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Florida sweeps two from IceGators

October 27, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release


Louisiana ran into a hot team - and particularly a sizzling line - over the weekend in the Florida Everblades, falling in back-to-back games at TECO Arena.

Saturday, Brent McDonald and Keith Anderson scored 3:26 apart in the second period and linemate Brian McCullough added a tally in the third stanza, as the Everblades beat the IceGators 4-1. Rob Zepp, assigned from AHL Lowell earlier in the day, turned aside 26 shots and Reggie Berg added a score for Florida (4-1-0).

Florida's line of McDonald, Anderson and McCullough accounted for eight points in the game and 35 in the first five games of the season. The IceGators, meanwhile, have just 22 points as a team in four games. The Everblades' trio had six of the eight goals in the two-game set.

Derek Gustafson made 17 of his 35 saves in a busy first period and Konstantin Kalmikov scored for Louisiana (2-2-0), which fell to 1-5-1 all-time at TECO Arena.

Friday, McCullough scored the first of his two goals 1:28 into the game, and Chad Larose's shorthanded score later in the period went down as the game-winner, as the Everblades beat the IceGators 4-2. Kenny Corupe had both Louisiana goals, the first of which was the 50th in his pro career, and Frederic Cloutier finished with 19 saves for Louisiana. Cloutier, who was looking for his 50th pro win, suffered the first regulation loss of his career in October, falling to 8-1-1.

The IceGators end the season's second week in fifth place with four points in the ECHL's Central Division. Louisiana is just two points behind first-place Pensacola, Columbus and Mississippi. The IceGators have already beaten the Sea Wolves twice, and they are at the Cottonmouths this weekend.

Coming attractions:

TUE, "Gator Talk", 7-8 p.m.

Join Bruce LeVine and Dave Farrish as they recap last week's action and look ahead to the upcoming road trip. It's Gator Talk, Tuesday from 7-8 p.m. on Newsradio 105.1 KPEL. This week's guests are Konstantin Kalmikov and Jamie Johnson.

SAT, LA @ CBS, 6:30 p.m.

The IceGators and Cottonmouths, who are in the same division for the first time this season, meet for the first time in 2003-04. The teams will meet two more times in the month of November. Since Columbus relocated from Hampton Roads, the IceGators are 3-1-2 against the Cottonmouths, including a 1-1-1 mark in Columbus. In 2002-03, the teams met five times, with Louisiana going 2-1-2. Three of the five games were one-goal contests, including a pair of 4-3 Columbus wins (one in a shootout) at home in November. The IceGators did go 2-0-1 against the Cottonmouths after that series, with all three games coming at home. Louisiana shut out Columbus 7-0 in the teams' last meeting, on January 9. All-time against the Hampton Roads/Columbus team, the IceGators are 6-3-2, including a 2-1-1 mark on the road.

Don't forget, Military Appreciation Night is Sunday, November 9 at 4:05 p.m. against Columbus.

Make sure to follow the IceGators on 105.1 KPEL-FM, and also via the Internet at www.icegators.com.

Another busy week in the community - The IceGators have yet another busy week off the ice. Tuesday, media relations and multi-media manager Ryan Stanzel, general manager Brian Kelley and head coach Dave Farrish will be continuing their speaking tour at the Lafayette North Rotary. Also Tuesday, the team will be at Center Street Elementary in New Iberia for a Drug Free Week assembly. Wednesday, the team will be attending Breaux Bridge Primary's Red Ribbon Week. Thursday, the IceGators will be at Loreauville Elementary to talk about staying away from drugs and to sign autographs. Also Thursday, Clawd will be on Passe Partout to promote Sunday's Clawd's Krewe Kickoff Party at the Zoo of Acadiana (Clawd's Krewe members only, from 2-4 p.m.). Friday, Clawd will be at Hopkins Street Elementary in New Iberia to attend a Drug Free Week Assembly. If you'd like to have the IceGators involved with your group, please call community relations coordinator Jill LeBlanc at (337) 234-4423.

