BILOXI, Miss. � The Mississippi Sea Wolves posted a 1-2-0 record over three home games last week and slipped to second place in the ECHL�s Central Division, falling four points behind Louisiana for first place.
After 49 games, the Sea Wolves have an overall record of 29-14-6. Mississippi is 14-4-5 at home, and 15-10-1 on the road.
On Tuesday, Mississippi edged Florence 3-2 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. The Sea Wolves continued their homestand on Friday, falling 3-1 to Greensboro and dropped a 3-1 decision on Saturday at the Wolves Den against Louisiana.
This week, Mississippi wraps up its four-game homestand on Tuesday against Texas, then travels to Florida for games on Friday and Saturday.
GAMES, BROADCASTS AND PROMOTIONS AT A GLANCE �
Tuesday, Feb. 10 vs. Texas Wildcatters � 6:35 p.m. CT � Mississippi Coast Coliseum
* Broadcast starts at 6:20 p.m. on ESPN Radio WXBD-AM 1490 and online at msseawolves.com
* Postgame party for all ages at Club Caribe
Friday, Feb. 13 at Florida Everblades � 6:30 p.m. CT � TECO Arena, Estero, Fla.
* Broadcast begins at 6:15 p.m. on ESPN Radio WXBD-AM 1490 and online at msseawolves.com
Saturday, Feb. 14 at Florida Everblades � 6:30 p.m. CT � TECO Arena, Estero, Fla.
* Broadcast gets underway at 6:15 p.m. on WTNI-AM 1640 and online at msseawolves.com
GAME PREVIEWS �
Tuesday, Feb. 10 vs. Texas Wildcatters � 6:35 p.m. CT � Mississippi Coast Coliseum
Mississippi leads the season series and all-time 6-1-0 and 4-0-0 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. It�s the eighth game of 15 in the battle for the Nextel Cup between the teams.
The Sea Wolves won the last head-to-head contest, 4-2 on January 31 at Ford Arena in Beaumont, Texas. Sergei Kuznetsov and Louis Dumont each registered a goal and an assist. Mississippi�s Dwayne Blais netted the game-winning goal late in the first period, as the Sea Wolves built up a 3-1 lead and would not relinquish their upper hand. Greg Gardner collected the victory in net, by making 24 saves. Davis Parley stopped 18 in the first period and then gave way to Mark Scally, who turned away 24 of 25 shots over the final two periods.
Mississippi took the last game at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum on December 30, by a final of 4-3. Sea Wolves� Travis Lisabeth notched the game-winning goal with 1:20 remaining in regulation. Sea Wolves� Louis Dumont netted a pair of goals in the win and Jim Baxter also scored. Sean Matile stopped 29 shots to preserve the victory. Texas picked up goals from Cory Morgan, Brian Passmore and John Snowden. Davis Parley turned aside 29 shots in the setback.
Sergei Kuznetsov leads Mississippi with seven goals and 14 points against Texas. Steffon Walby has picked up eight assists in the games versus the Wildcatters to lead the Sea Wolves in that category.
Lukas Smital leads Texas with seven points (2g-5a) against the Sea Wolves. Martin Masa, Cory Morgan and Brian Passmore have also scored two goals, tying Smital for the team-lead in goals versus Mississippi. Tony Lawrence has collected five assists to equal Smital in helpers versus the Sea Wolves.
Friday, Feb. 13 at Florida Everblades � 6:30 p.m. CT � TECO Arena, Estero, Fla.
Mississippi is 1-0-0 against Florida this season. The game marks the second of five in the season series and first of two games in two days at TECO Arena.
The Sea Wolves slipped past the Everblades 3-2 on December 9 at Florida. Brent Gauvreau led the Mississippi attack by notching a pair of goals and an assist. Steffon Walby netted a goal and an assist and Kerry Ellis-Toddington registered two helpers. Sea Wolves� Sean Matile made 31 saves to upend his former team, outdueling Everblades� Jeff Maund, who stopped 37 shots. Goal scorers for Florida were Brent McDonald, who also had an assist, and Keith Anderson.
Florida forward Stu Pietersma is expected to go up against Mississippi for the first time as a member of the Everblades. Pietersma was traded in the offseason for forward Anthony Battaglia. Pietersma missed the first head-to-head meeting while serving a three-game suspension. In 2002-03, Pietersma appeared in 55 games with the Sea Wolves tallying five goals and 11 points. He also led the ECHL with 32 major penalties and piled up 275 penalty minutes in his rookie campaign.
During the preseason, the teams also split two games at TECO Arena. Florida won 5-3 on October 11, while Mississippi rebounded one day later, winning 6-3 on October 12.
