BILOXI, Miss. � The Mississippi Sea Wolves tied two team records and extended another one by defeating the Arkansas RiverBlades, 3-2 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
Mississippi (39-21-4) extended its team record unbeaten streak at the Wolves Den to 15 games, going 13-0-2 since December 21. The last regulation loss that the Sea Wolves suffered at home was on December 20 against Louisiana.
The Sea Wolves tied team records by winning their ninth straight game at home and notching their 23rd victory of the season at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. The last time Mississippi won nine consecutive games was from November 21 to December 29, 1998. The Sea Wolves 23 home victories this season ties the 1996-97 and 1997-98 campaigns.
With the win, Mississippi added two points for a total of 82 and extended its first place lead in the Southwest Division to five points over idle Louisiana for second place.
The Sea Wolves struck first at 13:08 of the opening stanza. Mike Scott let go with a shot over the left shoulder of Scott Fankhouser. The goal was Scott�s 22nd of the year.
Arkansas (30-21-10) responded at 16:13 with Sea Wolves goaltender Sean Matile caught behind the net, Aaron Davis fed the puck into the slot for Dean Stock. He buried his fifth of the season into the gaping net to tie the score 1-1.
Mississippi outshot Arkansas 20-4 in the second period, but Fankhouser made several solid saves to keep the game deadlocked through 40 minutes of action.
In the third, the Sea Wolves regained the lead at 43 seconds. Cody Bowtell re-directed a Chris Allen blast. Bowtell netted his 23rd of the year, giving Mississippi a 2-1 lead.
Less than one minute later, Arkansas evened the score on the power play. Buddy Smith potted a rebound for his 25th of the year knotting the score 2-2.
Special teams also figured in the final goal of the game at 14:33. While on the penalty kill, Sea Wolves defenseman Austin Miller pounced on Fankhouser�s clearing attempt, Miller ripped a right circle shot into the net. The eventual game-winner was Miller�s sixth of the season, making it 3-2 for Mississippi.
Matile allowed two goals on 22 shots, improving to 12-7-0. Fankhouser turned away 39 of 42 shots, dropping to 15-15-3.
Mississippi failed to convert on seven power play opportunities. Arkansas went 1-for-7 with the man advantage.
Sea Wolves captain Steffon Walby failed to register a point, halting his point streak at 10 games (9g-8a).
The Sea Wolves next game is at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. against intrastate rival Jackson.
Individual game tickets are available at all Ticketmaster locations, the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office and by calling 228-594-3707.
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