LAFAYETTE, La. � Mississippi�s Steffon Walby scored two goals and goaltender Greg Gardner tied the Sea Wolves career record for goaltender wins, by making 36 saves in a 3-1 victory over the Louisiana IceGators at the Cajundome.
With the win, Mississippi remains in second place in the Central Division and moves four points ahead of third place Pensacola, which was idle.
�It was a great team effort tonight,� Sea Wolves director of player development Chuck Thuss said. �Gardner played his best game of the season and Walby stepped up his game. There were a lot of guys that I could mention. We�re pleased with this victory.�
Mississippi (38-19-7) opened the score at the 3:24 mark. Steffon Walby buried a rebound in front, getting the puck by Frederic Cloutier, for his 29th goal of the season. Brent Gauvreau and Andrew Proskurnicki picked up assists.
Louisiana (46-18-2) poured 18 shots on Sea Wolves goaltender Greg Gardner, who stopped them all in the first period helping Mississippi to its 1-0 lead after 20 minutes.
In the second, the IceGators continued to take the play to Mississippi. Josh Mizerek let go with a right point shot and solved Gardner on the 30th shot of the game at 11:49. Mizerek�s third tally of the campaign tied the score 1-1 with assists awarded to Jamie Johnson and Konstantin Kalmikov.
Later in the middle stanza, Walby got behind the Louisiana defense, was hauled down from behind, but got away a shot and beat Cloutier, only to have the net become dislodged before the puck entered the net. Referee Jamie Koharski immediately called a penalty shot. Walby took the shot and made a move in close, but Cloutier made a pad save to keep the game deadlocked.
Late in the second, Louisiana�s Bruce Richardson, who was playing in his first game back with the IceGators since being assigned by Hershey of the American Hockey League, got his stick up in the face of Austin Miller. Richardson was assessed a double-minor penalty for high sticking.
In the third, Gauvreau re-directed a Steve O�Rourke point shot at 8:11 for the eventual game-winner. Proskurnicki garnered his second assist of the game.
In the final minute, Louisiana pulled Cloutier in favor of the extra attacker, only to backfire, as Walby notched his team-tying 30th goal of the year in the empty cage. Sergei Kuznetsov and Kerry Ellis-Toddington collected helpers.
The win for Gardner was his 26th of the season and 58th of his Mississippi career, tying Chuck Thuss for the all-time goaltender victories in team history.
Mississippi went 0-for-4 on the power play, while Louisiana, ranked first in the ECHL with the man advantage, failed to convert on five chances. IceGators outshot the Sea Wolves 37-33.
Additional Notes: The ECHL Kelly Cup was on hand as part of the inaugural Kelly Cup Tour � Dwayne Blais played in his 100th game of his Mississippi career � Sea Wolves� Lucas Drake, who played four years at Western Michigan, made his pro debut finishing with one shot on net � The Sea Wolves Wolf Pack Booster Club had a bus load of fans in attendance.
Mississippi continues its three-game road trip at 7:05 p.m. tomorrow against Texas Wildcatters at Ford Arena in Beaumont. Listen live at 6:50 p.m. with the Nextel Pregame Show on WTNI-AM 1640 and online at msseawolves.com.
The Sea Wolves next home game is at 7:35 p.m. on Friday versus Louisiana at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. The game promotion features 2-for-1 military night, sponsored by Keesler Federal Credit Union. The game broadcast starts underway at 7:20 p.m. with the Nextel Pregame Show on WTNI-AM 1640 and online at msseawolves.com.
Tickets for the IceGators game can be purchased at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling (228) 594-3707 and online at ticketmaster.com.
Season tickets for 2004-05 are on sale now! Discounted group tickets and fundraiser opportunities are also available for this season by calling (228) 275-WOLF.
--- Box Score ---
DATE - 03/19/04 Mississippi (3) at Louisiana (1)
SCORE BY PERIODS
Mississippi 1 0 2--3
Louisiana 0 1 0--1
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Mississippi-Walby 29 (Gauvreau; Proskurnicki) 3:54. Penalties: Ben-Amor, LA (Roughing), 5:29. Ben-Amor, LA (Hooking), 11:25. Kuznetsov, MIS (Unsportsmanlike Cond), 11:25. Rochon, MIS (High sticking), 14:50.
SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Louisiana-Mizerek 3 (Johnson; Kalmikov) 11:49. Penalties: Walby, MIS (Tripping), 2:52. O'Rourke, MIS (Interference), 4:09. Dumont, MIS (Holding stick), 15:04. Richardson, LA (High sticking, Double minor), 18:46.
THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Mississippi-Gauvreau 21 (game winner) (O'Rourke; Proskurnicki) 8:11. 4, Mississippi-Walby 30 (empty net) (Kuznetsov; Ellis-Toddington) 19:38. Penalties: Richardson, LA (Unsportsmanlike Cond), 3:41. Lisabeth, MIS (Tripping), 13:21.
SHOTS ON GOAL Mississippi 8 7 18--33 Louisiana 18 16 3--37
Power Play Conversions: Mississippi - 0-of-4, Louisiana - 0-of-5.
Goalies: Mississippi-Gardner (37 shots, 36 saves; record: 26-13-3). Louisiana-Gustafson (0 shots, 0 saves); Cloutier (32 shots, 30 saves; record: 20-7-2).
A: 4086. Referee: Koharski. Linesmen: Jones; Stanton.
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