WHEELING, WV — Todd Ford made 26 saves to lead the South Carolina Stingrays to 4-2 victory over the Wheeling Nailers in Game three of the Quarterfinal round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs Friday night at WesBanco Arena. The Stingrays keep their season alive, as Wheeling now leads 2-1 in the best-of-five series.
A physical first period remained scoreless for the first 13 minutes. Wheeling broke the scoreless tie on the power play. For the second consecutive game, Paul Crowder registered the game’s first goal. Wheeling worked the puck in the slot and slipped a pass to Crowder at the left wing circle. Crowder ripped a wrist shot past goaltender Todd Ford to give the Nailers a 1-0 lead after the first period. The Nailers outshot the Rays 14-5 in the opening frame.
The Stingrays turned the table in the second, outshooting the Nailers 10-5 in the middle frame, and was able to score on two of those shots. The first came at 6:43 of the period, as Rob Ricci one timed a feed in the slot past Wheeling netminder Peter Delmas to tie the game at one. Nearly six minutes later, South Carolina took the lead 2-1 on a 2-on-1 rush into the zone. Johann Kroll led the charge, made one deke move to the backhand, and swung the puck past Delmas.
Brock McBride made it 3-1 in the first two minutes of the third period, as the Stingrays continued to build a lead. The goal was the first for McBride as a member of the Stingrays.Wheeling responded nine minutes later, as Tyler Murovich scored a shorthanded goal on a wrist shot from the slot, which beat Ford five-hole to pull the Nailers within one.
Wheeling created chances in the final ten minutes, but a quick pass from behind the net was fed perfectly to Ryan Del Monte at the top of the crease, who batted the puck past Delmas to seal the win 4-2, and keep the Stingrays alive in the series. Wheeling outshot South Carolina 28-21 for the game.
The two teams meet again Saturday night for game four of the series at WesBanco Arena. Game time is set for 7:35 p.m. To purchase tickets, call 304-234-GOAL. The following is a complete schedule of games for the first round series:
#4 Wheeling Nailers vs. #5 South Carolina Stingrays (Best of Five Series) Nailers lead 2-0
Game 1: Wheeling – 4 at South Carolina -3 OT, Tuesday, April 5
Game 2: Wheeling – 2 at South Carolina – 1 OT, Wednesday, April 6
Game 3: South Carolina -4 at Wheeling – 2, Friday, April 8
HOME: South Carolina at Wheeling -Saturday, April 9 @ 7:35 PM
HOME: South Carolina at Wheeling – Monday, April 11 @ 7:05 PM**
** If necessary
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