Rays take on Inferno in Game 4 tonight
Posted 12:22 p.m., May 3, 2008
Raise your hands if you thought the Stingrays were going to win Game 3 last night at the Carolina Coliseum and sweep the South Division finals with the Columbia Inferno?
OK, let me see. … most of you! Ok, so I wasn’t alone in thinking that the Stingrays were going to win last night. Just making sure. I think like most Stingray fans, I felt the Rays would go up to the Carolina Coliseum and dominate like they had at the North Charleston Coliseum in Games 1 & 2. I didn’t have the feelings of trepidation last night like I had going into Gwinnett where the Rays had had little success over the past few years.
But, obviously, the Inferno had other ideas and you have to give them credit. With their season on the line they responded with their best game of the series. Columbia goalie Todd Ford was excellent and the Inferno were much more aggressive in their own building than they were down here. They’re a good team, no question about it and unless the Stingrays can bring a little better effort tonight they’ll be back on Monday for Game 5 at the North Charleston Coliseum.
I thought the Stingrays played well in stretches, especially late in the second period and early in the third periods when they were killing off Pierre-Luc O’Brien’s major boarding penalty. Tied 3-3 going into the third period, I liked the Rays chances of winning the game, especially after the Inferno got a couple of undisciplined penalties to end the second period.
But for some reason, the Rays couldn’t finish the job and that’s got to be a little concern for Rays head coach Jared Bednar. Losing two games at the James Brown Arena was a little disconcerting for the Rays. No shame in losing a couple of games at The Arena at Gwinnett Center either. But the Rays are now 0-5 on the road in the playoffs and that will definitely have to change if they are going to move on and win a Kelly Cup. There’s no guarantee the Rays will have home ice throughout the playoffs.
They’ve been a pretty good road team all season, so this is a big surprising. Winning on the road means you’ve got to play a full 60 minutes and I didn’t think the Rays did that last night. The Rays will need a more consistent effort tonight to close out the series.
Did you notice how bad the ice was last night? Not making excuses, but it slowed the play down considerably and that had a factor on the game.
It will be interesting to see who Bedsy puts in net tonight. He was undecided after the game. Wouldn't surprise me to see Josh Johnson in there. I didn't think Davis Parley played badly, but I didn't think he was great either.
For the second straight night, if you’re not going to go up to Columbia, you can still catch the game with your Stingray friends at Bobby Hartin’s Sports Bar on the corner Sam Rittenberg Blvd. and Orange Grove Road in West Ashley.
The game will be televised by B2 Network with the audio provided by the Voice of the Rays Josh Heller and of course the always incisive, in-depth (and I tried not to say South Carolina Stingrays head coach Jared Bednar one time last night) analysis of yours truly. Bobby has graciously agreed to show it on one of the big screen TVs at the bar.
See you at the Rink,
APM
Comments
Posted by borohockey8 on May 3 at 12:34 p.m.
Anyone that saw the games last night, would they please tell me how the outcome of the 2 fights at the end of the game went? Thanks and Let's Go Rays!
Posted by apmiller24 ( Andrew Miller ) on May 3 at 12:51 p.m.
borohockey8,
Thought Kiser got the win against Huculak. ... thought the McNeill-Cooper fight was a split decision.
APM
Posted by CapitalFanatic on May 3 at 2:09 p.m.
I have a highlight of the game on my site, www.capitalfanatic.com, including the fights at the end. Check it out.
Posted by hattrik on May 3 at 2:33 p.m.
Thanks, CapitalFanatic. Great site!
Posted by Hockeyfan2629 on May 3 at 10:04 p.m.
Lets go Rays! We need to win Monday! I hate that carolina coliesum! We have much better team then columbia wasnt for Ford they wouldnt be nothing. We got the Ahl team we need to get the job done and where going to have to learn how to win on road for the next round!
We Believe!
Posted by threeman33 on May 4 at 12:04 a.m.
Ford was on top of his game tonight. It is really bad that the winning goal went in the way it did. Hopefully we with better ice and more ice to play on we can get back to our style of game and beat them at home. Our goals against Ford came by charging the net and passing. Our shots from the point were easy for him to handle. With the ice surface the way it was, it was hard to get any passes as well as every one on top of each other due to the size of the ice surface. That is what home ice is all about, playing on what you know. Let's shake this game off and play our hockey at home.
Posted by hattrik on May 4 at 12:24 a.m.
