Ice Flyers Beat Louisiana 5-4, Maintain Sole Possession
February 21, 2014 - SPHL (SPHL)
Pensacola Ice Flyers News Release
LAFAYETTE, LA - The Pensacola Ice Flyers took on the Louisiana IceGators for the second game of a three games in three nights in three cities stretch. Pensacola had to hold off a late push by the IceGators but left the Cajundome with a 5-4 win.
The Ice Flyers heavily outshot the IceGators in the first which led to Pensacola striking first when Corey Banfield cashed in on a power play with 6:34 remaining in the first. Malcolm Lyles and Shaun Arvai picked up the assists. Pensacola ended up outshooting Louisiana 13-5 in the opening frame.
The Ice Flyers took the 2-0 lead after some great transitional play. Louisiana had a flurry of shot attempts before Keegan Flaherty took the puck after a block. Flaherty passed to Roman Andrejev who then found Adam Pawlick on the right of the IceGators' crease and Pawlick put the puck home. Pensacola went up 3-0 just 27 seconds later as Ryan Salvis beat Louisiana's Matt Zenzola. John Dunbar had the only assist on the Salvis goal and Louisiana pulled Zenzola in favor of Kiefer Smiley.
Louisiana began their attempt at a comeback with a power play goal by Matt Robertson who shot the puck right over Ross MacKinnon's glove. The Ice Flyers regained the three-goal lead when Banfield got his second goal of the game when he faked a shot, reset, and then ripped a wrister over Smiley's left shoulder. Joe Caveney had the only helper on the goal.
Pawlick picked up his second goal of the game just 30 seconds into the third. Bennett Schneider got the only assist on it. Jeff Grant scored for Louisiana with 6:08 remaining to cut the lead down to 5-2. Louisiana continued to keep digging and Jeremy Boyer made it 5-3 with 2:51 left in the game. The IceGators pulled Smiley in favor ofg the extra attacked and were able to cut the score down to 5-4 with only 1:07 remaining in the game. Fortunately for Pensacola, the Gators' attempt to tie the game was unsuccessful.
MacKinnon stopped 22 of Louisiana's 26 shots and improved his record to 14-1-3. Banfield was named the first star of the game.
The Ice Flyers' next game is tomorrow night at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi as they take on the Mississippi Surge to close out the weekend. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Central Time.
SPHL Stories from February 21, 2014
- Rivermen Fall to Surge Late in Overtime - Peoria Rivermen
- IceGators' Comeback against Pensacola Falls Short - Louisiana IceGators
- Surge Win in Stunning OT Fashion After 2 Goal Comeback - Mississippi Surge
- IceGators' Comeback against Pensacola Fall Short - Louisiana IceGators
- Ice Flyers Beat Louisiana 5-4, Maintain Sole Possession - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Gingera Nets Hat Trick, Leads Columbus to 5-0 Win over Fayetteville - Columbus Cottonmouths
- McGill Traded to Louisiana as Part of October Deal - Peoria Rivermen
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