Stingrays Rally, Win Without Leading Scorer

Team Scores Four Unanswered Goals to Down Bombers
South Carolina 4, Dayton Bombers 2
Boxscore

South Carolina found out some bad news before the game, that the team's leading goal scorer Matt W. Reid would miss at least the next two weeks with a concussion he suffered in Thursday night's game at Charlotte.

Perhaps it was that news, or their second game in two nights that caused the Stingrays to come out flat tonight. In what seems to be becoming an epidemic as of late with the Washington Capitals, the trend of spotting their opponents a 2-0 lead has now spread down to their affiliates. Goals by Dmitri Chernykh and Mike Berry provided Dayton with that lead heading into the first intermission.

The Stingrays would respond in the second period thanks to newly assigned defenseman Sasha Pokulok, who toe dragged the puck around a Bombers player at the point and then wristed the puck over goaltender Adam Berkhoel for his first career professional goal. Moments later South Carolina would tie the game at two thanks again to another nice play by Pokulok. He took the puck from the point again and maneuvered around a falling defender firing the puck on net. A battle for the rebound would see Evan Schwabe win the loose puck and fire it home for his 16th of the season. In what is a good sign for Caps fans out there, with every passing minute you could see Sasha Pokulok playing with more and more confidence, displaying the stickhandling ability that led to his being selected 14th overall in the 2005 draft.

South Carolina would only build on this momentum in the third period as Washington's local Maryland boy Stephen Werner would notch the game winner at the 7:52 mark to complete the comeback. Captain Cail MacLean would provide a power play goal with a little over a minute remaining to prevent any late rally from the Bombers and make the final 4-2.

Your Top Three Stars:

1. Sasha Pokulok, South Carolina 1 goal and 1 assist

2. Stephen Werner, South Carolina GW goal

3. Davis Parley, South Carolina 32 saves

Game Notes:

The win was Davis Parley's 23rd of the season that moved him into first place in the ECHL. It was also Parley's 21st consecutive start for the Stingrays.... The win improved the Stingrays record to 5-13-2 when their opponents score first, and to 3-8-2 without their leading goal scorer Matt W. Reid.... South Carolina is now tied with the Charlotte Checkers for 5th place in the South Division with 53 points.... The Stingrays have now won seven consecutive games at the North Charleston Coliseum.