IceGators hold on, beat RiverKings 5-4
Published on January 24, 2014 under SPHL (SPHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release
Lafayette, La.--The Cardiac Crocodilians made another appearance in the Cajundome Friday night.
The Louisiana IceGators, who held an early 5-0 lead, staved off a third-period comeback attempt to beat the Mississippi RiverKings 5-4. Shawn McNeil led the IceGators with two goals.
The IceGators hit the road for a two-game set with the Columbus Cottonmouths. The first game takes place Saturday at 7:05 p.m.
"I thought we got off to a great start," IceGators head coach Kevin Kaminski said. "The boys were focused and prepared and came out with some bite. We did a really get job establishing the forecheck and cycling the puck down low. We had great puck protection. We took it to the net and scored points in the paint."
"We had much more and better battle and competition in us tonight."
The IceGators came out hot in the first period.
McNeil opened the scoring 2:52 into the game. Midway through the frame, Jordan Braid and Jeremy Boyer scored back-to-back goals one minute apart to put Louisiana ahead 3-0. McNeil then tacked on another score at the 11:44 mark to give the IceGators a 4-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
Frustration affected Mississippi early, as Matt Smyth was ejected from the contest late in the first period after being called for spearing Kirk Byczynski.
Brett Peppler extended the IceGators' lead to 5-0 when he scored at the 12:37 of the second period.
The RiverKings then found life.
The RiverKings got on the board in the second period when Lucas LaBelle scored the first of his two goals to cut his team's deficit to four entering the second intermission. Matt Harrington scored 55 seconds into the final frame to cut the Louisiana lead to three. Four minutes later, LaBelle tacked on his second goal of the night to make the score 5-3. Matt Whitehead capitalized on a breakaway opportunity to put Mississippi within one.
The comeback, however, ended there, as the IceGators defense held the RiverKings to only four other shots the entire period.
"The guys did a good job keeping their composure and grinding out low," Kaminski said. "We had some really good opportunities, but [RiverKings goalie Dan] McWhinney came up big for them. It's not what you want to see, but we kept on them."
Kaminski noted that the same problems his team came across in their previous games were the same problems that nearly cost them this game.
"We have to minimize our turnovers at the blue line and breakaways," Kaminski said. "Our puck decisions have to be better. We have to get in and out of the blue lines and make sure we hold on to the puck."
SPHL Stories from January 24, 2014
- We'll Take Some "Morra" That - Peoria Rivermen
- IceGators hold on, beat RiverKings 5-4 - Louisiana IceGators
- First Period Deficit Dooms RiverKings in Lafayette - Mississippi RiverKings
- Ice Flyers Score Four in the First, Beat Surge 6-1 - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Thunder Bounce Back with OT Win - Bloomington Thunder
- Friday's Start Time Pushed Back to 7:30 p.m. - Peoria Rivermen
- Surge Halt RiverKings' Streak at Three - Mississippi RiverKings
- Ice Bears Fall to Havoc at Home - Knoxville Ice Bears
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