Drivin back from the the Carolina Coliseum after two tough losses is getting to be a pain in the butt! I'm sure the carloads of Stingray faithful who made the trip agree.Our guys played very well in both games but it appears that their destiny is to win each round at home. As I said after the Gwinnett series, the Rays will win on Monday and I hope that we will fill the Coliseum to cheer them on.
Posted by meducare33 on May 4 at 9:44 a.m.
Not much for comments, and I know Johnson feels terrible... BUT, IMHO if Guerin had not taken the slashing penalty, things might have turned out differently?? That is all from this side of the peanut gallery. Monday is KICK BUTT time on some REAL ice in a REAL rink!!
LETS GO RAYS!
Posted by acharlestongirl on May 4 at 10:34 a.m.
No PENALTIES! :)
Let's Go Rays!
Posted by RaysRsharp on May 4 at 1:20 p.m.
Yeah..... Guerin got called for the penalty, but it's not fair to blame him. The ref made the decision. He coulda made dozens of calls on either (or both) teams. He chose to only make the ones on us in the 3rd period. Was it fair? Probably not. But if you'll remember... when we were facing elimination in the August series, we got some good whistles too. And Columbia isn't just facing the end of their season. They're facing the end of their team. Hopefully, we'll get a more balanced game Monday since both teams are facing elimination. We just gotta finish them off this time. We can't let it get to where a bounce can decide things.
Posted by stingray1616 on May 4 at 3:51 p.m.
Rays played a great game Saturday night. Holding Columbia to 17 shots is outstanding. Not sure way Sasha didn't play but Romfo needs to sit. He was on the ice for 5 of the 7 goals Columbia scored Friday & Saturday. Bottom line we need to pull it togethere on MONDAY!!!! I hope we get Jason rollins as the Ref also. Nissen sucked on Saturday...
Posted by stingray1616 on May 4 at 4:54 p.m.
APM, How can you watch a game up that high???? Anyway good coverage of the playoffs. See ya Monday!!!
Posted by stingrays01 on May 4 at 6:13 p.m.
The Morin, MacLean and Chaput line showed up the last couple of games. Someone needs to file a missing lines report for the other two.
Andrew,
Any chance of Bedsy changing up those 2 lines for game 5?
Posted by threeman33 on May 4 at 7:28 p.m.
Sasha didn't play Saturday because he played badly Friday night. He gave up the puck right in front of the goal a number of times (bad ice or not). I know a number of people that was at both games were glad to see him sit Saturday night and put Rory in. Rory played one of his better games and hopefully he will do it again on Monday. Continue to sit Sasha until he is consistent. We can't take our chances of him having another bad game on Monday.
Posted by apmiller24 ( Andrew Miller ) on May 4 at 8:38 p.m.
Stingrays 01,
I don't think the other two lines are the problem at all. The forwards played really well Saturday night. I wouldn't change anything the whole team did Saturday night. ... They outplayed Columbia, got to all the loose pucks and got a great effort. ... A couple of PP were the difference in the game. I thought the ref did a good job until the 10 minute mark of the 3rd period. ... You can't argue Chaput's penalty, either he hit him or he didn't and the guy was bleeding. ... But to call a penalty on Guerin in that situation was tough with that much time left in the game.
Pokulok will be back in the lineup, I think either Rory or Scott Romfo will most likely sit.
APM
Posted by RaysFan34 on May 4 at 10:19 p.m.
My vote's from Romfo if those are the only 2 choices ... but there really should be a 3rd choice!
Posted by hattrik on May 4 at 11:13 p.m.
I'm sorry, but I disagree. Romfo has given a 110% effort and banged bodies all series. He adds a special chemistry to the lineup. Sasha has not played up to his potential and just hasn't cut the mustard. Rory played extremely well Saturday and deserves to play.I'd like to see Todd Griffith in the lineup in place of Matt Scherer and this is no knock against Matt. We need Todd's speed and shot on our larger ice.
Posted by Slappa on May 5 at 10:28 a.m.
Kiser/G McNeil should sit, no need for two fighter D-men in the line-up on big ice. Kiser reminds me of Dennis Vial running around cross checking everything. Tim Judy has more skill than both combined ! If you take both Ax and Slash out of the line-up and put Sasha/Judy in , the talent level/Kelly Cup meter will be a lot higher.
Posted by borohockey8 on May 5 at 10:46 a.m.
