Duluth, GA –The South Carolina Stingrays (10-6-1-3) defeated the Gwinnett Gladiators (8-4-1-1) 3-2 Tuesday night at The Arena at Gwinnett Center in the first game of a four game road trip and snapping a four game losing streak. Stingrays forward Spencer Carbery netted two goals and Rob Ricci pushed his point streak to three games in the victory.
The two teams skated to a scoreless draw at the end of one period of play, but both sides generated numerous opportunities in front of the opposing goaltender. Gwinnett ended the period with eleven shots on Stingrays goaltender Braden Holtby and finished 0-for-3 on the power play. The Stingrays fired 13 shots on Gladiators net minder David Brown and ended the opening 20 minutes 0-for-2 on the man advantage.
The Stingrays struck first with a power-play goal from Michael Dubuc at 8:32 of the second period beating Brown low blocker-side. Stingrays defenseman Johann Kroll carried the play into the Gladiators’ zone and sent a low wrist shot on goal from the left-wing point. The shot hit Brown in the right leg pad and bounced right to the stick of Dubuc who knocked in his fifth of the season. The Gladiators responded at 11:09 as defenseman Sam Roberts knocked in his fourth of the year at 11:09 from Adam Berti and Drew Paris. The 1-1 tie stood through 40 minutes of play.
South Carolina regained a one-goal lead just 43 seconds into the third period as Carbery lifted a wrist shot over the glove of Brown from the bottom of the right-circle. Forward Matt Scherer and Kroll recorded the assists. The Gladiators tied the game at two at 6:57 with a power-play goal from Pat Galivan. Galivan’s seventh of the season was assisted by Adam Berti and Tom Zanoski. With the game looking to head into overtime, Carbery picked up a loose puck in front of Brown off an initial shot from Ricci down the left-wing boards and buried his second of the game at 18:59 to give the Stingrays the 3-2 victory. Holtby stopped 34 of 36 Gladiator shots in the winning effort while Brown knocked aside 37 of 40 Stingrays opportunities. Gwinnett finished the night 1-for-7 on the power play. South Carolina ended the night 1-for-5 on the man advantage.
The Stingrays travel north to take on the Johnstown Chiefs Friday, November 27 at Cambria County War Memorial Arena at 7:05 p.m. Listen to the game LIVE at www.stingrayshockey.com. The Stingrays return home Saturday, December 5 to battle the Elmira Jackals at 7:05 p.m. at North Charleston Coliseum. Saturday is Tailgate Saturday and Used Car Giveaway Night!Ticket packages and individual tickets are on sale now! Call the Stingrays front office at (843) 744-2248 for more information. For all the latest Stingrays news, visit www.stingrayshockey.com
