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\'Gators win two more, tied for ECHL points lead

December 30, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release


Week in review: LA 3, JCK 2 (SO); LA 4, BR 3 (OT)

The IceGators won two more one-goal games last week, running their record to 20-7-7. Louisiana's 47 points are tied with Mississippi and Atlantic City for the most in the ECHL. The IceGators technically lead the Southwest Division over the Sea Wolves because they have two games in hand.

Louisiana, which now sports a four-game winning streak, won 3-2 in a shootout Jackson on Friday night, then overcame a big Baton Rouge comeback in Sunday's 4-3 overtime win at the Centroplex.

Daniel Goneau's goal 24 seconds into overtime lifted the IceGators to the win over the Kingfish on Sunday. Louisiana, which saw a two-goal lead disappear late in the third period, also got a goal and an assist from Bobby Brown and a goal each from Nathan Rempel and Cal Benazic.

Rempel's 16th goal of the season at the 11:49 mark of the third period made it 3-1 IceGators. Shortly after that, Louisiana had two apparent goals disallowed.

Then, with 2:47 left on the clock, Jerry Gernander scored to make it 3-2. With Louis Mass off for an illegal stick and Jeff Blair pulled for the extra attacker, Michael Kiesman knotted the game on a rebound with 4.3 seconds left.

But Goneau took a feed from Bruce Richardson (two assists) in overtime and beat Blair with a wrister to give Louisiana the victory.

Blair finished with 22 saves, while Kyle Kettles was terrific, stopping 35 shots - two off his season- and career-best - for Louisiana.

Friday, Rempel scored in the second period and added the deciding shootout goal, as the IceGators rallied from a two-goal deficit for a 3-2 road win over Jackson. Frederic Cloutier was spectacular in net, turning aside 30 shots, while Benazic's power-play goal just 56 seconds into the third period forced overtime.

John McNabb gave the Bandits a 2-0 lead at the 9:52 mark of the second period, but Rempel started the comeback 3:46 later on a feed from Dennis Shiryaev. In the shootout, the IceGators trailed 3-1 with just two rounds remaining, but Benazic - in his first attempt of the season - and Brown scored to send the teams into sudden death. Rempel, also in his first shootout attempt this season, scored and Cloutier stopped Scott Kelman to seal the victory.

Coming attractions:

TUE, LA vs. BR

7:05 p.m.

"New Year's

Carnival Eve"

With no home games scheduled during Mardi Gras, the IceGators will celebrate New Year's Eve Mardi Gras style with special jerseys, to be auctioned off at Hooter's on January 10 to benefit youth hockey in Acadiana. Louisiana and Baton Rouge battled into overtime on Sunday.

WED, LA at JCK

3:05 p.m.

The IceGators don't have much time to celebrate the New Year, with the ECHL's lone New Year's Day game in Jackson on Wednesday afternoon.

FRI, LA at ARK

7:05 p.m.

This has been one of the IceGators' fiercest rivalries this season. Louisiana is 4-1-2 against the RiverBlades, with four of the seven meetings going into overtime or a shootout.

SAT, LA at BR

7:05 p.m.

The Kingfish and IceGators meet for the third time in seven days, with Louisiana heading to the Centroplex.

Red-hot McNeil at 249 career points - Shawn McNeil has 249 points in his 236 games with the IceGators, one point shy of becoming just the fourth player in team history with 250 points. McNeil, who has all of his pro points with Louisiana, has 114 goals and 135 assists with the IceGators. His 114 goals are three behind Don Parsons for third place on the team's all-time list, while his 135 assists are just two behind Louis Dumont for fifth. McNeil is in the midst of a nine-game point streak (2g, 8a), his third point streak of at least seven games this season. McNeil, who opened the campaign with an 11-game point streak, has failed to record a point in just four games this season yet wasn't voted to the All-Star team. His current seven-game assist streak (7a) has tied his career-best, set from March 10-24, 2001.

