NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. � It�s five alive and back into first place for the Sea Wolves. Mississippi won its fifth straight game, sweeping a four-game road trip, by defeating the Arkansas RiverBlades, 4-1.
The Sea Wolves also jumped past idle Louisiana into first place in the Southwest Division.
Mississippi also vaulted back into a tie with Atlantic City for first place in the 27-team East Coast Hockey League points race, with 40.
Mississippi (19-8-2) opened the score at 3:54 of the first period. John Evangelista tipped a Derrick Byfuglien point shot, past Jason Saal. The goal for Evangelista was his fourth of the year.
The Sea Wolves extended their lead on the power-play, as Dave Paradise fed Steffon Walby at the side and he swept in his 12th of the campaign, giving Mississippi a 2-0 lead. The assist by Paradise was his 200th point (85g-115a) in a Sea Wolves uniform, making him the first player in team history to reach that milestone.
Arkansas (15-10-5) had the best chance in the middle stanza. Sea Wolves goaltender Greg Gardner had the puck stripped by RiverBlades' Mike Renzi, but on the wraparound attempt, Gardner lunged back into his crease, robbing the former Sea Wolves forward.
Mississippi kept the offense coming in the third. Walby notched his second of the night and 13th of the year at 7:46, making it 3-0 for the Sea Wolves.
The RiverBlades solved Gardner at 15:20. Matt Pugnutti unleashed a shot from the slot, cutting the Mississippi lead to 3-1.
But Cody Bowtell finished off Arkansas at the 18:17 mark, cashing in on a breakaway. Bowtell�s 12th goal of the season, completed the scoring. The season series is tied 1-1.
Gardner stopped 21-of-22 shots, improving his record to 14-7-2. Saal turned away 19-of-23, dropping his record to 11-7-4.
Mississippi went 1-for-4 on the power play. Arkansas failed to tally on two chances with the man advantage.
The Sea Wolves return home for three straight games beginning Friday at 7:35 p.m. against the Louisiana IceGators.
On Saturday, Mississippi hosts intrastate rival Jackson at 7:35 p.m.
Then Sunday, the Sea Wolves entertain Arkansas at 5:05 p.m. at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
�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 three 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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