LAFAYETTE, La. � Louisiana�s number one ranked power play converted twice and goaltender Derek Gustafson made 27 saves to backstop the IceGators to a 4-0 victory over the Mississippi Sea Wolves.
Mississippi falls six points behind Louisiana for first place in the Central Division, with the IceGators holding three games in hand.
�We have to forget about it,� said Sea Wolves� Bob Woods, who coached his 200th career pro game, all with Mississippi, bringing his all-time record to 117-68-15 for a .623 win percentage. �We had opportunities but give them credit. Both teams had injuries and call ups. We have to find a way to bounce back tomorrow at Texas.�
The teams skated to a scoreless first period. Both clubs had two power play opportunities but were denied by Sea Wolves goaltender Sean Matile and IceGators netminder Gustafson. Mississippi outshot Louisiana in the opening stanza 10-6.
In the second period, Louisiana (37-14-2) outshot Mississippi 22-6 and got rolling at the 1:08 mark. Ben Storey sailed a shot from the point over the right shoulder of Matile for his 16th tally of the season, to lead all ECHL defensemen. Kenny Corupe collected the lone assist.
At 14:13, the IceGators went up 2-0. Ed McGrane hustled after a loose puck and fired a sharp angle shot from the goal line, sneaking it by Matile. McGrane�s 13th of the campaign was assisted by Milt Mastad and Rod Sarich.
Mississippi�s (32-18-6) Roger Maxwell tried to spark the Sea Wolves by manhandling Josh Bennett, who was going up against his former team for the first time as a member of the IceGators.
Louisiana�s number one ranked power play gave the IceGators even more cushion. Alex Materukhin unleashed a one-timer from the left circle at 18:05, netting his 18th tally of the year. Storey and Sarich garnered helpers.
Before the second ended, Louisiana�s Jason Hamilton picked up 19 minutes in penalties capped off with a fight taking the upper hand on Jason Kean, Mississippi�s only rookie.
In the third, Armands Berzins swatted home a power play goal in the slot for his 10th of the year to round out the scoring. Semir Ben-Amor picked up an assist and Storey registered his third point of the game.
Sea Wolves� Austin Miller had the best chance midway through the final stanza, but Gustafson robbed him in close to preserve his fourth shutout of the season.
In the final minute, Mississippi�s Maxwell squared off with Hamilton to a draw.
Mississippi went 0-for-6 on the power play, while Louisiana went 2-for-8. IceGators outshot the Sea Wolves 36-27.
Additional Notes: Sea Wolves forward Dwayne Blais appeared in his 200th pro game ... Maxwell's 18 penalty minutes gave him Mississippi's all-time lead with 818, one more minute than Patrick Rochon.
Mississippi travels to Beaumont, Texas to take on the Wildcatters at 7:05 p.m. tomorrow. Listen live beginning at 6:50 p.m. with the Nextel Pregame Show on WTNI-AM 1640 and online at msseawolves.com.
The Sea Wolves next home contest is at 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday against the Pensacola Ice Pilots at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Richie Jones, a local country music entertainer, will sing the National Anthem. 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, by calling (228) 594-3707 and online at ticketmaster.com.
--- Box Score ---
DATE - 02/27/04 Mississippi (0) at Louisiana (4)
SCORE BY PERIODS
Mississippi 0 0 0--0
Louisiana 0 3 1--4
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: Blais, MIS (High sticking), 2:00. Maxwell, MIS (Unsportsmanlike Cond), 7:16. Materukhin, LA (Roughing), 12:03. Brown, LA (Hooking), 17:47.
SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Louisiana-Storey 16 (game winner) (Corupe) 1:08. 2, Louisiana-McGrane 13 (Mastad; Sarich) 14:13. 3, Louisiana- Materukhin 18 (power play) (Storey; Sarich) 18:05. Penalties: Evangelista, MIS (Slashing), 2:30. Bennett, LA (Fighting, Major), 15:29. Maxwell, MIS (Fighting, Major), 15:29. O'Rourke, MIS (Hooking), 17:18. Hamilton, LA (Fighting, Major), 18:40. Kean, MIS (Fighting, Major), 18:40. Hamilton, LA (Ten minute misc.), 18:40. Kean, MIS (Ten minute misc.), 18:40. Hamilton, LA (High sticking), 18:40. Kean, MIS (Instigator), 18:40. Hamilton, LA served by Berzins (High sticking), 18:40.
THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 4, Louisiana-Berzins 10 (power play) (Corupe; Ben-Amor) 14:59. Penalties: Corupe, LA (Hooking), 7:27. Storey, LA (Hooking), 10:52. Brown, LA (Unsportsmanlike Cond), 11:25. Maxwell, MIS (Elbowing, Roughing, Double minor), 11:25. Maxwell, MIS served by Lupandin (Roughing), 11:25. Rochon, MIS (Cross checking), 14:59. Fortunus, LA (Roughing), 15:36. Dumont, MIS (Roughing, Obstr goalie interfe, Double minor), 15:36. McGrane, LA (Hooking), 15:43. Miller, MIS (Cross checking), 16:25. Vickers, LA (Hooking), 19:04. Hamilton, LA (Fighting, Major), 19:05. Maxwell, MIS (Fighting, Major), 19:05.
SHOTS ON GOAL
Mississippi 10 6 11--27
Louisiana 6 22 9--37
Power Play Conversions: Mississippi - 0-of-6, Louisiana - 2-of-8.
Goalies: Mississippi-Matile (37 shots, 33 saves; record: 12-5-3). Louisiana-Gustafson (27 shots, 27 saves; record: 22-9-0).
A: 3777. Referee: Thul. Linesmen: Ferguson; Stanton.
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