-goal lead. The 2-0 margin stood up until, with just under five minutes left in the period, the Cyclones’ Aubin got a power play strike deflecting a Barret Ehgoetz shot past a sprawling Owen. The ‘Rays however went back out to another two-goal 3-1 lead, when Goebel, who ended up with a goal and two assists in the matchup, scored at 19:28 of the period. Scherer, who had two points with a goal and assist in the game and Keller, who picked up three helpers each, were credited with assists on this score. Just as it appeared the ‘Rays would skate off with a 3-1 first period lead for the second time in the period at 19:51, the home team again squandered a two-goal margin. Ehgoetz got his 14 goal of the season, off another deflection; this time a shot from the point, by Eric Kattelus, bounced off Ehgoetz’ stick and past Owen. The period ended 3-2. The ‘Rays used a power play opportunity at 12:47 of period two to regain their last two goal lead of the game at 4-2. Nikita Kashirsky racked up his 11 of the year with Goebel and Keller providing the helpers. He scored on a nice backdoor shot off a slick combination of passes. Kashirsky’s goal was the ‘Rays’ only power play goal in seven opportunities in the game. Cincinnati scored once on nine power play advantages. However, from that point on it was all Cincinnati. The Cyclones began their final comeback as Kattelus beat Owen with a nice backhander just 2:28 into the final regulation period. Aubin and former Stingrays’ forward Dan Eves set up Cincinnati’s third goal. Despite that strike, South Carolina seemed on their way to a 3-2 win, until with Foster off for an extra attacker, defenseman Brock Sheahan disappointed the big home crowd with his second goal of the year. Sheahan crept in from the point for a close in tapper into the net. Casey Pierro-Zabotel and Brady Calla were given assists on the tying goal. After a scoreless overtime period Aubin became the hero with his shootout tally. It went in on the fourth of the five man shootout sequence used in the ECHL. C ontact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com
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