CHARLESTON, South Carolina – The ECHL’s longest winning streak was extended again as the South Carolina Stingrays (39-19-1-6) rallied past the Cincinnati Cyclones (27-28-1-6) by a 5-4 final score in front of 5,326 at North Charleston Coliseum on Saturday night. It was the Stingrays’ 21st consecutive victory.
The Stingrays didn’t waste much time getting on the board in the opening period, as Rob Ricci potted his 13th goal of the season past Rob Madore (SOL, 24 saves, 12-15-1-5) to make it 1-0 just 53 seconds in. However, just a couple moments later, the Cyclones ended Jeff Jakaitis’ ECHL-best shutout streak at an impressive 321:46 as Steven Hodges caught a feed from rookie Nick Huard and collected his eighth goal of the year to knot things at one. South Carolina regained the lead using the power play, though, later in the first period when Drew MacKenzie found the net to make it a 2-1 at the 7:06 mark. The home team would carry the edge into the first intermission.
Much like the Stingrays did in the first, the Cyclones came out of the gate in the second period with a quick lamplighter. During a delayed penalty, Christiaan Minella set up Stephan Vigier who beat Jakaitis (W, 26 saves, 22-7-1-1) just 37 seconds in to even things at two. Unfortunately, South Carolina would regain the cushion again using the power play late in the frame; halfway into the man advantage, Andrew Rowe deposited his 14th goal of the year to make it a 3-2 game at 16:13. But yet again, the Cyclones would respond as rookie Nick Huard cashed in his first pro goal just 1:14 later to once again tie the tilt - this time at three. The teams would remain deadlocked after two periods.
Cincinnati took its first and only lead of the game when Shayne Taker blasted home his third goal as a pro at the 10:33 mark of the final regulation period. Unfortunately, a late power play against cost the Cyclones the lead; after a scramble in front of the net, Caleb Herbert collected a rebound and stashed the equalizer at 18:48 - forcing the game into overtime with a 4-4 stalemate.
The Cyclones went to the power play early into the extra session but came up empty as the contest continued without a winner. When the five-minute bonus frame came to a close, the tilt was moved to a shootout.
After Stephan Vigier was denied in his first round offering, South Carolina’s Joe Devin hit the net to put his team out in front. In the fourth round, Huard made a nice move on Jakaitis and buried the shootout equalizer. Unfortunately, though, the fifth and decisive round, former Stingray Branden Gracel couldn’t tuck home his offering but Herbert did to give the home team a 5-4 shootout triumph.
The Cyclones will be back on the ice at U.S. Bank Arena on Wednesday, March 25 when they play host to the South Carolina Stingrays at 7:30pm! We invite you to COME ON DOWN for our 2nd annual Game Show Night. Plus, fans 21 and up can enjoy $1 beers! Call 513.421.PUCK to secure your seats and for more details. Fans can also get the latest team updates throughout the season on Facebook, Twitter (@CincyCyclones), and Instagram!
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Stingrays Slip Past Cyclones in Shootout, 5-4
