Columbus holds off IceGators, 4-3
November 2, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release
Columbus, Ga. - Dennis Shiryaev and Bobby Brown each scored third-period goals, but a three-goal deficit was too much to overcome as the IceGators dropped a 4-3 decision in Columbus. Nathan Rempel also scored and Kyle Kettles made 22 saves for Louisiana, which went 0-1-1 against the Cottonmouths in the weekend series and plays at Mississippi on Sunday at 5:05 p.m.
Sean McAslin, who scored the game-winner in the shootout in Friday's 4-3 Columbus win, scored what proved to be the game-winner on a 5-on-3 at the 17:36 mark of the second period. Mike Morrison was outstanding for a second straight night for the Cottonmouths, making 29 saves, including 11 in a frantic third period that saw him allow two goals.
Columbus took a 3-0 lead after the first period on goals by Brent Cullaton, Jeff Zehr and Ryan Risadore. Cullaton's goal came just 1:11 into the game. The IceGators yielded a goal in Friday's game at the 58-second mark of the first period and have let their opponents score the first goal in all five road games.
Things looked up briefly for Louisiana in the second period, as Rempel's fifth goal of the season, at the 3:28 mark on the power play, brought the IceGators within 3-1.
Columbus regained the three-goal lead and the momentum with 2:24 left in the second period. With Branislav Kvetan in the penalty box for roughing and Daniel Goneau in for unsportsmanlike conduct, McAslin scored the 5-on-3 goal that made it 4-1.
The IceGators came out firing in the third period, outshooting Columbus 13-7 and scoring twice. Shiryaev scored his first of the season at the 7:12 mark to get Louisiana within 4-2, and Brown redirected a Kevin Mitchell shot from the point on the power play 2:34 later to make it 4-3. Louisiana couldn't get the equalizer in the final 10 minutes.
Louisiana finished 2-for-8 on the power play, while Columbus was 2-for-7.
Gator Bites:
Shawn McNeil assisted on Rempel's goal and has a nine-game point streak to open the season, with 15 points (9g, 6a) in that span.
McNeil has a point in each of his last 16 regular-season games, dating back to last season. He has 24 points (14g, 10a) in that span.
The IceGators have failed to score first in each of their first five road games. Last season, Louisiana allowed an opponent to score first just 19 times, going 9-8-2 in those contests.
McNeil moved ahead of John DePourcq for fifth place on the team's all-time point list with 222, one more than DePourcq.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from November 2, 2002
- Sea Wolves Escape with 3-1 win over Ice Pilots - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Kingfish fall to Bandits 5-4 - Baton Rouge Kingfish
- Chiefs Beat Bombers - Johnstown Chiefs
- Columbus holds off IceGators, 4-3 - Louisiana IceGators
- Chiefs Notes vs. Dayton - Johnstown Chiefs
- Skate with the 'Fish cancelled and rescheduled - Baton Rouge Kingfish
- Grrrowl's 3-game winning streak snapped - Greenville Grrrowl
- Walby Named Player of the Month - ECHL
- All Along the Coast - ECHL
- Kingfish fall to Pilots in OT, 2-1 - Baton Rouge Kingfish
- Condors Hand Falcons First Home Loss - Fresno Falcons
- Kenady's Trick is Ice Dogs' Treat - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Long Beach Extends Anchorage Misery - Alaska Aces
- Gulls End Losing Streak with 2-1 Win - San Diego Gulls
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.
