Stingrays top Aces 4-2

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC – The South Carolina Stingrays took the first of three games on their home ice 4-2 tonight and took a 2-1 lead in the Kelly Cup final’s best of seven games series over the Alaska Aces.   Defenseman Johann Kroll scored the game’s first goal and picked up two assists as James Reimer, making his first start in goal for South Carolina since the team’s series with the Florida Everblades, stopped 22 of the 24 shots he faced in recording the win.
 

Reimer was a bit of a surprise start in goal for some local fans but not those who know South Carolina head coach Jared Bednar. Jonathan Boutin, who has carried most of the playoff load in goal, has played extremely well even in his loss in Game 2 of this series. However, Bednar has said over and over that he has complete confidence in both goalies.
Bednar’s strategy is simple. A goalie stays in the lineup until he loses and then his partner takes over. Reimer has been watching a hot Boutin since May 1 but was sharp, not rusty as he waited his turn to play.
 
“He (Reimer) has been one of the hardest workers in our practices and has been a professional all the way while waiting his turn to play,” said South Carolina assistant coach Cail MacLean.
 
The Stingrays’ led the entire game and took a 3-2 lead into the third period. They were able to limit Alaska to five shots in the final period and for the third straight game the last goal of the evening came into an empty net. Jeff Corey got his second empty net goal of the series and 9th tally of the playoffs to seal the win for South Carolina with 40 seconds left in regulation time.
 
The intensity level was present for both teams right from the opening faceoff as both squads traded rushes, hard checks and scoring chances in a bit of a departure from the tight checking in the first two games of the series. The first goal came quickly when at the 4:42 mark as the teams were skating four on four. Kroll hammered a shot from just inside the blue line in the middle of the ice and beat Aces=2 0goaltending All-Star Jean-Philippe Lamoureux high over the rookie’s shoulder. Trent Campbell and Pierre-Luc O’Brien assisted on the goal as the Kroll shot came through very heavy traffic in front of Lamoureux.
 
The Stingrays held that lead into the first intermission. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead at 5:23 of period two scoring again with both teams skating four on four. Center Nikita Kashirsky took a nice long lead pass from Kroll and nailed a high wrist shot from the far side circle over Lamoureux’s blocking pad. Kashirsky, who is the leading scorer among rookies in the playoffs, got his sixth goal and 17^th point on this strike.
 
The Aces erased the home team’s two goal lead quickly however, when a minute and twenty three seconds later, Matt Stefanishion, a former Stingrays player, scored the Aces first goal. The big right winger, who played the 2006-07 season in the low country, stepped out of the penalty box behind the ‘Rays’ defense and caught a pass from out of the defensive zone off the boards by Josh Soares.   He walked in alone against Reimer beating him cleanly at the 6:46 mark.
 
South Carolina answered quickly to reestablish the two goal lead. The ‘Rays cashed in one of their three power play opportunities at 9:25 when Campbell poked a loose puck past Lamoureux when he gave up one of his few rebounds. Defenseman Paul Godfrey blasted a shot from the point into traffic and Campbell pounced on the rebound for a 3-1 lead. Corey got the second assist on Campbell’s game winner.
 
Alaska centerman Alexandre Imbeault cut the ‘Rays lead to one again sending the game into the deciding third period with a score of 3-2. Imbeault’s power play goal came at 15:21 on the last power play of the night for either team. It was Alaska’s lone power play goal in five opportunities. Imbeault deflected a Josh Soares’ pass that skipped off of Reimer and into the net. Defenseman Matt Shasby got the secondary assist on the Aces’ second goal.   Reimer reacted, protesting that the g oal had not fully crossed the goal line but replays confirmed referee Geno Binda’s call on the goal.
 
South Carolina has won nine playoff games when going into the last period with the lead and tonight was no different.   Once again they clamped down hard of the Aces’ offense limiting them to only five shots in the last 20 minutes of play. The Aces’ did come close but the shots weren’t coming while they spent a lot of time in the Stingrays’ zone. However, with about three minutes and change left in the game the ‘Rays defense stiffened just after Reimer made an excellent save off a deflection by Aces’ forward Lance Galbraith.
 
That save seemed to give the ‘Rays momentum even as the Aces pulled their goalie for the extra man. The ‘Rays were able to parry all of the subsequent Aces offensive attempts and Corey outraced an Aces defender skating in to bury the empty netter at 19:19 on passes from Travis Morin and Kroll.
 
Games 4 and 5 of the series are scheduled for Friday and Saturday at the North Charleston Coliseum with starting times of 7:05 PM.
 
Notes: Alaska TV is present and broadcasting the games back to Alaska.   The Stingrays closed off sections of the North Charleston Coliseum to give the 10,500 seat arena a more intimate atmosphere for the first Kelly Cup game at the NCC is eight years.   Stingrays captain Brad Farynuk suffered leg cramps late in the third period and left the ice. He did not return in this game but he should be available for Game 4 on Friday night.
Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com
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