Trailing 2-0, Stingrays Return Home For Game 3 of Kelly Cup Finals

Parker Milner, seen here with Hershey in February, has 69 saves through the first two games of the Kelly Cup Finals for the South Carolina Stingrays

The South Carolina Stingrays, the top ECHL affiliate of the Hershey Bears and Washington Capitals, had a rough start to the Kelly Cup Finals, in a game that began in the evening last Friday and went into the early hours of Saturday morning. The Stingrays dropped Game 1 in double overtime to the Colorado Eagles, 3-2. The Stingrays lost the second game by the same count on Sunday night, thanks to a late Colorado goal.

The Stingrays overcame an early 1-0 deficit early on, getting a goal in the second period to tie the game at one. The teams would stay tied down the stretch, exchanging chances and lots of shots on goal.

The Stingrays broke the tie late in the game on a perfect pass that Steven McParland finished with only 2:32 left in the game, but incredibly the Eagles tied the game on a scramble with just two seconds left in regulation time.

The game would require a full overtime, plus half of a second overtime period when Colorado scored on a power play to take the first match. The shot came from the point on a screen that Parker Milner had no chance to see. Despite the loss, Milner finished the game with 43 saves.

The two teams rematched on Sunday night in Colorado. Despite goals from McParland and one time Bear Steve Weinstein on a great rebound shot, the Eagles scored the eventual game winner just over halfway through the game and held on to win by a 3-2 final. Milner had 26 saves on 29 shots in the game.

The teams travel to South Carolina for at least two more games, but the Stingrays are far from out of things. The team lost the first two games of their recent series with the Manchester Monarchs and responded with three straight wins, eventually winning in seven games. However, if they can come back, they will need at least one victory in Colorado.

Game 3 is slated for Sunday at 7:05 PM. The game can be seen with a free trial on the Monumental Sports Network.