LAFAYETTE, La. � The Louisiana IceGators jumped past the Mississippi Sea Wolves and into first place in the Southwest Division, by winning 4-3 in the first game of a home-and-home set.
The Sea Wolves (13-7-2) opened the score just 30 seconds into the contest. Dave Paradise snapped a shot from the left circle past the glove of Kyle Kettles. The goal by Paradise was his 14th of the year, making it 1-0 Mississippi.
Louisiana (13-5-3) responded just over two minutes later. Tony Tuzzolino scored his sixth goal in his seventh game of the year, tying the score 1-1.
At 4:01 of the first, the IceGators clicked on the power play. Kevin Mitchell ripped the pointshot through traffic and past goaltender Greg Gardner, to put Louisiana ahead 2-1.
Tuzzolino went back to work, before the first period ended. The veteran darted in on the left wing for the IceGators, made a nifty move then sent a backhand pass to the slot. Daniel Goneau buried his eighth of the season, to give Louisiana a 3-1 lead through 20 minutes.
In the second, the IceGators continued to find the back of the Sea Wolves net. Nathan Rempel found himself with the puck, alone in front and he lifted a shot over the left shoulder of Gardner, giving Louisiana a 4-1 advantage.
Mississippi cut the margin in half at 11:56, as Travis Lisabeth unleashed a one-timer from the slot, the puck clanked off the crossbar and dropped behind Kettles, closing the IceGators lead to 4-2.
Sea Wolves got their power play on track in the third. Jim Baxter blasted a pointshot into the back of the net. However, Baxter�s 11th of the campaign, would round out the scoring.
Gardner made 29 saves on 33 shots, dropping his record to 11-5-2. Kettles stopped 23 of 26, improving to 4-2-0 on the season.
Mississippi capitalized on 1-of-3 power play opportunities. Louisiana converted on 1-of-4 chances with the man advantage.
Sea Wolves play host to the IceGators in the rematch tomorrow at 7:35 p.m. at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
Discounted tickets are available for groups of 20 or more. Call the Sea Wolves hockey office at (228) 275-WOLF.
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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