IceGators Fall to Fayetteville in Shootout
January 19, 2013 - SPHL (SPHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release
Fayetteville, North Carolina--The Louisiana IceGators' seven-game win streak was snapped here Friday night, as the Fayetteville FireAntz knocked off the IceGators in a 5-4 shootout decision. Brian Elser scored the game-winner in the fifth round of the shootout to give the FireAntz the victory. Elser contributed another goal and an assist during regulation.
Louisiana (19-8-2) and Fayetteville (19-10-2) are now tied for first place in the SPHL standings with 40 points. The two teams meet for the fourth and final time this season Saturday night at 7:00 P. M. EST.
"It was a hard-fought game, and we picked up a big point on the road" said IceGators head coach Kevin Kaminski. "We did some good things and sacrificed the body, but we had two bad breakdowns that shouldn't have happened."
Kaminski also had praise for on of his wingers. "Rob Lawrance had a hell of a game," he said. "He was our best forward tonight."
Lawrence's stat line backs up Kaminski's claim. Lawrance scored two goals on the night, including the game-tying goal 9:52 into the third period to force overtime. Those goals made Lawrence the only IceGator to pick up two points in the contest.
The teams traded goals throughout the first half of the first period. Jeremy Boyer put the IceGators on the board first with a powerplay goal five minutes into the game. Two minutes later, McQuade scored his first to tie the game. Lawrence responded shortly afterward with his first goal of the night, only to have Elser tie the game off of a bad puck bounce shortly afterward. McQuade's second goal came with 13 seconds left in the frame, giving Fayetteville a 3-2 lead heading into the intermission.
Cody Zubko scored the only goal of the second period at the 14:20 mark of the frame to tie the match at 4-4. Bobby Reed gave the FireAntz the lead early in the third, only to Lawrence tie the game just before the midway point of the period.
Kaminski wants to see his team perform with more intensity in Saturday's rematch. "We need to play with more urgency and composure [Saturday] night," he said. "Our defensive awareness has to get better, and we have to make stronger puck decisions. If we can correct this, we'll be fine."
Kaminski also says his team is up for the challenge to hold on to first place. "We know what's at stake Saturday night, so we need to respond with 60 minutes of relentless Gator hockey."
SPHL Stories from January 19, 2013
- Augusta Wins in Shootout Over - Augusta RiverHawks
- Pensacola wins over Surge - Mississippi Surge
- Early Start Does in RiverKings in Knoxville - Mississippi RiverKings
- Pair of Two-Goal Periods Lead Surge over 'Kings - Mississippi RiverKings
- Ice Bears Ground RiverHawks 7-2 - Knoxville Ice Bears
- IceGators Fall to Fayetteville in Shootout - Louisiana IceGators
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