IceGators Snap Skid with SO Win over Huntsville
January 4, 2014 - SPHL (SPHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release
Lafayette, La.--The Louisiana IceGators dodged several bullets Saturday afternoon in the Cajundome.
The IceGators fought off a second-period surge from the Huntsville Havoc and a controversial goal reversal in overtime to beat the Havoc 5-4 in a shootout.
The IceGators (17-9-3) return to the ice Friday night when they travel to Biloxi to take on the Mississippi Surge. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m.
"I thought the boys played a very solid 60 minutes tonight," said IceGators head coach Kevin Kaminski. "We didn't give up all of the odd-man rushes like we did Friday night. Our mindset and puck decisions were much better.
"We didn't cheat tonight. When you don't cheat, you don't give up much. The effort was there Friday, but the smart effort wasn't. Tonight, we were more disciplined in playing our systems."
The IceGators took an early 2-0 lead after Shawn McNeil and Chris Wilson scored in the first nine minutes of the game.
Huntsville cut into the IceGators' lead at the 11:54 mark of the first period thanks to a Matt Singleton power play goal.
Wilson scored again 39 seconds later to give Louisiana a 3-1 lead.
Huntsville responded with three consecutive goals.
Brandon Perry closed the first period with a goal at the 15:29 mark of the frame to make the score 3-2..
Leland Fidler and Josh Harris both scored on power plays midway through the second period to give the Havoc a 4-3 lead.
The IceGators tied the score with 2:29 remaining in the second on a Tyler Lyon goal.
"We had a lull in the second period, but we got the momentum back after Lyon scored," Kaminski said. "Then (Tyler) Barr, Harry (Mahesh), and (Josh) Duplantis came out with a great shift with great work ethic. They kept their feet going, were physical, and got the puck to the net to keep the momentum going."
The IceGators seemed to have won the game midway through overtime when Bret Peppler put the puck into the Huntsville goal. However, referee Mike Sheehan waved off the score, ruling that the net was off its moorings prior to the puck crossing the goal line.
Replays later showed that the puck was in the net prior to the goal being dislodged.
Wilson and Jake Trask gave the IceGators a 2-0 lead in the shootout after the first two rounds. Josh Harris scored for Huntsville in the third round before McNeil secured the IceGators' victory in the fourth round.
Kaminski says he is pleased with his team's performance in the first half of the season. However, he acknowledges his players need to hone some of their skills in the final 28 games of the regular season.
"We've put ourselves in a good position," Kaminski says. "Our goal before New Year's was to be in first place, and we were. I think our biggest thing is playing consistently all around and remembering what our identity is. We need to keep it simple and pride the little things, like our stingy defense and our work ethic. The offense will take care of itself."
SPHL Stories from January 4, 2014
- Rivermen Top Mississippi Surge, 5-2 on Saturday - Peoria Rivermen
- Ice Bears Pay Tribute to Swider with Victory - Knoxville Ice Bears
- Hosmer's Hat Trick Helps Hold off Fayetteville - Mississippi RiverKings
- Ice Flyers' Comeback Attempt Falls Short, Lose 2-1 - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Thunder Shut out at Columbus - Bloomington Thunder
- IceGators Snap Skid with SO Win over Huntsville - Louisiana IceGators
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