Stingrays take down Royals behind second period surge Rays lead series 2-1

READING, Pa – Forwards Sean Dolan, Wayne Simpson and Andrew Rowe each scored a goal and an assist and forward Caleb Herbert added two assists to give the South Carolina Stingrays (2-1) a 5-2 victory over the Reading Royals (1-2) in Game 3 of the East Division Semifinals at Santander Arena Thursday evening. The Stingrays lead the best-of-seven series 2-1. 2015KellyCupPlayoffs_665x315
Royals forward David Marshall broke open the scoring 2:40 into the contest catching a rebound off the pads of Stingrays netminder Jeff Jakaitis (W, 25 saves on 27 shots) for his first goal of the postseason. The Royals continued to challenge the Stingrays throughout the frame and took a 17-7 shot advantage to the first intermission.
The Stingrays lit the lamp three times in the middle stanza and grabbed a 3-2 lead through 40 minutes of action. Forward and team captain Andrew Rowe tied the contest unassisted at 4:20 slipping a shot over the glove of Royals goaltender Connor Knapp (L, 22 saves on 26 shots) from the left-wing circle. Defenseman and former Royal Michal Cajkovsky blasted in his first goal of the postseason to put the Stingrays in front at 11:53. Moments later, forward Sean Dolan buried a power-play tally past Knapp at 13:20 with help from forwards Caleb Herbert and Wayne Simpson. The Royals pulled back within one while shorthanded as Marshall grabbed his second goal of the game at 15:29.
Simpson reclaimed a two-goal advantage for the Stingrays midway through the third period catching a pass from Herbert between the faceoff circles and beating Knapp under the blocker at 11:47. Rowe picked up the second assist. Forward Patrick Gaul sealed the victory with an empty-net goal at 18:53 from defenseman Drew MacKenzie and Dolan. The Stingrays finished the game 1-for-4 on the power play while the Royals went 0-for-3.

 

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