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SPHL Knoxville Ice Bears

Ice Bears Force a Deciding Game 5

April 9, 2011 - SPHL (SPHL)
Knoxville Ice Bears News Release


Knoxville, TN - The Knoxville Ice Bears played a crucial fourth game of their best-of-5 semi-finals playoff tonight against the Mississippi Surge. After an overtime loss last night, this game decided the fate of the Ice Bears.

Another stellar performance by Knoxville goalie Bryan Hince and a penalty shot tie-breaking goal by Eric Slais secured a 4-2 win for the Ice Bears to force a winner take all game back to Mississippi tomorrow night.

The Ice Bears hit the ice with one purpose - to force a game 5. Mississippi scored all three of their goals in game 3 on power plays. The Ice Bears defense made adjustments, and successfully shut down the SPHL's top power play team.

The Surge's Matt Zultek managed to beat Hince midway through the first period to lift the Surge to a 1-0 lead. The goal was Mississippi's first even strength marker of the season in the Knoxville Civic Coliseum.

With one minute left in the first period, Knoxville's David Segal was whistled for delay of game for freezing the puck in the offensive zone - Mississippi was awarded 5-on-3 advantage.

The Ice Bears started the second period still down two men for another 1:33. As Knoxville's Jim Jensen returned to the ice as the fourth skater, he fed the puck to Jon Higgins who lifted the puck by Zaniboni to tie the game on a short-handed goal.

Hince turned away all 16 shots in the middle period. While killing another penalty, Eric Slais broke in on Zaniboni for a shorthanded opportunity. In a desperation play, Michael Richard's hooked Slais to deny a scoring opportunity - the play resulted in a penalty shot for Knoxville. Slais methodically skated in on Zaniboni and slipped the puck between his legs to give Knoxville the first lead of the evening.

Slais notched his second goal of the game at 8:16 minutes into the third period, with assistance from David Segal, giving Knoxville a 3-1 lead. Mississippi's Richard answered the goal 6:43 minutes later, but it wasn't enough to take the win.

Jason Weeks finished off the game with an empty-netter 1:29 before the final buzzer. Mike Bulawka and Mark Van Vliet were credited with the assist, and the Ice Bears tied the playoff series with a 4-2 win.

The Ice Bears will play the fifth and final game of the series on Sunday, April 10 in Biloxi. Ice Bears fans can watch the game at Cool Sports. The puck drops at 9:05 p.m. (EST). If the Ice Bears win in Mississippi, they advance to the SPHL finals to face either Augusta RiverHawks or Columbus Cottonmouths who play the final game of their series.

Mercedes-Benz Three Stars of the Game:

1st Star: Bryan Hince (Knoxville)

2nd Star: Eric Slais (Knoxville)

3rd Star: Mike Bulawka (Knoxville)

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