IceFlyers Shoot Down IceGators
March 7, 2014 - SPHL (SPHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release
Lafayette, La.--It was a frustrating Friday for the Louisiana IceGators.
The IceGators fell behind 3-0 in the first period en route to a 5-2 defeat against the Pensacola IceFlyers. Ryan Salvis, John Dunbar, and Tyler Amburgey each contributed a goal and two assists during the game.
The two teams meet in a rematch in the Cajundome Saturday night. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:05 p.m.
"We lost the game in the first period," IceGator head coach Kevin Kaminski said. "Our preparation and focus at the start of the game weren't there. We didn't skate, we couldn't get the puck deep, and we didn't finish our checks. We can't turn the puck over against a team as good as [Pensacola], and we did that tonight."
" At times, we played well. We outshot them 13-5 in the second period. But we aren't supposed to give them anything for free, and we gave them four free goals."
Amburgey opened the scoring at the 2:20 mark of the first period. Eleven minutes later, Dunbar scored on a breakaway. Corey Banfield capped off the opening frame with a goal of his own at the 16:24 mark.
Jeremy Boyer recovered a turnover and scored at the 6:34 mark of the second period to make the score 3-1.
Pensacola regained the three-goal early in the third when Salvis scored at the 1:49 mark.
Ron Cramer made the score 4-2 five minutes later when he scored from the right point.
Brett Lutes ended the IceGator's comeback attempt with 8:33 left in the game when he scored a short-handed goal on a breakaway opportunity.
"Every time we scored a goal and picked up momentum, we either gave them breakaways or two-on-ones or something else," Kaminski said.
The IceGators' frustration boiled over in the waning seconds of the game. Several melees began in the IceGator zone in the final 30 seconds of regulation. In the end, three players from each team were sent off for fighting.
Kaminski says his team needs to play as a unit and play according to the team's systems to have a shot at winning Saturday.
"We have to play hard, smart, and disciplined," Kaminski said. "We have to execute the game plan. We need to have all 18 guys on the same page against a good club. Otherwise, it's not going to work. We have to win more battles. We need to be more hungry in the net front and get more traffic in front of the best goalie in the league [Ross MacKinnon]."
SPHL Stories from March 7, 2014
- Edge Drop Opener After Bombers Pull Away in 3rd Quarter - Bloomington Thunder
- RiverKings Clinch Playoff Spot with Shutout Win - Mississippi RiverKings
- Ice Bears Continue to Roll with Win over Havoc - Knoxville Ice Bears
- Stanfields Nets Two as Rivermen Clinch Playoff Berth - Peoria Rivermen
- IceFlyers Shoot Down IceGators - Louisiana IceGators
- Ice Flyers Beat IceGators 5-2, Tie SPHL Record - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- RiverKings Clinch Playoff Spit with Shutout Win - Mississippi RiverKings
- Kyle Rank Shuts the Surge out in Peoria - Mississippi Surge
- Thunder Shut out at Columbus - Bloomington Thunder
- SPHL Announces Suspensions - SPHL
- Win Big with '45 Days of Hockey - Rivermen Season Ticket Renewal Program' - Peoria Rivermen
- Cottonmouths to Sign Two-Time Gold Medalist - Columbus Cottonmouths
- Shupe's Hat Trick Boosts Columbus over Fayetteville, 8-5 - Columbus Cottonmouths
- Huntsville Downs Knoxville in Overtime, 3-2 - Huntsville Havoc
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