Ice Pilots fall in thriller to the Lynx
March 24, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Pensacola Ice Pilots News Release
PENSACOLA, FL - Hockey fans were treated to an exciting and thrilling game at The Hangar on Saturday as their Pensacola Ice Pilots played their hearts out only to fall 5-4 in a shootout to the Augusta Lynx.
It was military night at The Hangar and they were part of a big and enthusiastic crowd that was cheering loudly all game, giving the Ice Pilots any extra energy that they could.
The win for the Lynx was their eighth in a shootout and propelled them into fourth place in the South Division just one point ahead of the South Carolina Stingrays and three ahead of the Charlotte Checkers. The top five teams make the Kelly Cup playoffs from the South Division and the Checkers are now sixth in the fight.
The Ice Pilots lost their fourth in a shootout but still managed to notch their 43 point.
The Ice Pilots struck first when Torry Gadja scored at the 3:27 mark of the opening period from Rob Rankin and Eric Johnson. The Lynx would score the next two goals via specialty teams, one shorthanded and another on the power play to lead 2-1 after 20 minutes.
The Blue and Gold took a 3-2 lead with back to back goals in the first 1:59 seconds of the second stanza. Sergei Ogorodnikov completed a one timer from John Hecimovic and Jesse Baraniuk and then Dan Knapp notched his first as a professional from David Wrigley and Hecimovic with his second assist.
However, the Lynx scored back to back goals midway through the second and at the end of the period to lead 4-3 after 40 minutes. The Ice Pilots pressed on in the third and would be rewarded for their hard work when Ogorodnikov would pick up his second of the game from Gadja and Johnson on the power play. Gadja would finish the game with nine shots on goal to lead all shooters in the contest.
The teams would settle nothing in regulation or overtime. In the shootout the Lynx jumped out quickly to a 2-0 lead only to see Pensacola pull even when David Wrigley and John Hecimovic scored. Garrett Bembridge scored in the shootout to give his team the victory.
The Pensacola Ice Pilots return to action tomorrow night (Sunday) when they host the Columbia Inferno at 6:05 pm at The Hangar. It's Zoo night so help support the Northwest Florida Zoo by buying a ticket. A portion of ticket sales on Sunday will benefit the Zoo.
Tickets available at the Pensacola Civic Center Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations. For further info, including group rates call 432-PUCK.
Fans can tune into the action on Classic Country AM1620 and www.icepilots.com powered by Sportsjuice beginning with the pre-game show at 5:45 pm. The play-by-play follows at 6 pm with Denis J. Puska. Video Coverage is provided by the B2 Networks and a high speed internet connection is required in order to view the game.
For further information on the Pensacola Ice Pilots, please call Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations Denis J. Puska at 1-850-432-7825.
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