Anyone else at work right now thinking that Game 5 cannot come soon enough? This has been the longest day ever and it is only 10:45.
Posted by Gr8tfulRayFan on May 5 at 11:12 a.m.
Hey Andrew,
Does anyone have the potential schedules for the next series, if we beat the inferno?
We have home ice if Reading wins and Cinncy has home ice if they win.
I am trying to figure travel to the games.....
Posted by trapper on May 5 at 12:33 p.m.
Love how the Blog brings out all the Monday Morning Quarterbacks!! Now my two cents - I cannot believe there are two or more?? of you that think Rollins is a good, fair, and impartial refree. I was sitting near Mr. Kelly Friday nite and could see how long the list of discussion items was!!
Posted by hattrik on May 5 at 1 p.m.
Slappa,
I respect your opinion, but are you for real? I have been close enough to the ice to literally feel the force of Nate and Grant's checks and to see the stellar "D" both have shown in every game they have played. They would be the last two players that I would sit. And I don't think I'm viewing these matches with rose-colored glasses.
Posted by InformedSportsFanatic on May 5 at 1:53 p.m.
Hey boro, you are right about the length of this day. imagine how the team is feeling.
For the sake of the ECHL and the dedicated fans of the Stingrays, lets put an end to the Inferno tonight! Call you friends, family, neighbors, roll down your windows at the stop lights and tell everyone that the place to be tonight is the North Charleston Coliseum to support their team!! The fan support in Columbia, for a team that has overachieved by so much this postseason, is sad! The league has to be rooting us on! Stingrays fans definitely ruled the house in Columbia now we must take care of business in our house.
I read about Sasha, Romfo, Nate, Grant, and Rory sitting but what about Collins? He is steady with the 5-on-5 but it seems like he has trouble keeping the puck in the zone on the power play. Nate and Romfo are far too valuable to the team dynamic and are primary in so many situations that they cannot sit. Todd Griffith is a must for tonight! He got the message from Bedsy and his last few games have been phenominal. With Pinzer, Gordon, and Griffith in the game, we have speed, power, and desire to score on every line. We are the better team from top to bottom. Anyone ever consider this a conspiracy so we have to purchase more and more home tickets? Go Rays!
Posted by stingray1616 on May 5 at 1:53 p.m.
Trapper,
I do believe Jason is the best of the worst. Mr. Kelly always has a lot of notes. It's his job to prepare these men for the AHL & higher. He also makes notes on the linemen. Jason is not a not head like some others. Just learned that Herbert Ghislain will be the Ref. tonight and Mr. Kelly will be there also. So enough about Rollins.
Posted by Gr8tfulRayFan on May 5 at 2:38 p.m.
We sat by Mr.Kelly on Saturday night in Columbia. One of our fellow ray fan neighbors went and asked him about the late penalty that enabled the Inferno to tie...especially since, only moments before Werner was cross checked to the ice behind the inferno net, in fornt of the Ref AND NO CALL!
He gave her a response non grata - saying it was a good fair call in and of itself...
BS! It was a terrible call, cherry picking and on a much less outrageous play than the one with Werner only a few minutes prior.....
Posted by RaysFan34 on May 5 at 3:20 p.m.
DING DING DING ... InformedSportsFanatic is a winner!!
Gr8tful ... what did you expect Mr. Kelly to tell you? He is right, the call, in and by itself was a good call, the trouble is, it wasn't in and by itself. When taken into consideration with how this referee had called the remainder of the game, the call was indeed lame. If he said it like you stated it, Pat Kelly agreed with you, he just didn't come out and say it, nor should he.
I have been told what the schedules would be if we advance through this series, but until the respective teams release them, I would say they are tentative at best and certainly not something to make travel plans around. So, let's just wait and see on those ... and hope we need them!
GO RAYS!!
Posted by Gr8tfulRayFan on May 5 at 3:22 p.m.
I just wish I was in town to go to the game tonight. I work out-of-town during the week...B2 is just not the same for some reason.....
Posted by RaysFan34 on May 5 at 4:14 p.m.
Our broadcast is nowhere near as good as some of the other rinks. We could use some updated video equipment, that's for sure!!
Posted by borohockey8 on May 5 at 5:04 p.m.
I say we rock the Coliseum and be even louder than the game 5 in the Gwinnett series. Let's Rock the House!
Posted by smv8618 on May 5 at 5:12 p.m.
