BILOXI, Miss. � Mississippi�s Sergei Kuznetsov and Andrei Lupandin notched three points each as the Sea Wolves downed the Texas Wildcatters, 4-1, before 3,765 fans at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
Mississippi leads the battle for the Nextel Cup in the season series against Texas, 3 games to 0.
�The line of Kuznetsov, Lupandin and Louis Dumont played solid in their first game together,� said Sea Wolves coach Bob Woods. �We got a lot of shots (52) and played the type of game that will make us successful.�
Mississippi�s (10-8-4) Sergei Kuznetsov started the scoring at the 15:07 mark. Kuznetsov snapped a shot from the low right circle by Jason Cugnet to net his seventh goal of the year, assisted by Travis Lisabeth and Andrei Lupandin.
Texas (5-14-2) evened the score on the power play in the final minute of the opening stanza. Steve Lowe went high with a shot over the right shoulder of Greg Gardner from the slot at 19:23. Lowe�s fourth marker of the campaign was assisted by John Snowden and Tony Lawrence.
In the dying seconds of the first period, Cory Morgan busted in on a breakaway, only to be robbed by Gardner with a great right pad stop.
The Sea Wolves picked up their offense in the second period. Patrick Rochon sent a lead pass for Steffon Walby up the middle, he fed Brent Gauvreau, who tallied his ninth goal of the year at 8:16. Walby�s point extended his point streak to seven games (5g-14a).
Less than one minute later, Sea Wolves� Andrei Lupandin skated behind the Texas net and stuffed in a wraparound goal, for his third of the campaign.
Mississippi continued its second period dominance, by scoring its third goal of the period. At 16:04, Kuznetsov cashed in his second of the game, assisted by Lupandin and Jason Kean. The assist for the rookie Kean, was his first professional point.
There was no scoring in the third period.
Mississippi failed to convert on eight power-play opportunities, while Texas went 1-for- 5. Sea Wolves outshot the Wildcatters, 52-33.
Additional Notes: Prior to the game, Just Hockey and Southern Sports Supply with owners Chuck and Jamie Thuss on the ice, presented Sea Wolves� Louis Dumont with a trophy for becoming the ECHL�s all-time leading scorer on November 27 ... Magician Robert Bloor performed a successful straight jacket escape during the first intermission ... Moss Point High School Band performed during the second intermission ... The Sea Wolves wore special �Boy Scout Jerseys�, which were auctioned off postgame to benefit the Boy Scouts of America.
Mississippi travels to Louisiana for a 4:05 p.m. start tomorrow at the Cajundome against the IceGators. Tune into WTNI-AM 1640 and online at www.msseawolves.com beginning with the Nextel Pregame Show at 3:50 p.m.
The Sea Wolves next home game is at 7:35 p.m. on Saturday against Louisiana at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Promotions include $2 draft beers and $2 hotdogs from 6:30-8:30 p.m. It�s also �City of Biloxi Night�. All City of Biloxi employees, their families and friends receive a discount by calling 228-275-WOLF. Listen live on WTNI-AM 1640 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 - 12/06/03 Texas (1) at Mississippi (4)
SCORE BY PERIODS
Texas 1 0 0--1
Mississippi 1 3 0--4
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Mississippi-Kuznetsov 7 (Lisabeth; Lupandin) 15:07. 2, Texas-Lowe 4 (power play) (Snowden; Lawrence) 19:23. Penalties: Guinn, TEX (Slashing), 0:23. Cava, MIS (Roughing), 3:35. Snowden, TEX (Tripping), 4:33. Evangelista, MIS (Slashing), 9:47. BENCH, TEX served by Chadsey (Too many men), 12:58. Lawrence, TEX (Tripping), 15:54. Baxter, MIS (Tripping), 16:34. Dumont, MIS (High sticking), 17:40. Hutchins, MIS (Unsportsmanlike Cond), 19:25. Snowden, TEX (Unsportsmanlike Cond), 19:25.
SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Mississippi-Gauvreau 9 (game winner) (Walby; Rochon) 8:16. 4, Mississippi-Lupandin 3 (Kuznetsov; Dumont) 9:03. 5, Mississippi-Kuznetsov 8 (Kean; Lupandin) 16:04. Penalties: Lowe, TEX (Hooking), 2:41. Cava, MIS (Fighting, Major), 5:59. Cabana, TEX (Fighting, Major), 5:59. Cabana, TEX (Elbowing), 18:54.
THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: Metcalfe, TEX (Holding), 12:17. Cava, MIS (Tripping), 16:20. Cabana, TEX (Roughing), 19:00. Kuznetsov, MIS (High sticking), 19:11.
SHOTS ON GOAL
Texas 13 5 15--33
Mississippi 22 16 14--52
Power Play Conversions: Texas - 1-of-5, Mississippi - 0-of-8.
Goalies: Texas-Cugnet (52 shots, 48 saves; record: 2-9-1). Mississippi-Gardner (33 shots, 32 saves; record: 8-6-3).
A: 3765. Referee: Banfield. Linesmen: Ross; Stanton.
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