Stingrays Slip Past Everblades in Double Overtime Thriller

By Keaton HanleyESTERO, FL – Domenic Monardo scored twice, including the game winning goal at 19:05 of the second overtime to lead the South Carolina Stingrays to a 3-2 victory over the Florida Everblades in Game 1 of the South Division Finals at Germain Arena on Friday night.  The Stingrays now take a 1-0  lead in the best-of-seven series.

The Blades got on the board early in the first, which has become a trend over the past few games. The captain Brant Harris got the Blades on the board just 3:23 into the game after Levko Koper sent the puck from the corner to the top of the crease where Harris angled a shot over high into the net over Parker Milner’s shoulder.

Harris would help add another to the Blades lead at 7:30 stealing a clear along the boards in the Stingrays end and springing Michael Kirkpatrick with a breakaway of sorts who was able to quickly shift to his backhand and roof it for the 2-0 lead before the halfway point of the 1st period of play. But that would do it for the period as both teams exchanged chances for the remainder of the period.

The Stingrays answered in the second with two goals of their own.

Early in the period, the Stingrays received a power play opportunity.  Steven McParland would have a puck bounce onto his tape in front of the net.  McParland then swiped at the puck that would beat Peters on the shortside past his pad for the goal, making it a 2-1 game.

The Stingrays second tally came towards the end of the period at 16:31 off of a Domenic Monardo shot from the point that managed to find its way through traffic to the back of the net. The goal tied the game at a 2-2 as the teams went into the second intermission.

With neither team scoring in the third, the game would head to overtime.

Just as he did in the third, Peters came up with several key stops including a big sprawling save on a good chance for the Stingrays to keep the game going throughout overtime.

With under a minute left in the first overtime,  Levko Koper was able to catch up to a puck entering the Stingrays zone and spring himself on a breakaway chance. However, Milner was able to come up with the save to keep the game going.

With the teams unable to score they would head into intermission with the second overtime looming. The Everblades controlled the majority of the second overtime, generating some quality chances.  However, the Stingrays would end the game with 54.9 seconds remaining on a shot by Monardo that clipped off of the blocker of Peters and trickled over the line to end the game with a 3-2 Stingrays victory.

Anthony Peters took his first loss of the post season despite saving 26 of 29 shots. Parker Milner skated away with the win saving 34 of 36 shots. The two teams will meet again on Saturday for Game 2 at Germain Arena, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

South Division Finals Playoff ScheduleSouth Carolina Leads the Best-of-Seven Series 1-0 

Game 1:  Friday, Apr. 28, South Carolina - 3 at Florida - 2 (2OT) Game 2:  Saturday, Apr. 29, South Carolina at Florida, 7:00 p.m. (Germain Arena) Game 3: Monday, May 1, Florida at South Carolina, 7:05 p.m. (North Charleston Coliseum)Game 4:  Wednesday, May 3, Florida at South Carolina, 7:05 p.m. (North Charleston Coliseum)Game 5:  Thursday, May 4, Florida at South Carolina, 7:05 p.m. (North Charleston Coliseum)Game 6:  Saturday, May 6, South Carolina at Florida, 7:00 p.m. (Germain Arena)Game 7:  Monday, May 8, South Carolina at Florida, 7:30 p.m. (Germain Arena) 

Ticket InformationPlayoff Tickets Now on Sale: Playoff game tickets may be purchased at the Florida Community Bank Box Office located at Germain Arena, or online via Ticketmaster by CLICKING HERE

Discounted Group Tickets: Bring your group of 10 or more to a game at a discounted price, and you may also receive an Everblades souvenir! Group tickets are available for all home games. For more information on group tickets, call 239-948-7825.

This release courtesy of Fort Myers Technical College & Cape Coral Technical College

The Everblades are the proud ECHL affiliateof the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes###