IceGators Pluck the Gulls in Overtime, 2-1
February 16, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release
Lafayette, LA - Derek Gustafson and Ed McGrane helped the Louisiana IceGators to a decisive win over the Pacific Division leading San Diego Gulls. Gustafson made 41 saves on 42 shots and McGrane scored the overtime winner to help the Gators to a nail-biting 2-1 win. The IceGators now have a six point lead over their closest division rival and have a 35-13-2 record with 72 points in the standing. The Gators are now in a two-way tie with Wheeling Nailers for the second spot in the ECHL.
Gator Derek Gustafson made his seventh straight start in goal for the IceGators. The first period was scoreless for the Gators and the Gulls, but it was not without some excitement. Both netminders came up with some big saves to preserve their shut-outs.
The IceGators opened the second period with Semir Ben-Amor's eighth tally of the year. Ben Storey stole the puck at his own blue line and skated down the far boards. He shot the puck across the neutral zone to Jamie Johnson who raced down the near boards and blasted the puck at Trevor Koenig. Koenig spat the rebound out to the stick of Ben-Amor. Ben-Amor's top-shelf wrister beat Koenig stick-side.
Gustafson's shut-out bid was spoiled at 17:02 when Sylvain Deschatelets. Gustafson was sprawled in his crease and Deschatelets popped the puck up over him and across the line. Down at the other end of the ice, Koenig stymied the Gators at every turn.
Both teams fought hard in the third period and both were backstopped by excellent goaltending. Koenig and Gustafson continued to make big saves to keep their opponents off the board.
The game extended into the extra frame for five minutes of four-on-four hockey. The teams continued to battle at both ends of the ice. With just over a minute to play, Ed McGrane stole the puck behind the Gulls goal, skated to the near post and put an improbable back-hand shot top-shelf past Koenig for the game-winner.
The IceGators have a few games off before they travel to Columbus for a tilt against the Cottonmouths on Friday, February 20. Game time 6:30 pm. The next home game for the team from Lafayette will be February 27 against arch-rival Mississippi at 7:05 pm.
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