BEAUMONT, Texas � Mississippi�s Dwayne Blais scored two goals in the third period including the game-winner to lift the Sea Wolves to a 4-2 triumph over the Texas Wildcatters in front of 5,316 fans at Ford Arena.
Mississippi jumps two points closer to first place Louisiana, moving within four points of the top spot in the Central Division. The IceGators, which hold three games in hand on the Sea Wolves, fell 2-1 at Pensacola.
Sea Wolves continue to dominate the Nextel Cup standings in the season series against the Wildcatters, 18 points to 5.
�It was great to see the effort tonight,� said Sea Wolves coach Bob Woods. �I�m proud of the win and it�s even nicer to gain some ground in the process. Blais played great and it�s nice to see him get rewarded. It�s going to be a great game at home against Pensacola on Tuesday.�
Texas (16-34-5) started the scoring at 3:53 of the opening period. Clint Cabana fired a shot from the left point, Sea Wolves goaltender Greg Gardner made the initial stop, but Cory Morgan deposited the rebound for his 14th tally of the year. Martin Masa also had an assist.
Mississippi (33-18-6) answered at the 9:15 mark. Louis Dumont fed the puck in front for Steffon Walby, who sent a wrist shot over the glove of Davis Parley for his 24th marker of the campaign. The secondary helper went to Jim Baxter.
The Wildcatters grabbed the lead back again with a 2-on-1 break. John Snowden used Masa as a decoy, and snapped a quick shot past the stick side of Gardner. Snowden�s 18th of the season was an unassisted effort.
The Sea Wolves capitalized on a power play to pull even once again before the end of the stanza. Walby whipped a cross-ice pass through the crease to Dumont, who flipped in his team-leading 28th goal of the year at 16:58. Sergei Kuznetsov also drew an assist, which was his 150th career point with Mississippi.
The second period turn physical with three separate fights. Sea Wolves� Blais and Wildcatters� John Snowden tangled to an even bout. Mississippi�s Roger Maxwell had the upper hand on Adam Stefishen, who made his Wildcatters debut after being picked up in a trade with Fresno on Wednesday. The third fracas had Texas forward Ashlee Langdone taking it to the Sea Wolves� Sergei Kuznetsov.
In the third, Blais converted in close off a Roger Maxwell shot, depositing his 11th of the year at 8:54. The assist for Maxwell was the 50th of his pro career.
Gardner came up with two big saves on the penalty kill partway through the third, turning away Mark Jackson, who made his Texas debut after being acquired on Wednesday from the Fresno Falcons.
Final minute, Texas pulled Parley for the extra attacker. Walby fed a pass ahead for Blais, who had the empty net and capped off the scoring by tallying his second of the game. John Evangelista also earned an assist.
Mississippi converted on 1-of-8 power play opportunities, while Texas went scoreless on five chances with the man advantage. Sea Wolves outshot the Wildcatters 54-40.
The Sea Wolves return home for a 6:35 p.m. Tuesday tilt against the Pensacola Ice Pilots at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Richie Jones, a local country music entertainer, will sing the National Anthem. Listen live 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 - 02/28/04 Mississippi (4) at Texas (2)
SCORE BY PERIODS
Mississippi 2 0 2--4
Texas 2 0 0--2
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Texas-Morgan 14 (Cabana; Masa) 3:53. 2, Mississippi-Walby 24 (Baxter; Dumont) 9:15. 3, Texas-Snowden 18 (unassisted) 12:33. 4, Mississippi-Dumont 28 (power play) (Kuznetsov; Walby) 16:58. Penalties: MacInnis, TEX (Cross checking), 5:06. Cabana, TEX (Slashing), 5:49. Morgan, TEX (Hooking), 9:53. Cabana, TEX (Cross checking), 15:34.
SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: MacInnis, TEX (Hooking), 0:51. Stefishen, TEX (Cross checking), 3:18. Maxwell, MIS (Tripping), 6:07. Blais, MIS (Fighting, Major), 7:29. Snowden, TEX (Fighting, Major), 7:29. Langdone, TEX (Roughing), 7:29. Blais, MIS (Roughing), 7:29. Maxwell, MIS (Fighting, Major), 11:20. Stefishen, TEX (Fighting, Major), 11:20. Maxwell, MIS (Elbowing), 11:20. Langdone, TEX (Fighting, Major), 13:12. Kuznetsov, MIS (Fighting, Major), 13:12. Rochon, MIS (Cross checking), 13:12. Langdone, TEX (Roughing), 13:12. Blais, MIS (High sticking), 16:26. Snowden, TEX (Holding), 19:36.
THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Mississippi-Blais 11 (game winner) (Maxwell) 8:54. 6, Mississippi-Blais 12 (empty net) (Walby; Evangelista) 19:38. Penalties: Ellis-Toddington, MIS (Roughing), 0:57. Kean, MIS (Roughing), 1:10. Jackson, TEX (Cross checking), 2:55. Walby, MIS (High sticking), 12:23.
SHOTS ON GOAL
Mississippi 15 19 21--55
Texas 19 10 11--40
Power Play Conversions: Mississippi - 1-of-8, Texas - 0-of-5.
Goalies: Mississippi-Gardner (40 shots, 38 saves; record: 21-12-3). Texas-Parley (54 shots, 51 saves; record: 14-20-2).
A: 5316. Referee: Thul. Linesmen: Ferguson; Sotak.
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