BILOXI, Miss. � Mississippi captain Steffon Walby backed up his selection as starter for the Southern Conference at next month�s All-Star Game, by registering a hat trick and adding an assist in the Sea Wolves 7-2 victory over the Jackson Bandits.
The Sea Wolves continue to lead the battle for the Nextel Cup in the season series against the Bandits, 11 points to 4.
Mississippi (20-10-2) opened the score on the power play at the 4:53 mark. Walby tallied his 14th goal of the season, beating Tyrone Garner, making it 1-0 for Mississippi.
The Sea Wolves extended their lead at 17:11. Mississippi All-Star Kent Davyduke pounced on a loose puck in the slot and scored his 11th of the campaign, giving the Sea Wolves a 2-0 lead through 20 minutes.
In the second, Walby connected his second of the contest on the man advantage. He unleashed a wicked shot from the right circle, bulging the twine for his 15th of the year, making it 3-0 Mississippi.
The Sea Wolves kept their offense coming at the 10:10 mark. Defenseman Curtis Menzul, in his Mississippi debut, fired a right point shot, Dwayne Blais re-directed the puck in. The sixth of the year for Blais, made it 4-0 for the Sea Wolves.
Jackson (16-14-2) solved Mississippi goaltender Greg Gardner on the power play at 14:28 of the middle stanza. Dave Stewart tipped a Darryl Laplante point shot, cutting the Sea Wolves lead to 4-1 after two periods.
At the 1:06 mark of the third, Mike Scott buried a right circle shot, giving the Sea Wolves a 5-1 advantage.
Walby went back to work at 4:28. Mississippi�s captain wired a shot over the right shoulder of Garner, completing his hat trick with his 16th of the season. Sea Wolves led 6-1 at that stage.
Jackson�s Brent Gauvreau, who played the last two seasons with the Sea Wolves, scored his eighth of the campaign at 14:32 to tally in his return to the Wolves Den.
Sea Wolves� Scott responded just 22 seconds later, converting his second of the night to round out the scoring.
Gardner stopped 30-of-32, improving his record to 15-7-2. Garner turned away 28-of-35, suffering the setback to fall to 7-8-1.
Mississippi went 2-for-5 on the power play. Jackson converted on 1-of-9 chances with the man advantage.
The Sea Wolves host Arkansas tomorrow at 5:05 p.m. at the Wolves Den. All adults purchasing one regular priced ticket, receive one FREE ticket for a child 12 and under.
�Buffy�s Christmas� is this weekend at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Sea Wolves defenseman Derrick Byfuglien (BUHF-len) along with the organization would greatly appreciate if fans would bring an unwrapped gift to any of the remaining two home games this weekend. Byfuglien will distribute the gifts to children at area hospitals on Christmas Day.
Just in time for the holidays, purchase Sea Wolves Pick Six Plan. Choose your favorite six games and receive a FREE Sea Wolves gift package consisting of an official game puck autographed by Coach Bob Woods plus a Sea Wolves Souvenir Media Guide. The Pick Six Plan ranges from $48 to $96.
Individual Sea Wolves game tickets are available at all TicketMaster locations, the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office and by calling 228-594-3707.
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