BILOXI, Miss. � The Louisiana IceGators scored four goals in the second period to propel past the Mississippi Sea Wolves 5-3.
With the win, Louisiana remains unbeaten at 4-0-0 and takes over sole possession of first place in the Southwest Division. The Sea Wolves drop to 3-2-0 and are alone in second place.
Mississippi defenseman Jim Baxter opened the score at 15:37 of the first period. Baxter unloaded a shot that beat Frederic Cloutier, for his second in as many games, giving the Sea Wolves a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes.
The second period was all Louisiana. Kenny Corupe tallied at 1:57 beating Sea Wolves goaltender Greg Gardner, to tie the score 1-1.
Then the IceGators power play took control. At the 9:11 mark, Shawn McNeil registered his fifth of the season.
Daniel Goneau scored his first of the season at 13:48, for a 3-1 Louisiana lead.
The IceGators kept the offense coming in the second, Goneau picked off an errant pass in the Sea Wolves end, depositing his second of the game and giving Louisiana a 4-1 lead after two.
The Sea Wolves got back on track in the third, as Dwayne Blais handcuffed Cloutier to his glove side. It was the first goal of the season for Blais, closing the Louisiana lead to 4-2.
But at 7:30, McNeil counted his second of the night. The goal gave McNeil two goals in each of the three weekend games, and the IceGators held a 5-2 advantage.
Later in the frame, Sea Wolves veteran Cody Bowtell had a penalty shot, but fired it over the net.
Mississippi�s Jeff Hutchins banged home his first professional goal at 17:52, but it wouldn�t be enough.
Gardner suffered the loss in net, making 25 saves on 30 shots. His record drops to 3-2-0. Cloutier turned away 19-of-22 shots, improving his record to 3-0-0.
Mississippi went 1-for-7 on the power play. While Louisiana converted on 2-of-8 power play opportunities.
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