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\'Gators salvage week with late rally, win vs. Arkansas

January 20, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release


Week in review: ARK 4, LA 3; JCK 5, LA 4; LA 2, ARK 1 (OT)

The IceGators remained in a first place tie with Mississippi (56 points) heading into the All-Star break by the slimmest of margins, getting a late goal from Shawn McNeil and an overtime tally by captain Bruce Richardson for a 2-1 win over Arkansas on Sunday at the Cajundome. The victory followed up a pair of one-goal losses last week.

McNeil and Richardson helped rescue a fine effort by Kyle Kettles in net. The rookie under contract with NHL Minnesota the final 29 shots he faced, moving to 8-4-4 on the season.

Former IceGator Jason Saal made 31 saves and Mike Sandbeck scored on Arkansas' first shot of the game as the RiverBlades were able to extend their unbeaten streak to a season high-tying eight games (5-0-3).

McNeil's game-tying goal was his ninth in 10 games against Saal, his former teammate, this season. Richardson won the draw back to Cal Benazic, whose shot was turned aside by Saal. McNeil's rebound attempt was sent into the corner by Saal, a move that was the netminder's undoing. McNeil tenaciously tracked down the puck and banked it off Saal's right skate into the net from along the boards for his team-best 23rd goal of the season. The tally came with 51.1 seconds left, just six ticks after the IceGators pulled Kettles.

Richardson's 19th tally of the season was his third game-winner. John DePourcq got the puck back to Rod Sarich, whose shot was deflected in front of the net by Richardson.

The victory was welcomed after an uncharacteristic 5-4 loss to Jackson at home on Friday, when the IceGators failed to hold a two-goal lead in the third period.

Mike Vigilante's second goal of the third period proved to be the game-winner with 4:33 left for Jackson. Reagan Rome, Dave Stewart and Andrei Lupandin each added two assists for the Bandits, who started off a 20-game, two-month road trip.

Bobby Brown scored twice and McNeil added three helpers for the IceGators.

Tuesday, Terry Marchant and Jason Bermingham each scored two goals for Arkansas, which held off Louisiana 4-3 at ALLTEL Arena, ending Kettles' shutout streak in the process. Saal made 33 saves for the third-place RiverBlades.

Daniel Goneau, Nathan Rempel and McNeil each scored for the IceGators.

Coming attractions:

MON, All-Star Skills, Estero, Fla., 6:30 p.m.

Rookie Rod Sarich will be competing in the KOHO Hardest Shot contest and the Itech Breakaway Relay.

TUE, All-Star Game, Estero, Fla., 6:30 p.m.

Rod Sarich is Louisiana's lone representative. You can watch or listen to the game via www.echl.com.

FRI, LA vs. MIS, 7:05 p.m.

The IceGators and Sea Wolves meet for the 10th time, and for the eighth time the winner will be in first place. The teams enter the week tied atop the Southwest Division with 56 points, with Louisiana going 6-2-1 against Mississippi. Please note that the That 70's Night Poster giveaway has been postponed until February 19.

SAT, LA @ PEN, 7:05 p.m.

The IceGators travel to Pensacola, where they haven't won in their last two attempts.

SUN, LA vs. PEN, 2:05 p.m.

"Super Bowl Sunday"

Neither team gets any time to rest, with a five-hour road trip from Pensacola, then an early faceoff due to the Super Bowl. Former IceGator Louis Dumont always draws a crowd when he returns to the Cajundome.

It's when he does his best work - Shawn McNeil leads the IceGators with 10 first-period goals, but late in the game, he's been downright deadly. McNeil has four of Louisiana's seven extra attacker goals this season, not counting a Brown goal on a delayed penalty. Cal Benazic has two extra attacker goals, while Richardson has the team's other one. The IceGators, on the other hand, have allowed just one late extra attacker goal.

