BILOXI, Miss. � In the historic first-ever ECHL meeting between the teams, the Mississippi Sea Wolves scored all three goals in the shootout to edge the San Diego Gulls 3-2.
Mississippi gains two points, to move within four of Louisiana for first place in the Central Division. San Diego completes its three-game road trip against Central Division opponents, finishing with a 1-0-2 record.
�We got it done tonight,� said Sea Wolves coach Bob Woods, as Mississippi snapped its mini two-game losing streak. �It was a playoff style game and I was proud of the way we played defensively. It was a good confidence boost to outlast a very good hockey team.�
San Diego (30-11-6) started the scoring with the man advantage at 7:38. Mark Pederson fed a pass from the corner to Sylvain Deschatelets, who deposited his 13th goal of the season from in front of goaltender Greg Gardner.
Mississippi (31-16-6) got back on even terms in the second period. Louis Dumont took a lead pass from Sergei Kuznetsov and found the back of net, beating Trevor Koenig for his 24th tally of the season. Dumont�s goal at the 4:46 mark was also assisted by Anthony Battaglia.
The trio went back to work again at 8:23. With traffic in front, Dumont sent a wrist shot from the low left circle over Koenig�s glove for his second of the game and 25th of the campaign. Both Kuznetsov and Battaglia garnered their second helpers of the contest.
Mississippi held the Gulls to three shots in the middle stanza, tying the lowest output for a Sea Wolves opponent this season.
Late in the third, San Diego pulled it goaltender for the extra attacker. Pederson, the ECHL goal scoring leader, wired a snap shot from the right wing circle to score shelf with 12 seconds remaining in regulation for his league-leading 36th of the season. Samy Nasreddine and Mike Garrow earned assists.
After a scoreless overtime, the game went to the shootout and Mississippi scored three straight goals from Chris Cava, Steffon Walby and Jim Baxter on Koenig to salt away the win. Meanwhile, Gardner stopped Deschatelets, Pederson and Greg Barber to preserve the victory.
Mississippi failed to convert on two power play opportunities, while San Diego went 1-for-2. Sea Wolves outshot the Gulls 25-21.
Additional Notes: In the only fight of the night, Roger Maxwell had the upper hand on the Gulls� Sandro Sbrocca. Maxwell took the ECHL lead in major penalties with 22 and his 304 penalty minutes also leads the league.
The Sea Wolves continue their homestand with games at 7:35 p.m. both Friday and Saturday against the Texas Wildcatters as the battle for the Nextel Cup resumes at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Promotions on Friday include 2-for-1 military, sponsored by Keesler Federal Credit Union. On Saturday, there are $2 drafts and $2 hotdogs from 6:30-8:30 p.m. In addition, the first 1,500 fans receive player cards and there will be a Mardi Gras "Parade On Ice" featured in the second intermission.
On Friday, the broadcast get underway at 7:20 p.m. with the Nextel Pregame Show on ESPN Radio WXBD-AM 1490 and online at msseawolves.com.
Saturday�s game can be heard 15 minutes before the opening faceoff starting with the Nextel Pregame Show on WTNI-AM 1640 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, online at ticketmaster.com and by calling (228) 594-3707.
--- Box Score ---
DATE - 02/17/04 San Diego (2) at Mississippi (3) SO
SCORE BY PERIODS
San Diego 1 0 1 0--2
Mississippi 0 2 0 1--3
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, San Diego-Deschatelets 13 (power play) (Pederson) 7:38. Penalties: Maxwell, MIS (Elbowing), 7:01.
SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Mississippi-Dumont 24 (Battaglia; Kuznetsov) 4:46. 3, Mississippi-Dumont 25 (Battaglia; Kuznetsov) 8:23. Penalties: Maxwell, MIS (Unsportsmanlike Cond), 9:48. Tibbetts, SDG (Unsportsmanlike Cond), 9:48. Maxwell, MIS (Fighting, Major), 9:48. Sbrocca, SDG (Fighting, Major), 9:48. Cousineau, SDG (Interference), 12:03. Nourislamov, SDG (High sticking, Double minor), 15:30. O'Rourke, MIS (Holding), 17:47.
THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 4, San Diego-Pederson 36 (Nasreddine; Garrow) 19:48. Penalties: None.
OVERTIME -- Scoring: None. Penalties: Deschatelets, SDG (Ten minute misc.), 5:00.
SHOTS ON GOAL
San Diego 9 3 8 1--21
Mississippi 9 10 2 4--25
Power Play Conversions: San Diego - 1-of-2, Mississippi - 0-of-2.
Goalies: San Diego-Koenig (25 shots, 23 saves; record: 24-6-6). Mississippi-Gardner (21 shots, 19 saves; record: 19-11-3).
A: 2136. Referee: Jamie Koharski. Linesmen: Jones; Stanton.
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