Working overtime - Louisiana has gone to overtime 12 times this season, tying Atlantic City for the most in the ECHL. The IceGators are 3-4 in overtime games and 2-3 in contests decided in a shootout. Louisiana is 2-2 after regulation at home but just 3-5 on the road. The most times the IceGators have gone into overtime or a shootout in one season is 18, in 1999-2000. That season, Louisiana was 9-9, including a 7-3 home mark. Louisiana's eight overtime games on the road have tied the franchise record, set three previous times, most recently in 1999-2000.

Cloutier has won four straight - Frederic Cloutier has won four straight starts, one shy of his season-high, which he accomplished by winning his first five games this season. Cloutier's 4-0-0 stretch comes after an 0-2-1 span, and in his last four games, Cloutier sports a 2.17 goals against average and a .926 save percentage. Cloutier has lowered his goals against average from 3.19 to 3.01 since December 13.

Three's the magic number - Louisiana is 18-2-2 when yielding three or less goals, including an 11-0-1 mark when allowing two or less. When allowing four or more goals, the IceGators are 2-5-5.

It's all about special teams - The IceGators are 14-1-3 when yielding one or less power play goal this season, but they are 6-6-4 when allowing two or more.

Rally 'Gators - Friday's 3-2 shootout win in Jackson was the IceGators' second win this season when trailing after two periods (2-6-2), and the first on the road. Louisiana rallied from a 3-0 deficit at home - trailing 3-2 heading into the third period - for a 5-4 overtime win December 6 against Arkansas. Last season, the IceGators were a remarkable 8-9-1 when trailing after two periods.

A ding-dong battle - The IceGators and Sea Wolves continue their hotly-contested battle atop the Southwest Division. The teams enter this week tied with 47 points, although Louisiana has two games in hand. The teams have been 1-2, or tied for first, in the standings every day since November 29, and one of the two teams has had at least a share of first place every day since November 27, when the Sea Wolves were tied with Arkansas.

League leaders update - Bruce Richardson's 48 points are tied for second place in the ECHL, one behind Roanoke's Jason Jaffray. Richardson's 32 assists are also one behind Mississippi's Jim Baxter for the most in the league. Shawn McNeil, tied for fourth among ECHL'ers with 20 goals, is tied for 11th with teammate Daniel Goneau with 42 points. McNeil is also tied for fourth with nine power-play goals.

Player of the Week Nominees

Right wing Nathan Rempel -

Had three points (2g, 1a) and a deciding shootout goal in leading IceGators to 2-0-0 record last week...In 3-2 shootout win in Jackson on Friday, had a goal and an assist, plus the game-winner...Gave IceGators a 3-1 lead in 4-3 overtime win at Baton Rouge on Sunday...Tied for second on team with Bruce Richardson with 16 goals, trailing only Shawn McNeil's 20...Sixth on team with 29 points...Six PPG's tied for second on team.

Goaltender Frederic Cloutier -

Won only game last week, stopping 30 shots, including four in the five-minute overtime session, of a 3-2 shootout win in Jackson...Sported 1.85 goals against average and .938 save percentage last week...Is 15-5-4 this season, and his 15 wins are third in the ECHL...Of those goaltenders playing 24 or more games, his 3.01 goals against average is tied for third...Has won his last four starts, one shy of his season-high.

Don't forget to watch Chomp Time, the weekly television show dedicated to the Louisiana IceGators.

Andy Davis hosts Chomp Time, every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on Fox-15.

Make sure to follow the IceGators on 105.1 KPEL-FM.

IceGators' Practice schedule:

Monday - 10-11:30, Cajundome

Tuesday - 10-11, Cajundome, vs. BR, 7:05

Wednesday - at JCK, 3:05

Thursday - in Arkansas

Friday - at ARK, 7:05

Saturday - at BR, 7:05

Sunday - Off

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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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