IceGators pick up seven of eight points

Published on November 25, 2002 under ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release


Week in review: LA 2, MIS 1; LA 3, BR 2; LA 7, CBS 3; CBS 7, LA 6 (OT)

Louisiana notched seven of a possible eight points last week, failing to get two points in only Sunday's wild 7-6 home overtime loss to Columbus. The week began with a pair of one-goal victories, followed by a 7-3 rout of the Cottonmouths.

Sunday, Brent Cullaton scored at 3:18 of overtime to lift the Columbus Cottonmouths to a wild 7-6 win over the Louisiana IceGators at the Cajundome. Sean McAslin and Jerome Bechard each scored two goals for Columbus, which snapped a season-high four-game losing streak – including a 7-3 loss to the IceGators Saturday night.

Cullaton's goal ruined a memorable comeback by Louisiana, which scored two goals in the final 2:34, including the game-tying goal by Shawn McNeil with 47 seconds left. Bruce Richardson, coming off his four-goal, five-point game Saturday, scored two goals and added an assist for the IceGators, who had a three-game winning streak snapped. Frederic Cloutier stopped 18-of-25 shots, while Daniel Goneau and Kevin Mitchell each chipped in with three assists.

Saturday was a historic night at the Cajundome, as Richardson exploded for his first career four-goal game – the team's first in 3 1/2 seasons – and set a new career-high with five points, as the Louisiana IceGators rode a four-goal second period to a 7-3 rout of Columbus.

Goneau celebrated his 400th pro game with a career-high tying four assists, while Tony Tuzzolino had a goal and two helpers for the IceGators. Shawn Skiehar and McNeil also scored and Kyle Kettles made 26 saves for his second straight win.

A little more difficult time was had Friday, when the IceGators needed a third-period goal by Semir Ben-Amor -- his first goal as a pro in North America -- to escape with a 3-2 win over Baton Rouge. Branislav Kvetan scored his second pro goal in 101 games and Tuzzulino added his first tally as an IceGator, while Cloutier made 30 saves.

The IceGators started the week with another one-goal win, this one an exciting 2-1 decision in Mississippi. Louis Mass scored his first pro goal in his 77th game with 5:21 left in the third period and Cloutier made an acrobatic 26 saves for the win.

Bobby Brown also scored for the IceGators, who killed off a big 5-on-3 just before Mass' goal. Louisiana rebounded from last Friday's 6-1 loss in Pensacola, their worst loss since the 2000-01 season.

Coming attractions:

THU, LA vs. PEN, 7:05 p.m.

"Thanksgiving Pucks"

We'll give way special Thanksgiving pucks, sponsored by the Louisiana HockeyPlex, to the first 1,000 fans who spend their Turkey Day evening with us. The Ice Pilots, who handed Louisiana its worst loss of the season two weeks ago, make their first trip this season to Lafayette.

FRI, LA vs. MIS, 7:05 p.m.

"Leftover Night", "Cajundome Live"

Up-and-coming Acadiana musician Marc Broussard will be performing during intermissions. Also, if you bring us your canned-good leftovers from Thanksgiving, we'll give you our leftovers as we empty out our storage closet from years past to fill your homes for the holidays. The IceGators and Sea Wolves are locked in a duel at the top of the Southwest Division standings, and every game counts.

SAT, LA at MIS, 7:35 p.m.

The IceGators and Sea Wolves finish off a home-and-home series with a tilt at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.

All you ever wanted to know about Bruce Richardson's big night but were afraid to ask - Saturday, Bruce Richardson had his first career hat trick by the midway point of the second period and ended with the franchise's sixth four or more goal game. Richardson, who had two power play goals, a shorthanded and an even-strength tally, registered the 50th hat trick in team history. The last Louisiana player with four goals was John Spoltore on March 26, 1999. Richardson had never before registered a hat trick, and his previous high of points was four, all assists, on October 27 of this season in a 6-1 win over Jackson. He picked up the 24th five-point game in team history and the first in nearly two seasons. The last was on December 9, 2000, against Birmingham, as both Chris Valicevic (5a) and Ryan Shanahan (2g, 3a) notched five points. Richardson is the 12th player with five or more points in one game as an IceGator. Richardson was hooked off a partial breakaway late in the second period, a tally that would have helped him match Bob Berg's franchise record of five goals. Berg accomplished the feat on December 6, 1995, against Mobile. Richardson had scored two goals in a game just twice previously, the last time on October 15, 2000, with Louisiana against Tallahassee. Richardson is the second ECHL player this season with four goals, joining Columbia's Justin Morrison on October 24. He is the sixth player with five points, the last being Trenton's Adam Edinger Friday night. Richardson has nine goals in his last seven games, including three goals in as many games for AHL Milwaukee.

