BILOXI, Miss. � The Mississippi Sea Wolves celebrated Thanksgiving by stuffing the Baton Rouge Kingfish, 5-3, and taking over sole possession of first place in the Southwest Division.
The Sea Wolves also lead the Coca-Cola Cup series against the Kingfish, 8 points to 2.
Sea Wolves� Stu Pietersma gave Mississippi a lift at 2:47 of the first period. The rookie dropped the gloves with Shawn Scanzano of the Kingfish, and Pietersma had the clear edge in the bout.
Seconds after the fight, with the Sea Wolves on the attack, Baton Rouge captain Steve Cheredaryk tried to slowdown Dwayne Blais at the Kingfish bench. Cheredaryk was assessed a minor penalty for boarding.
Mississippi (13-6-2) took advantage on the ensuing power play. Mike Scott took a pass from Cody Bowtell at 4:15. Scott notched his fourth of the campaign, making it 1-0 Sea Wolves.
Later in the frame, Bowtell fed Travis Lisabeth on the right wing. The second-year professional blew a shot through Jeff Blair, for a 2-0 Sea Wolves advantage.
In the second, Dave Paradise whipped across a pass from the left circle to Patrick Rochon at the right circle. Rochon snapped his first goal of the season over the right shoulder of Blair, making it 3-0 for Mississippi.
In the third, Baton Rouge (4-13-3) solved the Sea Wolves goaltending. Kevin Tucker fed Cheredaryk all alone. The veteran Cheredaryk went five-hole on Greg Gardner, cutting the Mississippi lead to 3-1.
The Sea Wolves responded 41 seconds later, as Paradise ripped home his 13th of the year, giving Mississippi a 4-1 lead.
Then less than two minutes later, Bowtell upped the lead to 5-1 with his ninth of the year.
Kingfish tried to mount a comeback. Sam Paquet scored and Cheredaryk tallied his second of the game, but it wouldn�t be enough.
Sea Wolves goaltender Sean Matile started the game but had to leave the game at 16:03 of the first, due to an injury. Matile made 10 saves and registered the win (2-2-0). Gardner took over in the Mississippi net and finished with 28 stops.
Blair made 20 saves on 25 shots to drop his record to (2-8-3).
Mississippi converted on 1-of-5 power play opportunities. Baton Rouge went 1-for-6 with the man advantage.
Sea Wolves travel to Lafayette, Louisiana tomorrow for a home-and-home set with the IceGators. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. at the Cajundome.
Mississippi returns home for a rematch on Saturday at 7:35 p.m. against the Louisiana IceGators at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
Listen live to Sea Wolves play-by-play coverage on Q 92.5 FM and across the internet at www.MsSeaWolves.com. The Nextel pregame show begins 15 minutes before the drop of the puck.
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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