Stingrays hang on to snap three-game skid
The third line in hockey rarely gets the goals -- or the glory. The third line is the blue-collar line, the line that grinds the puck in order to wear down the opposition's defense.
Any offense a third line produces is an added bonus.
The South Carolina Stingrays' third line of Joe Pereira, Josh Turnbull and Matt Scherer played like a top line Friday night against Chicago.
Pereira got the game's first goal and Philipp Grubauer made 26 saves to lead South Carolina past Chicago, 3-2, before a crowd of 3,112 at the North Charleston Coliseum.
The Stingrays, who snapped a three-game losing skid, improved to 28-20-2 (58 points), and moved into second place in the ECHL's South Division. Chicago fell to 22-18-7 (51 points).
Pereira, a former captain at Boston University, has had to adjust to his new role in the professional ranks. A goal scorer and top-line player in college, Pereira admitted it has taken him a little while to get his game going at the pro level.
"I think every season your role is going to change and it just took me some time to find out how I fit onto this team," Pereira said. "Earlier in the season I was trying to figure it out, but the last 10 or 15 games I've kind of settled in and started to play better."
At 5-10 and 180 pounds, Pereira plays much bigger than his size, somehow keeping possession of the puck from much bigger and stronger defensemen around the net.
"It's something I learned in college," Pereira said. "Everybody wants to be the goal scorer, but those third line guys are just as important. We're out there to create havoc, cycle the puck and get to the front of the net."
Which the Stingrays third line did consistently against Chicago.
"Those guys were great tonight," said South Carolina coach Spencer Carbery. "Joe has really picked up his game, and I thought Josh played the best game he's played since coming here.
"He's been a little frustrated because he's not putting up a lot of points, but he did a lot of positive things out there for us tonight. I thought Matt was outstanding."
Pereira, who notched his fourth goal this season, opened up the scoring just three minutes into the game.
"You got to go to the dirty areas to score in this league," Pereira said.
"Hopefully there are more of those to come. There was a stretch in the middle of the season when we were not really doing our job. But we've been playing much better lately."
Defenseman Derek Keller made it 2-0 off a beautiful wrist shot that beat Chicago goalie Peter Mannino less than two minutes after Pereira's goal.
Zach Tarkir got the game winner in the second period off a blistering slap shot from the blue line to give the Stingrays a 3-1 lead.
First Period: 1. SC, Pereira 4 (Scherer, Turnbull), 3:18. 2. SC, Keller 2 (Shelast), 4:48. Penalties: DiDiomete, C (roughing), 8:53; Lacroix, SC (roughing), 8:53; Johnson, C (boarding), 17:24.
Second Period: 3. C, Donati 13 (Wietecha, Gratchev), 5:07. 4. SC, Scherer 5 (Tarkir, Campbell), 12:27. Penalties: de Kastrozza, SC (hooking), 4:10; Stephens, C (holding, unsportsmanlike conduct), 8:51; Lutz, C (tripping), 16:18.
Third Period: 5. C, Marvin 9 (Gratchev, Johnson) 12:26. Penalties: No penalties.
Penalties: Stingrays 2-4; Chicago 5-10. Power Play: Stingrays 1 for 4; Chicago 1 for 1. Goalies: Stingrays - Philipp Grubauer (18-10-2) 28 shots, 26 saves. Chicago - Peter Mannino (11-7-4) 29 shots, 26 saves. Att: 3,112.
Today's Game
Florida at South Carolina
When: 7 p.m.
Where: North Charleston Coliseum
Tickets: 744-2248.
