MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com-North Charleston, SC –The South Carolina Stingrays (9-2-1-3) pushed their unbeaten streak to nine games defeating the Charlotte Checkers (5-3-1-1) 3-2 in the shootout in front of 5,592 at North Charleston Coliseum Saturday night in their first game back from a nine-game road trip. The Stingrays penalty kill continues to shine killing off 6-of-6 Checker power plays and recorded their second short-handed goal of the season.

The Checkers struck first as forward Matt Schepke knocked in his fifth of the season from Codey Burki andTyler Doig at 7:26 of the opening period. The Stingrays responded with a short-handed breakaway goal at 10:56 from forward Keith Johnson with defenseman Johann Kroll in the box for slashing. Zach Jones picked up the lone assist on Johnson’s fifth goal of the season. Stingrays forward Nikita Kashirsky continued the scoring with a breakaway marker beating Checkers goaltender Miika Wiikman between the legs for his team-leading ninth goal of the season. Johnson recorded the assist for his second point of the night.
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Charlotte tied the game at two late in the second period with a blast from Andrew Carroll beating Stingrays goaltender Braden Holtby low glove-side at 15:02 from Ryan Hillier. The score remained tied at the end of 40 minutes of play.

The 2-2 deadlock stood at the end of regulation and the game would move into overtime. Each team fired two shots in the extra session, but could not find the twine. For the second straight game, the Stingrays pushed the game into the shootout. Charlotte’s Jason Lawrence found the net in the sixth round but the Rays responded with a goal from defenseman Dylan Yeo to keep the game alive. Schepke could not score in the seventh round and Johnson beat Wiikman low blocker-side for the victory.

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