IceGators Fall In Overtime
Published on April 10, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release
Pensacola, FL The Louisiana IceGators dropped the third game of the Central Division Semi-Finals series against the Pensacola Ice Pilots. The IceGators came into Pensacola with a 2-0 lead in the series, but the Ice Pilots took a 2-1 overtime decision and pulled within one game.
Both goaltenders turned away all attempts to light the lamp through the first twenty minutes of play. Pilot netminder Brian Eklund saw 16 shots from the Gators, including a breakway rush by Alex Materukhin. Materukhin tried for the five-hole, but Eklund shut him down. Gators netminder Derek Gustafson turned away 11 shots.
At the 12:46 mark of the second period, Pilot Jade Galbraith skated in on Gustafson and put a wrister top-shelf for the only goal of the period.
Dennis Shiryaev scored at the 12:51 mark of the third to tie game 3 of the Central Division Semi-Final match-up with the Pensacola Ice Pilots. Rod Sarich caught the puck at the Pilots' blue line and skated across to the far circle. He shot the puck to Shiryaev who was lurking near the Pilots' goal. Shiryaev flipped the puck over the line and the score stood at 1-1 until the end of the third.
The overtime period saw some incredible goaltending at both ends of the ice, especially from Derek Gustafson. The Pilots barraged Gustafson with 14 shots, who made some big saves. Eklund fended off only five shots, but one almost got away from him. A deflection off Semir Ben-Amor's skate trickled along the goal line, but did not go in.
The Pilots' perseverance finally paid off when Galbraith took a shot the bounced of Gustafson and out to Tyler Beechey, who found the net for the overtime game winner.
The IceGators will play game four of the series at the Hanger on Tuesday, April 13. If a game five is necessary to decide the series, the final face-off will be back at the Cajundome on Wednesday, April 14 at 7:05 p.m.
ECHL Stories from April 10, 2004
- Game Four/Home Game B Tuesday Night vs Louisiana at 7:05 PM - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Steelheads corral Wranglers 2-0 in must win game 3 - Idaho Steelheads
- Gladiators Drown Sea Wolves, 6-3 - Atlanta Gladiators
- IceGators Fall In Overtime - Louisiana IceGators
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- Aces Sweep Gulls with 5-1 win in Game 3 - San Diego Gulls
- Alaska heading to Pacific finals - Alaska Aces
- Wranglers Beat Steelheads 3-2, Take a 2-0 Series Lead - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Royals Hammer Nailersâ¦Even Series One Game Apiece - Reading Royals
- Rivermen double up Bullies 6-3, even series at 1-1 - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
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