BILOXI, Miss. � It was a memorable home opener for the Mississippi Sea Wolves as they rallied to score two power play goals in the third period, and defeat the Jackson Bandits 4-3.
With the win, the Sea Wolves strike first in the battle for the Nextel Cup.
In a pregame ceremony, Mississippi retired Bob Woods uniform number eight. The team played a video commemorating Woods playing career and raised a banner featuring his surname and number eight.
Team President Bo McMurphy stated that no other Sea Wolves player will wear uniform No. 8.
Former Sea Wolves players scored all three goals for Jackson. The Bandits� Mike Oliveira opened the score at 8:41 of the first period, beating Sea Wolves goalie Greg Gardner.
Mississippi tied it up at 13:24, as Dave Paradise sailed a shot past Tyrone Garner.
Later in the frame, Travis Lisabeth tallied, to give the Sea Wolves a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.
In the second, while on the penalty kill, Jackson�s Jeff Bes and Randy Copley skated in on a 2-on-1 break. Bes finished it off with a goal, tying the score at two.
Jackson took the lead at 6:03 of the third, as Bes potted his second of the game, giving the Bandits a 3-2 lead.
But Mississippi would get its power play in gear at 13:01. Defenseman Austin Miller fired a slap shot through traffic. It was Miller�s first professional goal, knotting the score 3-3.
Less than two minutes later on another power play, Sea Wolves Cody Bowtell deposited a Steffon Walby pass into the back of the net.
Mississippi outshot Jackson 51-27. Sea Wolves netminder Gardner made 24 saves. Bandits goaltender Garner turned away 47 shots.
Sea Wolves went 2-for-14 on the power play. Bandits converted on 1-of-9 power play opportunities.
The next game for Mississippi is on the road against the Louisiana IceGators on Friday. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. at the Cajundome in Lafayette.
The Sea Wolves return home on Saturday for a contest at 7:35 p.m. against the Pensacola Ice Pilots.
Then on Sunday, Mississippi hosts Louisiana at 5:05 p.m. At all Sunday home games, an adult purchasing an individual game ticket will receive one free ticket for a child 12 and under.
Listen to Sea Wolves play-by-play action on flagship radio station Q 92.5 FM, or online at www.MsSeaWolves.com. Coverage begins with the pregame show, 15 minutes before the opening face-off.
Individual game tickets are available at all TicketMaster locations, the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office and by telephone at 228-594-3707.
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