Todd Griffith won't be playing tonight unless he has been released from a 3 day IR, and I don't see anything stating that he has.
Posted by borohockey8 on May 5 at 5:23 p.m.
Paul McIlveen was activated off the IR and Marty Guerin was put on the 3 day IR which is not good for the good guys. Anyone see Guerin's injury at all?
Posted by rayshockeynut on May 5 at 10:20 p.m.
Hey Andrew, are you on vacation?.... You are at least one post behind. Its 10:30pm now and we have already won game 5, and we are still on a game 4 post. Get with the program!!!!!!! Just messin w/ ya. The ECHL coverage is somewhat lacking in the paper and the news over here in Kuwait. Now that game 5 is behind us, I am looking forward to coming home and possibly catching a playoff game. I just hope the Rays continue the win so they will still be alive upon my return somewhere around the 16th. Keep up the great work, I really enjoy the coverage I get from this blog.
Lets go RAYS!!!!!!!!!
Posted by RaysRsharp on May 5 at 10:56 p.m.
"Anyone see Guerin's injury at all?"
Guerin has the flu.
Posted by acharlestongirl on May 5 at 11:01 p.m.
Thank goodness we no longer talk about every single injury our players are suffering from. I always thought that was so incredibly dumb and I still do. The Flu. IF anything is wrong at all...it's the flu. Especially during the playoffs, it's better if the other team doesn't know.
GO RAYS!
Posted by stingrays01 on May 5 at 11:17 p.m.
Game 1 - at Cincinnati Friday, May 9, 2008 7:30pm (U.S. Bank Arena)
Game 2 - at Cincinnati Saturday, May 10, 2008 7:30pm (U.S. Bank Arena)
Game 3 - at S. Carolina Wed., May 14, 2008 7:05pm (North Charleston Coliseum)
Game 4 - at S. Carolina Friday, May 16, 2008 7:05pm (North Charleston Coliseum)
Game 5 - # at S. Carolina Saturday, May 17, 2008 7:05pm (North Charleston Coliseum)
Game 6 - # at Cincinnati Monday, May 19, 2008 7:30pm (U.S. Bank Arena)
Game 7 - # at Cincinnati Wednesday, May 21, 2008 7:30pm (U.S. Bank Arena)
# - if necessary
Posted by InformedSportsFanatic on May 5 at 11:18 p.m.
Great defense tonight by the entire team. I cannot remember a game where I saw so many people go down on the ice to stop a shot. The first period was intense and the guys will be sore from that one. Great crowd! I guess the talk of David Parley's big game issues are done!
Since I cannot afford the trip to Cincinnati, it looks like either a Stingray party at the house or another trip to Bobby Hartins. The feed there was terrible last Friday. Anyone know if they got the kinks out and got it working better?
Posted by threeman33 on May 6 at 8:15 a.m.
I was thinking on the way home from the game last night that if Harin's has the game it is going to be packed. I heard it was packed when we were in Columbia. Just think about these games. Most of us are not going to be able to make it to Cincinnati. I don't know if it is possible, but can they show the game at the coliseum? Maybe charge a couple of dollars per person to cover expenses. Just a thought.
Posted by Gr8tfulRayFan on May 6 at 8:40 a.m.
Are there any plans by the team to get tickets for fans planning on going to Cincinnati for the first 2 games?
Posted by borohockey8 on May 6 at 10:47 a.m.
I say you put the game on inside the Coliseum. That would be cool and charge like 5 bucks and open one of the concession stands up. I would go see that this weekend. Is there a bus at all that is going to Cincy carrying fans at all or was that just for Columbia?
Posted by RaysFan34 on May 6 at 11:48 a.m.
threeman33, if you read the article in today's paper about the state of hockey in SC, you read that the rent for the NCC is $6,000 per game. I know it sounds like a great thing to do for the fans, but I am not sure if they would draw enough to make it even pay for itself.
Just a reminder to everyone that you can purchase the video feed from the B2 Network for $7. I know some of you have figured out how to make it work on your TV's so maybe a Stingray party or 2 are in order.
Hope to see some of you in Cincy this weekend! (Andrew, are you going?)
Posted by RaysRsharp on May 7 at 7:49 a.m.
Speaking of "The Article"........... Hey Andrew, what's up with Burger? Did a hockey player rape his little sister or something? He's wrtitten just a few columns on hockey over the years, and he always trashes the sport, the teams, and the fans. What's his issue?
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