PENSACOLA, Fla. � Pensacola�s number one ranked power play in the ECHL was in top form, scoring four times with the man advantage, leading the Ice Pilots over the Mississippi Sea Wolves, 6-2, in front of 3,442 at the Pensacola Civic Center.
Ice Pilots defenseman Corey Neilson picked up five assists and rookie Jim Abbott tallied his first pro hat trick, while Brian Eklund turned away 40-of-42 shots.
�We outplayed them but lost our composure,� said Bob Woods, Sea Wolves Coach. �I�m going to chalk it up to a learning experience. That game should have been ours. But give the Ice Pilots credit, they took advantage of their 5-on-3 opportunities.�
Mississippi�s (3-3-2) Louis Dumont made his return to Pensacola for the first time since being signed by Mississippi in the offseason. Dumont, a 10-year ECHL veteran, fed a right wing pass to John Evangelista, who deposited his second of the year at 2:43. Andrei Lupandin also picked up an assist.
Mississippi�s Kerry Ellis-Toddington also returned to the Pensacola Civic Center for the first time. Ellis-Toddington, the second-year pro, picked up his first penalty of the year late in the opening stanza.
On the ensuing power play, with just seven seconds remaining in the period, the Ice Pilots made him pay. Jim Abbott sent a hard wrist shot over the left shoulder of Greg Gardner to tie game.
In the second, Pensacola�s (5-1-0) goaltender Eklund was phenomenal, stopping 14 consecutive Mississippi shots. The Ice Pilots would grab the lead on their first shot of the period at the 14:10 mark, as Abbott beat Gardner from the right circle.
Sea Wolves� Dumont would get back at his old team by cashing in at 15:55, for his fourth goal in the last three games.
Just 16 seconds later, Ice Pilots veteran Dwayne Hay netted his fifth goal of the campaign, giving Pensacola a 3-2 lead.
Mississippi started to unravel with penalties. Pensacola took full advantage with back-to-back 5-on-3 power play goals by Peter Bournazakis at 18:14 and Tyler Beechey at 18:40.
In the third, Abbott finished off his three-goal performance, tipping a point shot into the back of the net.
Mississippi failed to score on three power play chances, while Pensacola converted on 4-of-10 chances with the man advantage. Sea Wolves outshot the Ice Pilots, 42-33.
Prior to the start of the game, there was a moment of silence for longtime Ice Pilots� season ticket holder Richard Langdon, who suddenly passed away at the morning skate.
Earlier in the day, Mississippi placed defenseman Steve O�Rourke on the 7-day injured reserve and activated forward Mike Gamble, who made his Sea Wolves debut, from the 7-day IR.
The Sea Wolves return home for two games beginning at 7:35 p.m. on Friday, against the Louisiana IceGators. Promotions include 2-for-1 military, courtesy of Kessler Federal Credit Union and the first 2,000 fans will receive Thundersticks.
Mississippi plays host to the Fresno Falcons for the first-ever meeting between the teams at 4:05 p.m. on Sunday at the Wolves Den. The promotion includes the �Party Four Pack�, consisting of four tickets, four hotdogs, four soft drinks for $44. Individual game tickets, start at $9 for children and $11 for adults.
Tickets are available at all TicketMaster locations, the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office and by calling 228-594-3707.
Season seat packages, flex plans and discounted group tickets remain on sale by calling 228-275-WOLF.
--- Box Score ---
DATE - 11/01/03 Mississippi (2) at Pensacola (6)
SCORE BY PERIODS
Mississippi 1 1 0--2
Pensacola 1 4 1--6
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Mississippi-Evangelista 2 (Lupandin; Dumont) 2:43. 2, Pensacola-Abbott 3 (power play) (Bournazakis; Neilson) 19:53. Penalties: Dumont, MIS (High sticking), 9:09. Cruikshank, PEN (Cross checking), 12:21. Baxter, MIS (Tripping), 12:26. Ellis-Toddington, MIS (High sticking), 18:43.
SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Pensacola-Abbott 4 (Bournazakis; Neilson) 14:10. 4, Mississippi-Dumont 4 (Kuznetsov) 15:55. 5, Pensacola-Hay 5 (game winner) (Beechey; Chambers) 16:11. 6, Pensacola-Bournazakis 4 (power play) (Neilson; Chambers) 18:14. 7, Pensacola-Beechey 2 (power play) (Neilson; Chambers) 18:40. Penalties: Gamble, MIS (Board check), 3:28. Hay, PEN (Cross checking), 6:57. Neilson, PEN (Slashing), 10:04. Maxwell, MIS (Ten minute misc.), 16:45. Miller, MIS (Unsportsmanlike Cond), 16:45. Lupandin, MIS (Roughing), 17:28. Kuznetsov, MIS (High sticking), 17:58. BENCH, MIS served by Gamble (Bench minor), 18:15.
THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 8, Pensacola-Abbott 5 (power play) (Kindle; Neilson) 16:10. Penalties: Cava, MIS (Tripping), 1:09. Cava, MIS (Fighting, Major), 4:29. Bournazakis, PEN (Fighting, Major), 4:29. Rochon, MIS (Tripping), 4:29. Hutchins, MIS (Obstr hooking), 12:42. Cruikshank, PEN (Fighting, Major), 15:16. Maxwell, MIS (Fighting, Roughing, Major), 15:16. Maxwell, MIS (Roughing, Ten minute misc.), 15:16. Gauvreau, MIS (Roughing), 17:56. Kindle, PEN (Roughing), 17:56.
SHOTS ON GOAL
Mississippi 11 16 15--42
Pensacola 11 10 12--33
Power Play Conversions: Mississippi - 0-of-3, Pensacola - 4-of-10.
Goalies: Mississippi-Gardner (33 shots, 27 saves; record: 2-2-1). Pensacola-Eklund (42 shots, 40 saves; record: 5-1-0).
A: 3442. Referee: J. Koharski. Linesmen: Wright; Phillips.
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