IceBears Cling to 3-2 Win over IceGators
March 28, 2015 - SPHL (SPHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release
LAFAYETTE, La--For the second night in a row, a slow start between the Louisiana IceGators and the Knoxville IceBears gave way to a late scoring rush.
This time, the IceBears came out on top.
Knoxville controlled the pace late in the second period and early in the first period to take a 3-2 victory over the IceGators. The victory clinches the fifth seed in the SPHL playoffs for the IceBears, while the IceGators will settle for the sixth seed.
The IceGators will open the President's Cup Playoffs Wednesday night when they take on the Peoria Rivermen in the Cajundome. Game time is set for 6:35 p.m.
"I thought we played an excellent game tonight," said IceGators head coach Drew Omicioli. "It was our best game of the weekend. I thought it was a true playoff-style game. Unfortunately, in hockey games like that, no matter how many shots you have, the end result depends on execution.
"I thought the guys battled extremely hard. We hit our goal of twelve or more shots per period. Tonight, (Knoxville goalie Braely) Torris stole one from us."
Torris played his best game of the season, stopping 39 of 41 Louisiana shots, including a number of clutch saves in the waning minutes of the game.
The IceBears took a 1-0 lead at the 11:18 mark of the second period when Sy Nutkevitch tipped in a Ben Power shot. Francis Drolet also assisted on the power play goal.
That goal was a point of controversy for the IceGators, who felt it should not have been allowed.
"There was a direct kicking motion, and you could hear it go off his skate," Omicioli said. "They said it went off his pants and into directly into the net. That's not possible."
Matthew Paton made it a 2-0 game when he scored off a Ryan Salvis feed at the 3:14 mark of the third period. Ryan Hill also assisted on the score.
Dennis Sicard gave Knoxville a three-goal lead when he tipped in a rebound of his own shot at the 5:53 mark of the third period.
The IceGators attempted a late comeback.
Matt Viola scored twice, both on power plays, in the final ten minutes of the game. The first came off a shot from the left point after taking a feed from Jeremy Boyer with 10:20 left in the game. The second came came when he tipped in a Jake Hauswirth shot with 49 seconds left in the regulation.
Viola appeared to have tied the game and recorded a hat trick with 34 seconds left in the contest. The goal light flashed, and the referee initially signaled a goal. However, the score was later waved off when the referee ruled that the puck did not cross the goal line.
That decision did not sit well with the IceGators bench.
"(The referee) came over, and I told him to get away," Omicioli said.. "I didn't want an explanation. Hauswirth said he saw it go in and that he was 100-percent positive it went in. It wouldn't have mattered because we needed a regulation win to take fifth place."
Despite the loss, Omicioli is optimistic going into the playoffs. His team is very familiar with Peoria, and he says that will benefit them heading into next week's playoff series.
"Now we know who we're playing," Omicioli said. "We match up extremely well against Peoria, and I'm happy that we have Game One here.
"Our game plan is to go out and be extremely physical and energetic. Everything will depend on execution. If we play Wednesday like we did tonight, the outcome will be different. Peoria is a great team with a great record, but I feel that they are definitely beatable."
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SPHL Stories from March 28, 2015
- IceBears Cling to 3-2 Win over IceGators - Louisiana IceGators
- RiverKings Slip to Rivermen, Finish in 4th Place - Mississippi RiverKings
- Ice Flyers Earn Home Ice and Take on RiverKings in First Round - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Ice Flyers Earn Home Ice and Take on RiverKings in First Round - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- SPHL Announces President's Cup First Round Schedule - SPHL
- Rivermen Win Regular Season Finale, Face Louisiana in Playoffs - Peoria Rivermen
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