COLUMBIA, S.C. � Barrie Moore scored his second goal of the game in overtime to give the Columbia Inferno a sudden 3-2 victory over the Mississippi Sea Wolves in Game 2 of the Southern Conference Finals.
Columbia leads the best-of-seven series, 2 games to 0.
�We had some good chances in overtime but it didn�t happen,� Sea Wolves coach Bob Woods said. �The Inferno won the games that they were suppose to at their home. We are looking to bounce back beginning with Game 3 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum on Sunday.�
Mississippi opened the score 50 seconds into the game. Cody Bowtell, who was celebrating his 29th birthday, skated up the left wing and dropped a pass for David Cornacchia. He unleashed a wrist shot over the left shoulder of Patrick Couture for his second of the postseason.
Columbia capitalized on the power play at 14:04. Darrell Hay fired a slap shot from the high slot, re-directed by Shawn Wansborough, tying the score 1-1. It was the third goal in two games for Wansborough and his fifth of the playoffs.
Through 40 minutes of action, the Inferno held a large territorial advantage, outshooting the Sea Wolves 34-9.
Both goaltenders were terrific. Mississippi�s Greg Gardner was superb making several dynamite stops.
Meanwhile, Columbia�s Couture turned away Kent Davyduke on a partial breakaway midway through the period.
In the third, Columbia took the lead at the 1:02 mark. Rejean Stringer centered for Barrie Moore and deposited his fifth of the postseason, giving the Inferno a 2-1 lead.
Inferno were looking for an insurance goal. Columbia�s Chris Pittman had a chance, breaking in all alone, however Gardner robbed him with a left pad save.
Mississippi pulled its goaltender with 1:32 remaining in regulation. The Sea Wolves had the extra attacker and the puck came to rookie Kent Davyduke at the side, he buried his second of the postseason to knot the game 2-2.
In overtime, Inferno�s Moore was left alone in front and scored his second of the game to end the game in dramatic fashion at 9:08.
Gardner stopped 55-of-58 shots, dropping his postseason record to 6-2. Couture made 13 saves on 15 shots, improving to 7-0 in the 2003 Kelly Cup Playoffs.
Mississippi failed to convert on six power play chances. Columbia went 1-for-7 with the man advantage.
Additional notes: Prior to the game, the Sea Wolves activated forward Stu Pietersma from the injured reserve and placed forward Josh Bennett on the injured reserve.
The series shifts back to the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi for Game 3 on Sunday at 5:05 p.m. CT.
Individual playoff tickets for Mississippi are available at all Ticketmaster locations, the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office and by calling 228-594-3707.
Sea Wolves season tickets for 2003-04 are on sale starting at $21 per month. Call the Sea Wolves hockey office and ask about payment plans at (228) 275-WOLF.
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