BOISE, ID - Starting a five-game road trip, the South Carolina Stingrays dropped the first of three meetings this week with the Idaho Steelheads, 6-1, on Wednesday evening at Idaho Central Arena.
Idaho (38-19-5-1) capitalized early while on the power play at home. Kaleb Pearson scored 8:21 into the first period giving the Steelheads a 1-0 lead. Less than two minutes later, Connor Punnett doubled Idaho’s advantage, putting South Carolina (40-20-1-2) in a two-goal hole just over 10 minutes in.
Late in the first, Idaho went to the power play again, where Liam Malmquist gave the Steelheads a 3-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
In the second period, the Stingrays generated chances, outshooting the Steelheads 16-7, but it was Idaho adding to its advantage. Nick Portz scored with 4:32 remaining in the frame, and South Carolina went to the third trailing 4-0.
Coming out of the second intermission, South Carolina struck less than a minute in. Simon Pinard tapped home his team-leading 24th goal of the season cutting the deficit to three, 4-1.
After Pinard’s goal, the Stingrays pressed for more. South Carolina went to the power play twice over the next eight minutes, but were unable to capitalize with the man-advantage.
With just over six minutes remaining, Portz notched his second goal of the night building the Idaho lead back to four, 5-1. Less than two minutes later, Portz finished off a hat-trick with his third goal of the night, capping a 6-1 win for Idaho over South Carolina.
The Stingrays and Steelheads meet for the second of three meetings on Friday evening. Puck drop is set for 9:10 p.m. EDT from the Idaho Central Arena.
___
South Carolina returns to the North Charleston Coliseum on Saturday, April 4, against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits for Rock the Retro Night, presented by IBEW Local 776, at 6:05 p.m.. The full schedule can be viewed on our website here.
Save money with group tickets! For more information or to purchase, contact the Stingrays by phone at 843-744-7418 or submit this form.
Follow the Stingrays on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest news and updates.
Adirondack Thunder
Allen Americans
Atlanta Gladiators
Bloomington Bison
Cincinnati Cyclones
Florida Everblades
Fort Wayne Komets
Greensboro Gargoyles
Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Idaho Steelheads
Indy Fuel
Iowa Heartlanders
Jacksonville Icemen
Kalamazoo Wings
Kansas City Mavericks
Maine Mariners
Norfolk Admirals
Orlando Solar Bears
Rapid City Rush
Reading Royals
Savannah Ghost Pirates
South Carolina Stingrays
Tahoe Knight Monsters
Toledo Walleye
Trois-Rivières Lions
Tulsa Oilers
Utah Grizzlies
Wheeling Nailers
Wichita Thunder
Worcester Railers