BEAUMONT, Texas � Mississippi�s Travis Lisabeth collected an assist to tie a team record with a 13-game point streak as the Sea Wolves moved back into a tie for first place in the Central Division, defeating the Texas Wildcatters, 4-2.
Mississippi and Louisiana occupy the top spot in the Central Division with 62 points, as the IceGators lost at Pensacola.
The Sea Wolves lead the battle for the Nextel Cup against the Wildcatters, 6 games to 1.
�We definitely played a more sound game tonight compared to yesterday at Louisiana,� said Sea Wolves coach Bob Woods. �We spread around the scoring and that�s what we need to do to be successful. I hope we can keep it going returning home for four straight games beginning Tuesday against Florence.�
Texas (13-28-4) got rolling early on the power play at the 1:35 mark. John Campbell sent a centering pass for Ryan Fultz, who scored his second goal in as many games with the Wildcatters by one-timing a shot over the glove of Greg Gardner. Rob Guinn picked up the other assist.
Mississippi (28-12-6) replied with a fluky tally. Sergei Kuznetsov fired a shot from just inside the blueline wide of the net, but it ricocheted in front off goaltender Davis Parley and into the net. Kuznetsov gets credited with his 12th goal tying his career high. Austin Miller was awarded a helper along with Lisabeth, who pulled even with former Mississippi captain Kelly Hurd by registering points in 13 consecutive games.
Just over two minutes later, the Sea Wolves grabbed the lead with the man advantage. On a 4-on-3 situation, Jim Baxter slid a pass to Louis Dumont at the left circle, and he rifled a one-timer into the back of the net. The goal was Dumont�s team-tying 22nd goal of the campaign. Kuznetsov also received an assist.
Mississippi took a two-goal lead at 17:28. Dwayne Blais moved in on the right wing and snapped a shot under the crossbar for his seventh of the year, giving the Sea Wolves a 3-1 lead.
In the second, Mark Scally took over in net for the Wildcatters and turned away all 13 shots.
Sea Wolves� Gardner stopped all nine shots that he faced in the middle stanza.
Texas closed the gap to within one. Brian Passmore converted on a Martin Masa pass in the slot at 4:41, making it 3-2 for Mississippi. Clint Cabana also collected a helper.
Sea Wolves� Steffon Walby put the game out of reach at 14:42 of the third. Mississippi�s captain uncorked a wicked wrist shot from the left circle, blowing it past Scally for his team-tying 22nd goal of the season. Dumont and Patrick Rochon earned assists.
Mississippi converted on 1-of-10 power play opportunities, while Texas went 1-for-6. Sea Wolves outshot the Wildcatters, 46-26.
The Sea Wolves return home for a 6:35 p.m. game on Tuesday against the Florence Pride at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. The broadcast starts at 6:20 p.m. with the Nextel Pregame Show on ESPN Radio WXBD-AM 1490 and online at msseawolves.com.
Flex packs, discounted group tickets and fundraiser opportunities are available by telephone at (228) 275-WOLF.
Individual game tickets can be purchased at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office, all TicketMaster locations and by calling (228) 594-3707.
--- Box Score ---
DATE - 01/31/04 Mississippi (4) at Texas (2)
SCORE BY PERIODS
Mississippi 3 0 1--4
Texas 1 0 1--2
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Texas-Fultz 2 (power play) (Campbell; Guinn) 1:35. 2, Mississippi-Kuznetsov 12 (Miller; Lisabeth) 9:12. 3, Mississippi-Dumont 22 (power play) (Baxter; Kuznetsov) 11:25. 4, Mississippi-Blais 7 (game winner) (unassisted) 17:28. Penalties: Hutchins, MIS (Hooking), 0:30. Campbell, TEX (Hooking), 5:07. Lawrence, TEX (Holding), 9:47. Parley, TEX served by Passmore (Slashing), 10:36. Walby, MIS (Slashing), 10:56. Kean, MIS (Tripping), 14:30. Campbell, TEX (Holding stick), 14:47.
SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: Masa, TEX (Tripping), 0:23. Cabana, TEX (Slashing), 1:24. Hutchins, MIS (Tripping), 2:48. Lawrence, TEX (Obstr goalie interfe), 8:11. Lawrence, TEX (Roughing), 15:11. Hutchins, MIS (Hooking), 17:18. Fultz, TEX (Slashing), 17:18. Campbell, TEX (Interference), 18:07. Langdone, TEX (Ten minute misc.), 18:07. Walby, MIS (High sticking), 19:51.
THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Texas-Passmore 6 (Masa; Cabana) 4:41. 6, Mississippi-Walby 22 (Dumont; Rochon) 14:42. Penalties: Maxwell, MIS (Interference), 6:33. Masa, TEX (Tripping), 9:37. O'Rourke, MIS (Roughing), 13:53. Masa, TEX (Roughing), 13:53. Snowden, TEX (High sticking), 18:43.
SHOTS ON GOAL
Mississippi 21 13 12--46
Texas 5 9 12--26
Power Play Conversions: Mississippi - 1-of-10, Texas - 1-of-6.
Goalies: Mississippi-Gardner (26 shots, 24 saves; record: 16-9-3). Texas-Scally (25 shots, 24 saves); Parley (21 shots, 18 saves; record: 11-16-2).
A: 2840. Referee: Pelletier. Linesmen: Prestigiovanni; Wilkinson.
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