Seven-goal plateau isn't reached often - In the 513-game history of the IceGators' franchise, Sunday was just the 15th time it has given up seven goals in a game. The feat happened only one other time in the three-year Dave Farrish era, an 8-5 loss in Toledo on January 6, 2001. Louisiana responded after that loss with a four-game unbeaten streak (3-0-1), with all four games coming in shootouts.

Doing their best work while shorthanded – The IceGators yielded nine power play opportunities Saturday and eight on Sunday. Amazingly, Louisiana is 6-0-2 when allowing eight or more power play opportunities.

Matching a career best - Bruce Richardson had just two career multi-goal games coming into this weekend, but he recorded back-to-back multi-goal games Saturday and Sunday.

"French Connection" meets "The Sopranos" - The French Connection line of Daniel Goneau and Bruce Richardson skated alongside of Buffalo native Tony Tuzzolino for the first time this week, and the results were deadly for opponents. The line combined for 20 points in four games, including 12 in Saturday's 7-3 rout of Columbus.

Cullaton does it to IceGators again - Columbus' Cullaton is just the sixth player with two game-winning goals in either a shootout or overtime against the IceGators. Playing for the Florida Everblades on March 18, 2000, Cullaton beat the IceGators with a shootout goal in a 6-5 win in Estero. Mark Cadotte, Mark Donahue, Ian Hebert, Vashi Nedomansky and Janis Tomans all have two post-regulation game-winners against Louisiana. Cullaton, Arkansas' Eric Long and Mississippi's Sergei Kuznetsov have the three OT game-winners versus Louisiana.

Richardson ties another record - Bruce Richardson is the first IceGator with six goals over a two-game span since Jay Murphy had back-to-back hat tricks from March 12-17, 2000. Murphy had a run of four hat tricks in six games late that season. Bob Berg also totaled six goals in two games – five in one contest – in the 1995-96 campaign. Murphy holds the record for most goals in a three game span with eight – from March 12-18, 2000.

Overtime had been so good - The IceGators entered this season 5-1 all-time in overtime, as the ECHL introduced he five-minute overtime period in the 1999-2000 season. Louisiana has dropped both its overtime decisions this season.

He's the guy who puts the power into play – IceGators defenseman Kevin Mitchell has 21 points (1g, 20a) this season, and 17 of those points (1g, 16a) have come on the power play.

Player of the Week Nominees

Center Bruce Richardson - Had 10 points (6g, 4a) in leading IceGators to 3-0-1 record, getting all the points in the final three games...Notched two assists in Friday's 3-2 win over BR...Recorded first career four-goal game and five-point contest in Saturday's 7-3 win vs. Columbus...Scored twice and added an assist in Sunday's 7-6 overtime loss to the Cottonmouths...Leads IceGators with 26 points (11g, 15a) in 17 games...Second on team with 11 goals, trailing Shawn McNeil.

Goaltender Frederic Cloutier - Went 2-0-1 with a 3.28 goals against average and a .881 save percentage last week...Made 26 saves in 2-1 win at MIS Tuesday...Stopped 30 shots in 3-2 home win over BR on Friday...Turned aside 18-of-25 shots in 7-6 overtime loss to Columbus on Sunday...Played in 50th career game Sunday, qualifying for ECHL's all-time gaa leaderboard...Ranks second behind former Peoria netminder Curtis Sanford (2.17) with a 2.23 gaa.

Don't forget to watch Chomp Time, the weekly television show dedicated to the Louisiana IceGators. Andy Davis hosts Chomp Time, every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on Fox-15.

Make sure to follow the IceGators on 105.1 KPEL-FM, and also via the Internet at www.icegators.com.

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ECHL Stories from November 25, 2002


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