Third Period Power Surge Poisons Fireantz
Published on November 14, 2009 under SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi Surge News Release
BILOXI, MS -- Despite finding themselves at a two-goal deficit three different times, the Mississippi Surge battled back with three power-play goals in the third period to grab a 5-4 win over the Fayetteville FireAntz at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum on Saturday night.
Fayetteville struck first when Chris Leveille fed the puck out to Rob Sich, who had snuck behind the Surge defense and broke in alone on Mississippi goaltender Bill Zaniboni, who made his first start. Sich snapped a wrist shot past Zaniboni's blocker at 1:08 for a 1-0 Fayetteville lead. The Antz grabbed a 2-0 lead when Bobby Reed's wrist shot from the left circle caught some of Zaniboni's equipment but not enough and squirted into the goal at 10:51.
The Surge drew back within one when Matthew Larke fed a pass back to Shane Wagner at the top of the left circle, who fired a high wrist shot past FireAntz netminder Guy St. Vincent at 16:34 of the first. Steve Cooke restored Fayetteville's two-goal lead with a power-play goal at 19:14 of the first.
Mike Richard's power-play goal at 9:49 of the second drew Mississippi within one. Chris Greene slid a pass to Richard, who waited for St. Vincent to make a move then deftly ripped a quick shot under the goaltenders' pads for his second goal of the season.
Corey Hessler lengthened Fayetteville's lead to 4-2 at the four-minute mark of the third period, firing a shot to the long side over the glove of Zaniboni on a three-on-one rush.
Three and a half minutes later, the FireAntz got into penalty trouble, and Mississippi cashed in with three unanswered power-play goals to grab a 5-4 lead. At the 9:15 mark with the Surge on a two-man advantage, Chris Greene's centering pass caromed off of the stick of St. Vincent and through his legs to cut the Fayetteville lead to one. Thirty-four seconds later, Tom Boudreau tapped in the rebound of Shane Wagner's shot from the left point to even the game at four-aside. With Fayetteville's Craig Geerlinks in the penalty box for interference, Jeff Bieber drove to the right post and hammered in the rebound of Tim Velemirovich's shot at 14:08 to give the Surge a 5-4 lead.
Bill Zaniboni made 30 saves to earn his first win in a Surge jersey, and the Mississippi power play was 4-for-7.
The Surge's next home game is next Thursday, November 19 against the Knoxville Ice Bears at 7:30 p.m. Every Thursday is Thirsty Thursday this season, with 12-oz. beers just $2 until the end of the first intermission! Get your tickets by calling (228) 287-PUCK!
SPHL Stories from November 14, 2009
- Third Period Power Surge Poisons Fireantz - Mississippi Surge
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