Stingrays Slip Past Everblades 3-2

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC – Hunter Bishop’s two third period goals helped lift the South Carolina Stingrays (7-10-0-1, 15 pts) to a 3-2 victory over the Florida Everblades (6-6-1-2, 15 pts) at the North Charleston Coliseum Saturday night.

Both teams played through the first two periods with a plethora of power play chances. However, good penalty killing and solid goaltending forced both teams to skate to a scoreless tie through 40 minutes played.

South Carolina started the third period on the power play and took advantage, scoring the game’s first goal at 1:50 into the period. Daniel Koger fielded a pass at the left wing circle and wristed a shot high into the corner of the net past the glove of Everblades goaltender Pat Nagle.

The Stingrays added to their lead nearly five minutes later. Hunter Bishop broke in the zone and from the slot, dragged the puck around the defenseman and fired a shot past a screened Nagle to extend the lead to 2-1.

Moments later, the Everblades went on the power play. Mathieu Roy grabbed the puck on the right side of the net, and slid a pass across the crease to Matt Beca. Beca lifted the puck high into the net on a wrist shot past a diving Ryan Zapolski. The goal was the fifth of the season for Beca who pulled his team within one.

Less than two minutes later, Hunter Bishop redirected a shot in front past Nagle to put the Stingrays back on top by two. The goal was the second of the night for Bishop.

Florida refused to go down without a fight, and once again leaned on their red-hot power play to get back on the board. Roy flipped the puck off the pads of Zapolski from the right side of the crease. The loose puck bounced in front, and Taylor Ellington crashed the net and jammed the puck into the net for the power play marker. Ellington’s second of the season pulled the Blades back within one by a score of 3-2.

Florida pulled the goaltender late, and would send several shots in on goal in an effort to tie it up. However, Zapolski made the stops and closed out the game for the Stingrays who earned the 3-2 victory.

Nagle takes the loss allowing three goals on 17 shots faced, while Zapolski earns the win stopping 27 of 29 shots. Stingrays forward Daniel Koger finished the game with a goal and two assists.

Notes: Everblades defenseman Tommi Kivisto was recalled to the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League prior to Saturday’s game….Florida takes home three of six points from this week’s road slate.

The Everblades will return home for a couple of days rest, and then fly west to battle the Colorado Eagles for a three-game set which begins Wednesday, November 21 at 9:00 p.m. eastern standard time.

Florida’s next home game is on Friday, November 30 against Greenville. The two teams will meet again on Saturday, December 1, which is the annual IBERIABANK Teddy Bear Toss game. Bring a stuffed animal to throw onto the ice after the Blades score their first goal.

The Capital Bank Box Office is open Monday thru Friday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Fans may also call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, or order online atwww.ticketmaster.com

Season ticket packages are currently available, for the remaining 28 home games. Partial-season packages start as low as $150, and offer a flexible option for fans. For more information on all available packages, call the Everblades office at 239-948-7825, or purchase tickets online.