Mississippi is 4-8-1 all-time in the regular season against Florida. The Sea Wolves are 3-4-1 all-time during the regular season at TECO Arena.
Saturday, Feb. 14 at Florida Everblades � 6:30 p.m. CT � TECO Arena, Estero, Fla.
This is the second game in as many days between the teams at TECO Arena, and third game of five in the season series.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK � Defenseman Kerry Ellis-Toddington collected two assists over the three games last week. On Tuesday, Ellis-Toddington had an assist in Mississippi�s victory over Florence. The 6-foot-1 and 200-pound native of Regina, Saskatchewan picked up another helper against Greensboro. Overall this season, Ellis-Toddington has three goals, 24 points and a +16 in 49 games.
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK � Greg Gardner went 1-1-0 in two contests last week. The 6-foot and 190-pound Gardner highlighted his week by turning aside 22 shots and posting his 17th victory on the season against Florence. Gardner has an overall record of 17-10-3, with a 2.55 goals against average and .921 save percentage.
TRANSACTIONS FROM LAST WEEK �
2/07 Jim Baxter, D, Placed on 7-day injured reserve
2/07 Andrei Lupandin, D, Activated off 7-day injured reserve
STREAKING SEA WOLF �
* Brent Gauvreau, on loan to Bridgeport of the American Hockey League, had points in six straight ECHL games (5g-4a) before being recalled on January 25.
SEA WOLVES APPROACHING MILESTONES �
* Steve O�Rourke is one point from career high (43 gp, 3g, 16a, 19 pts)
* Sergei Kuznetsov is two games from 200 in his Mississippi career (198 gp, 46g, 95a, 141 pts, 144 PIM)
* Chris Cava is four games from 100 with Mississippi (96 gp, 3g, 11a, 14 pts, 383 PIM)
* Jim Baxter is three goals from tying his career high (notched 16 last season)
STEFFON WALBY WATCH �
(Regular season totals with Mississippi � 160 gp, 106g, 138a, 244 pts, 39 PPG, 19 GWG)
* Needs one goal to set all-time team record (currently tied with Dave Paradise, who tallied 106 goals in 262 games)
* Two power-play goals from tying Mississippi�s all-time leader Dave Paradise at 41.
TEAM LEADERS �
Goals � Jeff Hutchins, 24
Assists � Steffon Walby, 40
Points � Steffon Walby, 62
Plus/Minus � Brent Gauvreau, +30
Penalty Minutes � Roger Maxwell, 256
Power Play Goals � Jeff Hutchins, 10
Power Play Assists � Jim Baxter, 20
Power Play Points � Jim Baxter, 26
Shorthand Goals � Anthony Battaglia, 3
Game-Winning Goals � Brent Gauvreau, 7
Goaltender Wins � Greg Gardner, 17
Goals Against Average � Greg Gardner, 2.55
Save Percentage � Greg Gardner, .921
SPECIAL TEAMS (ECHL Rank) �
Power Play � 55-284, 19.4% (8)
Penalty Killing � 240-295, 81.3% (23)
Shorthand Goal For � 6 (T18)
Shorthand Goals Against � 3 (T3)
INJURED RESERVE � Defenseman Jim Baxter was placed on the 7-day injured reserve on Saturday.
CALL UP � Center Brent Gauvreau remains on loan to Bridgeport (AHL) since January 25.
PRACTICES THIS WEEK �
Monday � 10-11:30 a.m.
Tuesday � 10-10:30 a.m., morning skate
Wednesday � Travel to Estero, Fla.
Thursday � TBD, Practice at TECO Arena
Friday � 11-11:30 a.m., morning skate, TECO Arena, Estero, Fla.
Saturday � 11-11:30 a.m., morning skate, TECO Arena, Estero, Fla.
Sunday � TBD
* All practices are open to the public at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, unless otherwise noted.
* Dates and times are subject to change.
IN THE COMMUNITY �
Wednesday, Feb. 11 � 7-8 p.m.
�Your Home Team,� the Sea Wolves weekly radio show for all ages at Club Caribe in Biloxi. Catch the show live on ESPN Radio WXBD-AM 1490.
Groups, organizations and companies that are interested in having members of the Sea Wolves appear at an event, are invited to call (228) 388-6151.
Individual game tickets start at $9 for children and $11 for adults. Tickets are on sale at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office, all ticketmaster locations and by telephone at (228) 594-3707.
Season tickets for the 2004-05 season are on sale! Flex packs, discounted group tickets and fundraiser opportunities are available for this season by calling (228) 275-WOLF.
