South Carolina prevailed in a game that saw 100 penalty minutes between the two teams.
The South Carolina Stingrays and Wheeling Nailers came into Saturday play ranked fifth and seventh, respectively, in the ECHL overall standings.
The Stingrays solidified that higher position with a 3-1 victory at North Charleston Coliseum in the only meeting between the two clubs this season.
It was “I Love Charleston Night”, and the Rays gave their fans lots of love on this night. Kyler Kupka scored a goal, while Tyler Weiss chipped in with two in the win.
Wheeling got on the board first, however. On a shorthanded breakaway, Louie Roehl slid a pass ahead to David Jankowski, who did the backhand-to-forehand move shot into the top-right corner of the net past Stingrays goaltender Garin Bjorklund to take a 1-0 lead.
The Nailers are first in the ECHL in wins after leading in the first period with seven (7-7-0). The Stingrays, though, had other ideas. They would tie the game 1-1 6:35 into the second period when Connor Moore fed the puck to Charlie Combs in the slot. Combs spun, firing a backhander on net, and Kupka buried the rebound for his team-leading 23rd goal of the year and third in the last two games.
South Carolina grabbed the lead with 2:31 left in the middle frame.
Following a penalty kill, Combs knocked down a clearing attempt by the Nailers and found Weiss in the right circle. Weiss rifled a shot past Wheeling netminder Sergei Murashov for his 10th goal of the season.
The Nailers tried valiantly to even the score, firing 11 shots on goal. Bjorklund didn’t give in ahd held them off the board.
Weiss potted an empty-netter to seal the 3-1 victory for his 11th of the season.
It was a chippy game, with 100 penalty minutes between the two teams. At one point in the second period, three players on each team received misconducts, and Wheeling had to kill off a five-minute penalty.
Bjorklund stopped 27 of 28 shots to earn the win, while Murashov saved 35 of 37 to suffer a hard-fought loss.
The Stingrays return to action Sunday for Bluey Day against the Jacksonville Icemen. Puck drop is set for 3:05 Pm.
The Nailers will try and bounce back Sunday as they travel to Greenville to face the Swamp Rabbits. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:05 Pm.