IceGators battle for Central Division
April 19, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release
Lafayette, LA â The Louisiana IceGators had a busy week as they defeated the Pensacola Ice Pilots in the Central Division Semi-Finals and leapt right into the Central Division Finals against the Gwinnett Gladiators. The IceGators travel to Duluth for games three and four of the Finals. If necessary, game five of the series will return the Cajundome next Sunday, April 25.
Game four of the semi-finals in Pensacola saw a scoreless first period, but the Ice Pilots would score first in the second. Matt Dzieduszycki put up his first goal as a Gator, a power-play tally that would prove to be the Gators only goal. The Pilots added two more marks in the third for the 3-1 victory. Derek Gustafson faced 33 shots and Brian Eklund saw 36. With the series standing at 2 games each, the teams headed back to Lafayette for the deciding game.
The IceGators set another post-season record in game five when they barraged Eklund with 85 shots through regulation and almost two full overtime periods. Tyler Beechey gave the Pilots an early 1-0 lead they would carry for most of the game. With less than two minutes left in regulation, Paul Ballantyne took a shot from the far circle that beat Eklund and forced overtime. The first extra frame was scoreless. At the 16:41 mark of the second overtime, Jamie Johnson caught a rebound off Eklund and shot it behind the Pilots' netminder for the game- and series-winner.
Friday welcomed the Gwinnett Gladiators to the Cajundome for game one of the Central Division Finals. Once again, the first period was scoreless and the other team put up the opening goal in the second period. The IceGators stormed back in the third period with three unanswered goals from Rod Sarich, Kenny Corupe and Bruce Richardson to take the first game 3-1. Derek Gustafson stopped 40 shots for his fourth post-season win of 2004. Adam Munro made 33 saves for Gwinnett in his first start of the playoffs.
Game two found Michael Garnett in goal for the Gladiators. Bobby Brown struck first for the IceGators when he caught his own rebound and skated it around the back of the goal before Garnett could cover the near post. The Gladiators pulled even before the end of the first frame on a goal from Chris Durno, and Kevin Doell put another goal on the board in the second period for a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish. Garnett stymied the IceGators on 28 of 29 shots. Gustafson, making his seventh straight start of the post-season, turned away 24 of 26 Gladiators shots.
UPCOMING GAMES
@ Gwinnett Gladiators, Wednesday, April 21, 2004 @ 6:35 pm â The IceGators will travel to the Duluth, GA for game three of the Central Division Finals.
@ Gwinnett Gladiators, Friday, April 23, 2004 @ 6:35 pm â One of these teams could skate away with the series in game four.
Gwinnett Gladiators, Sunday, April 25, 2004 @ 4:05 pm â If necessary to decide the best-of-five series, game five will move back to the Cajundome.
IN OTHER NEWS...
Who's Hot â Konstantin Kalmikov has eight points (3g â 5a) in seven games, including a short-handed tally in each of the first two games against Pensacola. Jamie Johnson and Bruce Richardson both have three goals and four assists in seven games. Kalmikov and Johnson have both earned all their post-season points on home ice this season. Derek Gustafson ranks third in the post-season standings with a 1.66 goals-against average and has a .954 save percentage.
Statistical Tidbits â Through seven post-season games, the IceGators are 2-2 in games where the first period is scoreless. The Gators are also 3-2 when they do not score the first goal. In games where the Gators tally first, they are 1-1.
Aiming High â The IceGators broke an ECHL and IceGators post-season record in their 2-1 double overtime win against Pensacola on Wednesday. The Gators took 85 shots at Brian Eklund in the game. The previous record was 82 shots against the Jackson Bandits on April 5, 2002. The 57 shots the Gators took on Eklund in regulation play of that game tied a previous IceGators record, set against New Orleans on April 12, 2001.
"Tickets for the Tenth" â The Louisiana IceGators have launched their season ticket drive for the 2004-05 season. Ticket packages are now on sale for full season (36 games) and partial season packages. The IceGators are closing in on their goal of 1000 season ticket deposits by May 1, 2004. Deposits are $25 per seat. Please call the IceGators office at 337-234-4423 to order your season tickets for next year.
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