IceGators Knock off Pensacola in Shootout
December 5, 2014 - SPHL (SPHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release
LAFAYETTE, La.--The Cardiac Crocodilians lived up to their nickname Friday night.
The Louisiana IceGators blew a 4-2 lead late in the third period, but they came back in a shootout to defeat the Pensacola IceFlyers 5-4. Shawn Skelly scored the game-winner in the shootout.
The IceGators and the IceFlyers meet again Thursday night in the Pensacola Civic Center. Game time is set for 6:35 p.m.
"I thought we outbattled and outworked them," said IceGators head coach Drew Omicioli. "We played a great game. Unfortunately for us, they took advantage of their power plays and kept it close. We were the better team in five-on-five tonight.
"We had some opportunities on the power play to put the game away, but we didn't. Overall, though, I'm extremely pleased with our effort. It's another gut-check win for us, and to put three wins in a row for the first time this year is certainly big for our team."
The IceGators dominated the first two periods.
Luke Kasteel scored twice in the first 13 minutes of the game to give put Louisiana ahead 2-0. Pensacola's Cody Ferriero scored on a power play with 5:05 left in the opening frame to make it a 2-1 game going into the first intermission.
Pensacola tied the game two minutes into the second period thanks to a Brett Lutes power play goal.
The IceGators then began to pull away. Adam Stuart scored at the 5:25 mark, while Skelly scored at the 15:43 mark to put Louisiana ahead 4-2. Stuart and Skelly assisted on each others goals, while Benjamin Rubin assisted on both scores.
Pensacola bounced back in the third period by capitalizing on the IceGators mistakes.
Ferriero scored his second goal of the night by picking off an errant pass and shooting into a wide open net at the 5:12 mark of the third period. Michael Budd tied the game with 1:42 left in regulation by scoring off a rebound in front of the net.
Despite the mistakes, Omicioli says he urged his team not to give the game away.
"I told them we had to keep working, and we did," Omicioli said. "We gave them the opportunity to come back, and they took full advantage. That's the kind of team they are, and I commend them for that."
The IceGators have a six-day rest before returning to the ice for a rematch against Pensacola. Omicioli says his team is where it needs to be to compete with the IceFlyers and the other teams in the SPHL.
"The guys are finding that comfort level with each other, and we're sticking to our systems," Omicioi said. "With both of those together, we're a championship caliber team. Now we have to look ahead to Thursday and play these guys the same way we did tonight, but with a little more discipline."
SPHL Stories from December 5, 2014
- Ice Flyers Fall in a Shootout to the Ice Gators - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- RiverKings Fall to Ice Bears, 3-1 - Mississippi RiverKings
- Columbus Beats Huntsville 2-0 as Loewen Gains Shutout - Columbus Cottonmouths
- IceGators Knock off Pensacola in Shootout - Louisiana IceGators
- FireAntz Edge Rivermen in OT - Peoria Rivermen
- RiverKings Add Two, Waive One - Mississippi RiverKings
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