BILOXI, Miss. � With the game starting one hour and 35 minutes late due to a flat tire on the Texas bus, Mississippi's Travis Lisabeth scored twice to lead the Sea Wolves to their fourth straight victory, sending the Wildcatters team record three-game win streak to a screeching halt, in a 4-2 final at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
�I liked our effort all the way around,� Mississippi coach Bob Woods said. �The line of Lisabeth, Jay Legault and Nick Greenough was real strong tonight and that line will be key heading towards the postseason. It�s going to be a tough weekend with three straight road games. We�ll try to keep the streak going.�
Mississippi (37-22-6, 80 points) opened the score at the 11:09 mark of the first period. Stephen Greeley scooped up a loose puck in close and beat goaltender Phil Osaer by depositing his third goal of the season. Assists went to Kerry Ellis-Toddington and Bates Battaglia.
The Sea Wolves made it 2-0 on the power-play in the second. Lisabeth netted a goal for a fourth consecutive game for his 22nd goal of the campaign set up by Louis Dumont and Legault.
Texas (15-41-10, 40 points) had a great opportunity to get on the scoreboard midway through the game. Wildcatters� Kevin Cooper was robbed by goaltender Randy Petruk, who reached back and kept the puck out of the net with his glove.
Mississippi stretched its lead to three in the final minute of the middle stanza. Legault jammed in a loose puck in front to collect his 18th goal of the year and third over the last two games. Greenough and Austin Miller garnered assists.
The Wildcatters hit stride at 4:35 of the third. John Snowden cut towards the net and slipped a backhand shot past Petruk for his team-leading 27th of the season. Andrew Ianiero and Simon Mangos had the helpers.
Lisabeth put the game away at the 11:40 mark. Lisabeth potted his second goal of the night and 23rd of the season on a shot from the right circle set up by Legault and Miller.
In the final minute of regulation, Joe Pereira notched his second of the year with 56 seconds to go to cut the margin in half. Ty Hennes and Mangos had the assists.
Mississippi converted on 1-of-2 power play chances, while Texas went 0-for-4. Sea Wolves outshot the Wildcatters 40-26.
Additional notes: Prior to the game fans were treated to the movie "Miracle" during the one hour and 35-minute delay ... During the second intermission, 11-year-old figure skater Madison Williams, who is from Finley, Ohio put on a performance. She is the granddaughter of Sea Wolves assistant equipment manager Bob Williams and his wife Angie.
Mississippi takes to the road for three straight games beginning at 7:05 p.m. on Friday at Lafayette, Louisiana against the IceGators at the Cajundome. 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 starts 15 minutes prior to the opening face-off.
The Sea Wolves next home game is at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5 against Texas at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
Individual tickets for regular season home games plus Kelly Cup Playoff tickets are on sale at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling (228) 385-2600 and online at ticketmaster.com.
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
Texas 0 0 2--2
Mississippi 1 2 1--4
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Mississippi-Greeley 2 (Ellis-Toddington;
Battaglia) 11:09. Penalties: Greeley, MIS (Hooking), 4:20.
SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Mississippi-Lisabeth 22 (power play)
(Dumont; Legault) 9:38. 3, Mississippi-Legault 18 (game winner)
(Greenough; Miller) 19:21. Penalties: Pereira, TEX (Fighting, Major),
2:51. Greenough, MIS (Fighting, Major), 2:51. Demone, TEX (Slashing),
8:38. Cava, MIS (Slashing, Double minor), 15:01.
THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 4, Texas-Snowden 27 (Ianiero; Mangos) 4:35. 5,
Mississippi-Lisabeth 23 (Legault; Miller) 11:40. 6, Texas-Pereira 2
(Hennes; Mangos) 19:04. Penalties: Belanger, TEX (Roughing), 1:27.
Snowden, TEX (Roughing), 5:17. Greenough, MIS (Roughing), 5:17.
Cava, MIS (Tripping), 14:38. Fouts, TEX (Fighting, Major), 14:38.
Greenough, MIS (Fighting, Major), 14:38. Fouts, TEX (Interference),
14:38. Sonnenberg, TEX (Fighting, Major), 14:52. Martone, MIS
(Fighting, Major), 14:52.
SHOTS ON GOAL
Texas 4 9 13--26
Mississippi 16 16 8--40
Power Play Conversions: Texas - 0 of 4, Mississippi - 1 of 2.
Goalies: Texas-Osaer (40 shots, 36 saves; record: 9-26-3).
Mississippi-Petruk (26 shots, 24 saves; record: 5-2-1).
A: 3012. Referee: Britt. Linesmen: Ross; Deliman.
