BILOXI, Miss. � Mississippi�s Phil Sauve made 23 saves, while Bates Battaglia and Travis Lisabeth scored first period goals to lift the Sea Wolves to a 2-1 triumph over the Victoria Salmon Kings at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
�Sauve put the team on his shoulders tonight,� Mississippi coach Bob Woods said. �We need to be more intense and physical as a team. Overall it wasn�t the type of hockey that we want to play. I�ll be looking for a better effort at home on Friday against Louisiana.�
Mississippi (34-22-6, 74 points) opened the score at 5:17 of the first period with the Battaglia brothers combining on a goal. Anthony Battaglia, who is 25-years-old sent a pass ahead for his 29-year-old brother Bates Battaglia, who snapped a shot from the low right circle beating goaltender Robert Muntain for his third of the season.
The Sea Wolves went ahead 2-0 on the power-play. Lisabeth stole the puck in close and deposited his 19th of the season, an unassisted tally at the 19:06 mark of the opening stanza.
Victoria (13-48-5, 31 points) cut the margin in half at 12:45 of the second. Mark Smith netted his fourth goal of the campaign by re-directing a left point shot from Kurtis Dulle over the left shoulder of goaltender Phil Sauve. Ryan Finnerty also picked up an assist.
In the third, Sauve was spectacular stopping all 13 to hold off the Salmon Kings and improve his record to 10-3-2.
Mississippi went 1-for-7 on the power play, while Victoria converted on 1-of-8 chances with the man advantage. Sea Wolves outshot the Salmon Kings 27-24.
Additional notes: Prior to the game as a tribute to Victoria, the only ECHL team based in Canada, Meggan Gray performed a rendition of the Canadian National Anthem � Nina Salib did the honors of the American National Anthem.
The Sea Wolves remain at home for a game at 7:35 p.m. on Friday against the Louisiana IceGators at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Promotions for the game consist of Military 2-for-1, sponsored by Keesler Federal Credit Union, which offers all military personnel, active or retired, two tickets for the price of one by showing military identification at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office. It�s also the final Cellular South / WXXV Fox 25 Honor Roll Night, offering a free coupon to each student from Kindergarten to Sixth Grade in Harrison, Hancock, Jackson and Stone Counties.
Individual tickets for Friday�s game can be purchased at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling (228) 385-2600 and online at ticketmaster.com.
Watch the live web telecast for $6, courtesy of B2 Networks, online at msseawolves.com. Listen live on flagship radio station WGCM-AM 1240, or online at msseawolves.com, courtesy of Teamline. The pregame show gets underway 15 minutes before each game.
Flex packs, discounted groups tickets, birthday packages and fundraiser opportunities are available by calling (228) 275-WOLF or online at msseawolves.com.
Season ticket packages for 2005-06, the 10th Anniversary Season of the Sea Wolves, are on sale now by calling (228) 275-WOLF. Ask about the �Early Bird Special.�
--- Box Score ---
SCORE BY PERIODS
Victoria 0 1 0--1
Mississippi 2 0 0--2
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Mississippi-Battaglia 3 (Battaglia) 5:17. 2,
Mississippi-Lisabeth 19 (game winner) (power play) (unassisted)
19:06. Penalties: BENCH, VIC served by Elliott (Too many men), 1:41.
Mastad, MIS (Interference), 12:29. Wade, VIC (Hooking), 13:30.
Dexter, VIC (Cross checking), 18:07.
SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Victoria-Smith 4 (power play) (Dulle;
Finnerty) 12:45. Penalties: Campbell, MIS (Tripping), 3:10. BENCH,
VIC served by Campbell (Too many men), 5:52. Elliott, VIC (Fighting,
Major), 7:41. Greenough, MIS (Fighting, Major), 7:41. Evangelista,
MIS (Holding), 8:06. Dumont, MIS (Hooking), 11:55. Finnerty, VIC
(Roughing), 13:57. Smith, VIC (Slashing), 14:40. Ellis-Toddington,
MIS (High sticking, Double minor), 20:00.
THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: Campbell, MIS (Roughing),
0:21. Elliott, VIC (Tripping), 6:39. Greenough, MIS (Interference),
6:53. Elliott, VIC (Fighting, Major), 12:35. Cava, MIS (Fighting,
Major), 12:35.
SHOTS ON GOAL
Victoria 4 7 13--24
Mississippi 15 10 2--27
Power Play Conversions: Victoria - 1 of 8, Mississippi - 1 of 7.
Goalies: Victoria-Muntain (27 shots, 25 saves; record: 1-2-0).
Mississippi-Sauve (24 shots, 23 saves; record: 10-3-2).
A: 2743. Referee: J. Koharski. Linesmen: Ross; Wright.
