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CHL Mississippi RiverKings

Game Day - RiverKings Vs. Gems

March 10, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN, MS --- The Mississippi RiverKings of the Central Hockey League begin a "three-in-three" weekend starting tonight with a home game against the Dayton Gems at Southaven's DeSoto Civic Center. Game time is scheduled for 7:05 PM. Following tonight's game, the RiverKings will hit the road for games tomorrow night at Wichita and Saturday at Quad City. Both games on the road will also start at 7:05 PM.

RIVERKINGS RECAP: Mississippi finished last week 1-2-0 in three games against the Arizona Sundogs in Prescott Valley. The RiverKings lost Wednesday night to Arizona 4-1, followed Friday night with a 4-1 victory, then fell to the Sundogs Saturday evening 7-4 in the series finale. In Saturday ‚¬â„¢s contest, Matt Summers, Andrew Lackner, Chris Auger (power play), and Brennan Sarazin (power play) scored goals, while Nathan Lutz and Derek Landmesser assisted on two goals each. Goaltender Alexander Pechurskiy made 16 saves, but allowed two goals in playing the first two periods. Larry Sterling came into the game for the third period and was 5-of-7 at the crease.

MISSISSIPPI VS. DAYTON: Mississippi is 2-1-0 vs. Dayton this season, with all three games being played at the DeSoto Civic Center. The RiverKings prevailed in the last meeting on January 22nd by a 4-1 score with Andrew Lackner scoring the game-winning goal and Larry Sterling making 20 saves to earn the goaltender victory. R.G. Flath is the team ‚¬â„¢s leading point-getter against Dayton with two goals and four points, while Sterling is 2-0-0 against the Gems in net this year.

MISSISSIPPI AT HOME: The RiverKings are 16-11-2 in home games this season, but are winless in the team ‚¬â„¢s last two home contests (0-1-1). Chris Richards is the RiverKings ‚¬â„¢ leading point getter at home with 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists). Matt Summers leads Mississippi in goals scored at home with 13 and Chris Auger has the best plus-minus statistic at +9. At the crease, Larry Sterling has a 9-6-1 record in home games, while Alexander Pechurskiy is 7-3-1 at the DCC.

PLAYER UPDATES

5-Russell Smith...is seven short of 700 career professional penalty minutes. His 189 PIMS this season has him ranked third in the CHL for sin-bin time, and he is tied for second in the league for minor penalties taken with 52.

9-Matt Boyd...assisted on a goal Saturday at Arizona, giving him two points in his last two games.

16-Louis Dumont...aided on a goal Saturday night in Arizona, giving him three assists in his last two appearances...is two goals short of 100 career RiverKings goals scored. Dumont is tied for the league lead in shorthanded goals scored with five.

19-Matt Summers...scored a goal in Saturday ‚¬â„¢s game at Arizona and has netted four goals and five points in his last five appearances. Summers ‚¬â„¢ 13 power play goals rank him fourth in the league for PPGs.

24-Andrew Lackner...scored a goal in Saturday ‚¬â„¢s contest vs. the Sundogs, his first goal and first point since an assist February 18th at Wichita...is one short of 100 career professional points.

26-Chris Auger...scored a goal at Arizona Saturday night and has scored goals in his last two appearances and three goals in his last five games.

27-Brennan Sarazin...netted a goal Saturday at Arizona, his second point in as many nights, and fourth point in his last five games.

35-Alexander Pechurskiy ‚¬â„¢s...five goals allowed Saturday night against the Sundogs were the most he ‚¬â„¢s given up since allowing five on February 19th at Colorado.

44-Nathan Lutz...assisted on a pair of goals Saturday night in Arizona, has three assists in his last two games, and five assists in his last five appearances...is four minutes short of 1000 career penalty minutes.

55-Derek Landmesser...aided on a pair of RiverKings ‚¬â„¢ goals Saturday night in Arizona, giving him three assists in his last two games and five points in his last five appearances...is one goal short of 100 career RiverKings goals scored.

83-Chris Richards...is expected to play career CHL game 700 Saturday night at Quad City...is five short of 900 career professional points scored.

87-Darrell Stoddard...is three short of 900 career professional and RiverKings penalty minutes.

RIVERKINGS STATISTICAL LEADERS:

GOALS: Matt Summers (24)

ASSISTS: Nathan Lutz (38)

POINTS: Chris Richards, Lutz (48)

PLUS-MINUS: Derek Landmesser, Chris Auger (+10)

PENALTY MINUTES: Russell Smith (189)

POWER PLAY GOALS: Summers (13)

SHORTHANDED GOALS: Louis Dumont (5)

GAME-WINNING GOALS: R.G. Flath (4)

RIVERKINGS GOALTENDING LEADERS:

GAMES PLAYED: Alexander Pechurskiy, Larry Sterling (29)

MINUTES PLAYED: Pechurskiy (1609)

WINS: Pechurskiy (13)

SHUTOUTS: Sterling (2)

GOALS-AGAINST-AVERAGE: Pechurskiy (2.87)

SAVE PERCENTAGE: Pechurskiy (.896)

RIVERKINGS SPECIAL TEAMS: Mississippi scored twice in seven power play chances on Saturday night against, Arizona, marking the first time since February 26th (3-2 overtime loss to Tulsa) that the RiverKings have scored more than once on the power play. In Mississippi ‚¬â„¢s last five games, the team has gone 6-for-30 on the power play (20.0%) and for the season enters this week ranked 14th with the extra man at 16.21%. On the penalty kill, the RiverKings were 3-for-8 against Arizona Saturday night, marking the first time since January 16th (6-1 loss at Fort Wayne) the RiverKings have allowed three or more power play goals in one game to an opponent. In the last five games, Mississippi has gone 6-for-33 on the penalty kill (81.8%) and for the season enters this week ranked sixth in the CHL for penalty killing at 83.3%. Mississippi leads the CHL for shorthanded goals scored with 14 and has allowed nine this year.

RIVERKINGS NAMED AMONG BEST OF THE BEST: Members of the RiverKings were again noted among the Central Hockey League ‚¬â„¢s Best of the Best poll released Tuesday morning. Louis Dumont was named the league ‚¬â„¢s Best Penalty Killer in the poll of league teams, and Nathan Lutz was named 2nd Best Offensive Defenseman. In addition, the team was recognized in the category for Best Game Notes, finishing second.

ROSTER MOVEMENT: Mississippi announced Wednesday the departure of defenseman Milan Maslonka from the roster for personal reasons. Maslonka was subsequently placed on the team suspension list, allowing the RiverKings to retain his rights. In 36 games with Mississippi this season, Maslonka, a native of Zvolen, Slovakia, scored a pro career high four goals for five points and 76 penalty minutes. Defenseman Tyler Sheldrake was expected to be activated from the injured reserve for tonight ‚¬â„¢s game. Sheldrake, a native of Dunnville, Ontario, has been on the IR since November 13th.

BROADCASTS: Tonight's RiverKings game can be heard on Sports 56, WHBQ-AM, with RiverKings Media Coordinator and Voice of the RiverKings Bob Bakken again calling the action. Both games this weekend on the road for the RiverKings will also be heard on Sports 56, WHBQ-AM. Air-time for all three contests is 6:50 PM. An audio stream of each night's game can be heard on the station web site. RiverKings hockey can also be seen on your computer on the CHL-TV webcasting service available through the team's web site by clicking the Watch Live button on the home page and following the prompts.

TICKETS: For RiverKings ticket information, call 662-342-1755 or go online to the RiverKings' web site for more information.

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