Ready for October to be over - The IceGators fell to 37-16-5 all-time in October with last week's losses. Louisiana had been particularly potent in the season's first month under Dave Farrish, going 22-2-1 until the two losses at Florida doubled the regulation loss total. Of the IceGators' four October regulation losses under Farrish, who is in his fourth season, three have come at TECO Arena. The Florida Everblades' home rink has typically given the IceGators fits. Louisiana sports a 1-5-1 all-time mark in Estero, by far the IceGators' worst mark in any opposing arena. The teams don't meet again at TECO this season.

Masa three points from 500 in pro career - Louisiana left wing Martin Masa remains three points shy of 500 after four games without a point. Masa, at 30 the eldest statesman in the IceGators locker room, has 497 points (211g, 286a) in 577 pro games beginning in 1994-95. Masa, who was a member of Greenville's 2002 Kelly Cup winning team, has more career game-winning goals (32) than all of his teammates, except Bobby Brown, have goals in the ECHL. Masa has most victimized South Carolina, with four game-winners. Masa's four-game streak without a point is his longest since early February of last season.

Looking for ‘O' - Through four games, the IceGators are averaging just 2.0 goals per game, including their shootout goal October 18. That total is tied for 26th in the 31-team ECHL. Last season through four games, Louisiana had 20 goals. Louisiana has had just three players score goals this season - Konstantin Kalmikov (three), Kenny Corupe (two) and Bobby Brown (two). The IceGators are getting plenty of shots on net, but are finding the back of the cage with just 6.3 percent of their shots.

Fast starters - Louisiana has scored five of its seven goals in the first period this season, having scored just two goals combined in the other two periods.

Cloutier still sitting at 49 pro wins - IceGators third-year netminder Frederic Cloutier suffered the loss Friday night, leaving him at 49 professional wins. Cloutier will look for No. 50 in his next appearance, which will be the 77th of his career. Cloutier's loss Friday was his first ever as a pro in the month of October. The Ste. Honore, Que., native fell to 8-1-1 all-time in the season's opening month.

Affiliation updates – NHL Minnesota added some scoring punch yesterday, re-signing winger Pascual Dupuis. Dupuis, who was the team's second-leading scorer last season, had been holding out. The Wild earned a Florida split over the weekend, beating the Panthers 4-3 on Friday, then falling 3-2 to red-hot Tampa Bay on Saturday. Minnesota wraps up the road trip tomorrow in Buffalo, before returning home to face Atlanta on Thursday and Washington on Saturday. The Wild, led in scoring by second-year forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard (seven points) currently have five points (2-6-1), fifth in the five-team Northwest Division. The Houston Aeros dropped their first two games in brand-new Toyota Center, including a 2-1 loss last night to Utah. The Aeros peppered former ECHL netminder Mike Smith with 49 shots, but he stopped 48 and hit the post on his attempt for his second pro goal. Houston is 1-3-0 for two points, seventh out of seven teams in the West.

Player of the Week Nominees

Center Kenny Corupe - Posted three points (2g, 1a) in two games last week as IceGators went 0-2-0...Scored both Louisiana goals, including a power-play tally, in 4-2 loss at Florida on Friday...First goal got IceGators within 2-1 and second goal made it 3-2 Florida...Picked up an assist on team's only goal (by Konstantin Kalmikov) in Saturday's 4-1 loss in Florida...Leads IceGators with five points (2g, 3a) this season...One of three IceGators with a goal.

Goaltender Derek Gustafson - Went 0-1-0 with 4.00 goals against average and a .897 save percentage last week...Faced 39 shots, including 18 in a wild first period...Stopped 17 of the 18 shots sent his way in the opening 20 minutes...Is 1-1-0 with a 2.88 goals against average and a .905 save percentage this season...In his first full ECHL season, having played parts of two others with Jackson (2000-01) and Louisiana (2002-03)...1-0 in shootouts this season.

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