Eklund Stones IceGators 3-2
March 20, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release
Lafayette, LA â The Louisiana IceGators dropped their second straight decision tonight in a 3-2 loss to the Pensacola Ice Pilots. The IceGators (46-19-2) have 94 points in the ECHL standings, and retain the lead in the Central Division of the Western Conference. The Ice Pilots (36-20-9) entered the game with the third spot in the Central Division. The Pilots now have 81 points and are trying to close the gap on the Mississippi Sea Wolves (39-19-7, 85 points).
The first period was scoreless at the Cajundome. The IceGators had no trouble putting shots on goal, but Pensacola's Brian Eklund turned away all attempts. Gator netminder Derek Gustafson turned away seven shots in the first 20 minutes.
Pensacola's Peter Fregoe opened the scoring early in the second, to break the scoreless tie. Dwayne Hay and Eric Naud added tallies 1:56 apart to give the Pilots a 3-0 lead they would carry into the third period.
Bruce Richardson spoiled Eklund's shutout with his first goal back in an IceGators sweater. With the Gators on the power play, Richardson planted himself on the far side of Eklund's goal and caught a pass through traffic from Konstantin Kalmikov. Richardson whipped the puck into the net for his first ECHL goal of the season.
Jamie Johnson continued the comeback bid with his 12th goal of the season. At the 17:06 mark of the third period, Johnson caught the puck behind Eklund's net, on a feed from Jim Vickers. He settled it down, walked to the front of the net and put the puck stick-side to pull the Gators within one goal.
As the clock wound down, the Gators pulled Gustafson for the extra skater and stormed in to the Pensacola end. Despite a flurry of shots, the Gators were unable to put a third one past Eklund. The Gators totaled 53 shots in the game, to the Pilots' 31. Eklund leads the ECHL in wins (34) and saves (2035).
The IceGators travel to Biloxi for a matchup with the Mississippi Sea Wolves next Friday at 7:35 p.m. Saturday, March 27 is Pack the Dome Night when the Gators welcome the Gwinnett Gladiators to the Frozen Swamp. If the Cajundome sells out for Saturday's game, beer and sodas will be 25 cents.
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