IceGators run win streak to four straight

Published on November 10, 2003 under ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release


Louisiana stretched its winning streak to four games by going 3-0-0 last week. The IceGators enter this week with 12 points, one ahead of Pensacola and Mississippi for second place in the ECHL's Central Division, three points behind Gwinnett.

Sunday, Derek Gustafson made 25 saves for his 10th pro shutout and Jim Vickers and Martin Masa scored a goal apiece, leading the IceGators to a 2-0 victory over the Columbus Cottonmouths at the Cajundome.

It was a happy return to the Frozen Swamp for the IceGators, who had just capped off a three-week, five-game road trip.

Olivier Michaud turned aside 28 shots for Columbus, which saw its winless streak pushed to seven games (0-6-1).

Saturday night, Kevin Mitchell and Jamie Johnson each had a goal and two assists on the red-hot Louisiana power play, leading the IceGators to a 3-1 fight-marred victory over the Texas Wildcatters in front of a 8,314 arena-opening crowd at Ford Arena. Dennis Shiryaev added a power-play tally and Frederic Cloutier finished with 21 saves for Louisiana, which outshot Texas 54-22.

The teams combined for 193 penalty minutes - 113 by the expansion Wildcatters.

The week got off to a good and exciting start Friday. Konstantin Kalmikov scored the deciding shootout goal and Ben Kilgour and Ben Storey each tallied power play goals, as the Louisiana IceGators beat the Mississippi Sea Wolves 3-2 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in a physical game that saw heavyweights Shiryaev and Roger Maxwell duke it out early on.

Mitchell had two assists in his return to an IceGators uniform and Gustafson made 28 saves for Louisiana.

Three of the IceGators' first four wins this season were against the Sea Wolves.

Coming attractions:

TUE, Gator Talk, 7-8 p.m.

Join Bruce LeVine and Dave Farrish as they recap last week's action and look ahead to the upcoming road trip. It's Gator Talk, Tuesday from 7-8 p.m. on Newsradio 105.1 KPEL.

FRI, LA @ PEN, 7:05 p.m.

The IceGators and Ice Pilots hook up for the first time this season. Pensacola features a high-octane offense and former IceGators Corey Neilson and Evgeny Konstantinov. Louisiana has won three straight against the Ice Pilots and is 39-17-2 all-time against them.

SAT, LA vs. TEX, 7:05 p.m.

Southwest Medical Center Magnetic Schedule Night (3,000) Boy Scout Night #1

The IceGators ruined Texas' home opener Saturday, and the Wildcatters will look for some revenge. Saturday's game featured some third-period melees, and this one has all the makings of a great rivalry.

SUN, LA vs. PEN, 4:05 p.m.

Bennigan's presents "Skate with the ‘Gators" The IceGators play host to the Ice Pilots to finish off the three-in-three. Louisiana is 23-6-1 at the Cajundome versus Pensacola, including a 17-2-0 mark in the last 19 meetings. There will be an hour-long post-game skate with the players after Sunday's game.

Masa on verge of 500 - Louisiana veteran left wing Martin Masa is just one point shy of 500 in his pro career after scoring a 5-on-3 goal Sunday. Masa, at 30 the eldest statesman in the IceGators locker room, has 499 points (213g, 286a) in 581 pro games beginning in 1994-95. Masa, who was a member of Greenville's 2002 Kelly Cup winning team, has more game-winning goals (32) than all of his teammates, except Bobby Brown, have goals in the ECHL. Masa has most victimized South Carolina, with four game-winners. Masa has two goals and zero assists this season.

Power play on fire - Louisiana scored seven non-shootout goals last week, and six of them came on the power play (85.7 percent). The "even strength" goal actually wasn't, as Derek Gustafson was off the ice during a delayed penalty call during Sunday's 2-0 win over Columbus. Louisiana has scored 12 of its 17 (70.6 percent) of its regulation goals this season on the power play. The IceGators are ranked third among 31 ECHL teams with a 28.6 percent power-play rate. Only Reading (32.1) and Pensacola (31.4) are better. The Ice Pilots and IceGators hook up this Friday.

Mitchell a welcomed addition - It didn't take defenseman Kevin Mitchell long to get back into the act. The third-year blueliner, assigned by AHL Houston on Thursday, put up six power play points (1g, 5a) in three games and had a hand in six of seven goals. Mitchell has been a proficient power-play point producer in the past. Last season with Louisiana, Mitchell had 34 points, 23 on the power play (68 percent). Mitchell's six power-play points are tops on the team, despite playing in just three of eight games. In the last season-plus with the IceGators, 29 of Mitchell's 40 points have come with the man advantage (72.5 percent).

Storey hits 50-point ECHL mark - IceGators defenseman Ben Storey picked up his 50th career ECHL point when he assisted on Martin Masa's 5-on-3 goal Sunday. The helper was also the 98th point of his pro career, counting both his North American and European travels. Storey has five points (1g, 4a) this season, tied for fourth on the team.

You can get away with it with this goaltending - Louisiana is tied for 27th in the ECHL, averaging 2.38 goals per game. However, the IceGators are tied with Johnston for the league lead, allowing only 2.00 goals per contest. The three teams below the IceGators in goals scored per game (Bakersfield, Long Beach and Greenville) have just eight wins in 29 attempts.

Still counting them - Louisiana and Texas combined for 193 penalty minutes on Saturday. The Wildcatters' 113 PIM's are the most put up by an IceGators opponent since October 25, 1998, when New Orleans had 146. The 193 combined were the most for the IceGators and an opponent since October 31, 1998, when Louisiana (150) and South Carolina (96) combined for 246. Louisiana's 150 penalty minutes, and New Orleans' 146, are both IceGators records.

Community update - The IceGators have another strong week in the community coming up. Wednesday, a player will be at First Baptist Church of Breaux Bridge for it's Teaching and Learning Program. Friday, Clawd will be at Downtown Alive for the Toys for Tots kickoff. Don't forget the Teddy Bear Toss on December 22!

Three straight road wins - Louisiana has won three straight on the road, something the team did just once last season - from December 20-29. The IceGators will have a chance for a four-game road winning streak Friday in Pensacola. The last time Louisiana won four straight on the road was during a five-game streak from December 28, 2001-January 26, 2002, during the team's record 116-point campaign. Looking for fifth straight overall - The IceGators' four-game winning streak is one shy of their season-high from last season, set three times, the last from March 15-22. Louisiana's last six game winning streak was from January 13-January 29, 2002, once again during the IceGators' record-setting season. That campaign included a league-record tying 14-game winning streak.

Player of the Week Nominees

Defenseman Kevin Mitchell - Had six points (1g, 5a), all on the power play, in three games, leading IceGators to 3-0-0 record after being assigned from AHL Houston...Had a hand in six of Louisiana's seven non-shootout goals...Had two assists in 3-2 win at MIS Friday...Tied career-high with three points (1g, 2a), including game-winner, in 3-1 win at TEX Saturday...Sunday, assisted on Martin Masa's 5-on-3 goal that gave Louisiana its 2-0 winning margin.

Goaltender Derek Gustafson - Went 2-0-0 with a 0.96 goals against average and a .964 save percentage last week...Played first game in 13 days Friday, when he made 28 saves, plus four in the shootout, in 3-2 win at MIS...Sunday, made 25 saves for 10th pro shutout and second in the ECHL, in a 2-0 win over Columbus...Is 3-1-0 with a 1.92 goals against average (sixth in the ECHL) and a .932 save percentage (fourth in ECHL)...Is 2-0 in shootouts this season.

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ECHL Stories from November 10, 2003


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