IceGators Skin Sea Wolves, 4-0
February 27, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release
Lafayette, LA â Four IceGators scored goals and goaltender Derek Gustafson earned his fourth shutout of the season to help the Louisiana IceGators to a 4-0 rout of the Mississippi Sea Wolves. The IceGators are now 37-14-2 on the season with 76 points and a six-point lead on Mississippi in the Central Division standings.
The first period was scoreless for the Gators and the Wolves, but was highlighted by spectacular goaltending at both ends of the ice. The Sea Wolves Sean Matile faced six Gators' shots and turned them all away. Gator netminder Derek Gustafson made some big saves on ten Sea Wolf shots, preserving his shutout for the first 20 minutes.
Ben Storey lit the lamp for the Gators early in the second period, with his 16th goal of the year. With his now-classic blaster-from-the-blue-line, Storey beat Matile glove-side after corralling the puck from Kenny Corupe's face-off win.
Ed McGrane gave the Gators a two-goal cushion at the 14:13 mark of the second, when he streaked down the far boards and wristed the puck mid-stride. The puck beat Matile five-hole. Milt Mastad and Rod Sarich earned assists on McGrane's 13th of the year.
Alex Materukhin put one on the board for the Gators at 18:05, on a feed from Ben Storey. With the Gators on the power play, Materukhin was standing in the far circle and caught a tape-to-tape from Storey at the blue line. Materukhin took advantage of the angle and put the puck stick-side behind Matile. Rod Sarich earned his second assist of the evening on Materukhin's goal.
The third period saw only one goal, from Armands Berzins, almost 15 minutes into the final stanza. The IceGators had the man-advantage and put a flurry of shots on Matile, who spat up a rebound that slid out to Berzins in the slot. Berzins shot the puck through the legs of Sea Wolf John Evangelista and beat a sprawling Matile for his 10th goal of the season.
Derek Gustafson fended off 27 shots on goal and served the Sea Wolves their first shutout of the season. Gustafson is 22-9 between the pipes this season.
The IceGators travel to Pensacola to take on the Ice Pilots at the Hangar tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. The Gators are back at the Frozen Swamp on Sunday, February 29 to face-off against the Texas Wildcatters at 4:05 p.m. SpongeBob SquarePants will be at the Cajundome to catch the action on Sunday. Sunday's game is also a "Guaranteed Win Night" for all IceGators fans. If the IceGators beat the Wildcatters, all fans in attendance can redeem Sunday's ticket for a free ticket to the game on Wednesday, March 3, at 7:05 p.m., also against the Wildcatters.
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ECHL Stories from February 27, 2004
- Steelheads strike back with 6-1 win over Alaska - Idaho Steelheads
- Riled-up Aces routed by Steelheads - Alaska Aces
- IceGators Skin Sea Wolves, 4-0 - Louisiana IceGators
- Chiefs Weather the Storm in Toledo - Johnstown Chiefs
- Titans start quick, hang on to beat Bombers 4-3 - Dayton Bombers
- Nailers continue to baffle Cyclones - Cincinnati Cyclones
- IceGators Silence Sea Wolves 4-0 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Rivermen Shut Out Reading 2-0 at Home - Peoria Rivermen
- Generals get defensive on Lynx - Greensboro Generals
- Gladiators Fall to Ice Pilots, 7-6 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Bullies use late heroics, oust Roanoke, 4-2 - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- Everblades Edge Columbus 2-1 - Florida Everblades
- Checkers edge out Grrrowl, 1-0 - Greenville Grrrowl
- Inferno Burn Pride 9-2 - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Generals trade Reimann for rights to Perry - Greensboro Generals
- Gulls - Wranglers Game Preview - San Diego Gulls
- Milam reassigned to Gladiators - Atlanta Gladiators
- Today In The ECHL - ECHL
- Generals game on February 27th is on - Greensboro Generals
- Zepp and Insana Recalled to Lowell - Florida Everblades
- Royals Promote Two Forwards - Reading Royals
- Nick Parillo Returns - Toledo Walleye
- Cammarata Suspended by Cyclones - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Hartford Recalls David St. Germain - Charlotte Checkers
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