BILOXI, Miss. � Mississippi�s Louis Dumont scored a goal to become the all-time ECHL leading scorer, however, it was the Columbus Cottonmouths halting their 12-game winless skid by scoring two power-play goals to edge the Sea Wolves, 2-1, in front of 3,239 fans at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
�I have spent a lot of years in the ECHL (10 seasons) and it�s nice to be recognized,� said Dumont on collecting his 690th career ECHL point. �I still love to play the game and I�ll suit up as long as my body holds up.�
�It�s a great accomplishment for Dumont and I�m glad he scored a goal in front of the home fans,� said Sea Wolves coach Bob Woods. �I wish we could have finished off the night with a win. The guys were trying hard, but we just weren�t clicking.�
Columbus (4-13-2) opened the score on the power play at 2:43. John Morlang deposited in front, beating Greg Gardner, for his second goal of the season. Ray DiLauro and Colin Pepperall picked up assists.
Mississippi (8-7-4) received some solid defense in the first period. On a Cottonmouths scoring opportunity, the puck squirted through Gardner, but Sea Wolves defenseman Austin Miller saved a goal as he swept it away just before it crossed the goal line.
The historic ECHL moment for Dumont came at the 2:45 mark of the second period. Sergei Kuznetsov unleashed a shot from the right circle, Dumont scooped up the rebound and scored in front of goaltender Olivier Michaud.
With the point, Dumont moved past Rod Taylor to become the all-time scoring leader in the ECHL with 690 career points. In 581 ECHL games, Dumont has 266 goals and 424 assists over his 10-year career in the league. The play was stopped momentarily, as Dumont received the game puck and the crowd at the Wolves Den gave him a standing ovation. The goal also extended his point streak to seven games (5g-4a).
In the third, Columbus struck again with the man advantage. DiLauro hammered a slapshot from the high slot, Jean-Francois Plourde re-directed in his team-leading eighth marker of the season at the 1:15 mark.
Sea Wolves had a couple tremendous chances to tie. However, Michaud robbed Kuznetsov on a breakaway and stoned Dumont on a one-time slapshot from the left circle in the dying seconds.
The Cottonmouths picked up their first win since October 26, going 0-10-2 over that span. It was also the first-ever victory for Columbus in six attempts at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
Mississippi failed to convert on five power-play opportunities, while Columbus went 2-for-7 on the man advantage. Cottonmouths outshot the Sea Wolves, 35-24.
Additional Notes: Mississippi played without Steffon Walby, who is still on the 7-day injured reserve and defenseman Jim Baxter.
Mississippi gets back into action at 5:05 p.m. on Sunday at the Pensacola Civic Center, to face the Ice Pilots. Listen live on WTNI-AM 1640 and online at www.msseawolves.com beginning with the Nextel Pregame Show at 4:50 p.m.
Sea Wolves next home game is at 7:35 p.m. on Friday, December 5 against Pensacola. Promotions include 2-for-1 military night, sponsored by Keesler Federal Credit Union. The game broadcast can be heard on ESPN Radio WXBD-AM 1490 and online at www.msseawolves.com beginning with the Nextel Pregame Show at 7:20 p.m.
Individual game tickets are available at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office, all TicketMaster locations and by calling 228-594-3707.
Season seat packages, flex plans and discounted group tickets are still on sale by calling 228-275-WOLF.
--- Box Score ---
DATE - 11/27/03 Columbus (2) at Mississippi (1)
SCORE BY PERIODS
Columbus 1 0 1--2
Mississippi 0 1 0--1
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Columbus-Morlang 2 (power play) (DiLauro; Pepperall) 2:43. Penalties: Kean, MIS (Slashing), 1:28. Dumont, MIS (Hooking), 12:02. Fritz, CBS (Fighting, Major), 14:33. Hutchins, MIS (Fighting, Major), 14:33. Fritz, CBS (Ten minute misc.), 14:33. Plourde, CBS (Roughing, Double minor), 14:33. Gauvreau, MIS (Roughing, Double minor), 14:33. Ndur, CBS (Roughing), 14:33. Lisabeth, MIS (Roughing), 14:33. Ndur, CBS (Roughing), 14:33. Larrivee, CBS (Tripping), 16:59.
SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Mississippi-Dumont 10 (Kuznetsov; O'Rourke) 2:45. Penalties: BENCH, MIS served by O'Rourke (Delay of game), 5:36. Cava, MIS (Slashing), 8:50. Tudin, CBS (Slashing), 12:57. Miller, MIS (Slashing), 13:19. Voth, CBS (Unsportsmanlike Cond), 17:13. Gauvreau, MIS (Unsportsmanlike Cond), 17:13. Micka, CBS (Roughing), 17:13.
THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Columbus-Plourde 8 (game winner) (power play) (Risidore; DiLauro) 1:15. Penalties: Gauvreau, MIS (Tripping), 1:10. Lupandin, MIS (Interference), 6:50. Micka, CBS (Tripping), 7:44.
SHOTS ON GOAL
Columbus 14 14 7--35
Mississippi 5 9 10--24
Power Play Conversions: Columbus - 2-of-7, Mississippi - 0-of-5.
Goalies: Columbus-Michaud (24 shots, 23 saves; record: 4-7-1). Mississippi-Gardner (35 shots, 33 saves; record: 7-5-3).
A: 3239. Referee: Brown. Linesmen: Jones; Stanton.
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