BILOXI, Miss. � Steffon Walby scored the game-winner in dramatic fashion at 4:31 of overtime to keep the Mississippi Sea Wolves season alive by defeating the Columbia Inferno, 2-1 in Game 5 of the Southern Conference Finals.
Columbia leads the best-of-seven series, 3 games to 2. The series winner advances to the 2003 Kelly Cup Final.
�It was battle right from the opening face-off,� Sea Wolves coach Bob Woods said. �We have to continue to stick to our game plan. One shift, one period at a time and find a way to win.�
The teams battled to a scoreless first period. Columbia out shot Mississippi 13-11 in the stanza.
In the second, Columbia Tim Smith took a lead pass behind the Mississippi defense, but Sea Wolves goaltender denied Smith in close.
The Inferno opened the score on the power play at 12:04 of the second. Eric Labelle was parked in front, his turnaround shot went into the back of the net for his first of the postseason.
Late in the third period, Mississippi pulled Gardner for the extra attacker. There was a scramble in the slot, and Sea Wolves' Sergei Kuznetsov roofed a shot over the left shoulder of Patrick Couture, tying the score at 1-1 with 1:04 remaining in regulation.
In overtime, Sea Wolves captain Walby got the puck in the slot and he unleashed a laser of the a wrist shot over the right shoulder of Couture to end the game and send the series back to Columbia.
Gardner stopped 34-of-35 shots, raising his record to 8-3 in the 2003 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Couture allowed two goals on 27 shots, falling to 8-2 in the postseason.
Mississippi failed to convert on six power play opportunities. Columbia tallied on 1-of-6 chances with the man advantage.
Game 6 of the best-of-seven series is Friday at 6:05 p.m. CT at the Carolina Coliseum in Columbia, South Carolina.
Individual playoff tickets for Mississippi are available at all Ticketmaster locations, the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office and by calling 228-594-3707.
Sea Wolves season tickets for 2003-04 are on sale starting at $21 per month. Call the Sea Wolves hockey office and ask about payment plans at (228) 275-WOLF (9653).
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