We've got them right where we want them - Sunday night marked the fifth time this season that Louisiana has trailed with five minutes left in regulation and has picked up at least a point. The IceGators are now 3-8-2 when trailing with five minutes left, including a 3-2-1 mark at home. The IceGators are 4-8-2 when trailing after two periods, including a 3-2-1 mark at home. In 2001-02, Louisiana was an impressive 8-9-1 when trailing after two periods.

Somewhere Tamburro is popping the champagne - Mike Tamburro undoubtedly was doing his best 1972 Miami Dolphins impression Sunday night, when the IceGators scored late to ruin Jason Saal's shutout. Tamburro remains the only goalie ever to shut out Louisiana at the Cajundome, having done it three times. (Miami remains the only NFL team to go through a season undefeated). Saal became the second goaltender in 20 days to have a shutout ruined late. Cal Benazic scored twice in the final minute of the New Year's Eve game against Baton Rouge's Niklas Sundberg to force overtime, where the IceGators won 3-2. Saal had stopped the first 28 shots sent his way Sunday.

Welcome back - The IceGators welcomed center John DePourcq back into the lineup Sunday. DePourcq had missed 28 of the last 29 games due to injury. He picked up an assist on Bruce Richardson's game-winning goal, DePourcq's first point since a helper November 3 at Mississippi.

Richardson's point total tied for second in ECHL - Bruce Richardson hits the All-Star break with 62 points (19g, 43a), tied for second behind Roanoke's Jason Jaffray (66 points) for the league scoring lead. Richardson, whose 43 helpers lead the ECHL, is trying to join John Spoltore as the only IceGators to lead the league in scoring at season's end.

Just second win when scoring two - The IceGators' 2-1 overtime win Sunday against Arkansas was just their second win this season when scoring two or fewer goals. The victory moved Louisiana to 2-5-3 in that situation. The other win came in the form of a 2-1 decision at Mississippi on November 19.

Impressive when outshooting at home - The IceGators' win Sunday moved them to 16-7-2 overall, and an impressive 10-1-1 mark at home, when outshooting their opponents. Louisiana's only regulation loss in that situation came November 7 against Arkansas, when it dropped a 5-2 decision despite outshooting the RiverBlades 38-31.

Still working overtime - The IceGators lead the ECHL with 15 overtime/shootout games, two more than any other team. Louisiana is 4-4 in overtime games and 3-4 in contests decided in a shootout. The IceGators' franchise record for extra time games is 18, set in the 1999-2000 season.

Here we go again - Louisiana has seen each of its last three games decided by one goal, the fourth streak of at least three games this season. The IceGators played a franchise-record eight straight one-goal games from December 6-17, including six overtime/shootout games.

Losing lead is uncharacteristic - Friday night, the IceGators failed to pick up at least a point when leading after two periods for just the fifth time in the Dave Farrish era. Louisiana dropped to 88-5-4 in that situation, losing in regulation for the first time since December 29, 2001.

Player of the Week Nominees

Left wing Shawn McNeil -

Had six points (2g, 4a) in leading IceGators to 1-2-0 mark...Capped week with game-tying goal with 51.1 seconds left in 2-1 overtime win over ARK...Picked up season-high three assists in 5-4 loss to JCK on Friday...Had goal and assist in 4-3 loss at ARK on Tuesday...Leads IceGators with 23 goals and is second on the team with 53 points...His 30 assists are third on the squad...His point total ranks him 11th in ECHL, 13 behind leader.

Goaltender Kyle Kettles -

Went 1-2-0 with a 3.31 goals against average and a ..894 save percentage last week...Finished week with strong 29-save performance in 2-1 overtime win against ARK...Made 32 saves in 5-4 loss to JCK on Friday...Turned aside 23 shots in road loss against ARK on Tuesday...Is 8-4-4 with a 2.48 goals against average and a .918 save percentage...His goals against average is tied for third in the ECHL, just .06 behind leader.

IceGators' Practice schedule:

Monday - Off

Tuesday - Off

Wednesday - Off

Thursday - 10-11:30, Cajundome

Friday - 10-11, Cajundome, vs. MIS 7:05

Saturday - at PEN 7:05

Sunday - vs. PEN 2:05

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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