Inferno can't stop Sea Wolves comeback

December 7, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Columbia Inferno News Release


The Columbia Inferno (9-9-3-2, 23 points) fell 6-5 in overtime to the Mississippi Sea Wolves (7-14-0-1, 15 points) in a wild affair Friday night.

The Inferno jumped out to a quick lead when Anthony Battaglia scored his first of the year, on a rebound from a Jeff Miles shot, just 16 seconds into the game. Mac Faulkner stretched the lead to two goals a little more than a minute later when he converted a cross-crease pass from Tyson Marsh past Morgan Cey for his fifth of the year. Tyler Doig tipped in a pass from Brad Ralph in the low corner to stretch the lead to 3-0 at 9:14 on the power play.

The Sea Wolves then scored three first-period goals of their own. Zbynek Hrdel chipped into the Inferno lead at 14:34 when his shot from the far corner traveled up Jeff Jakaitis' blocker and into the top of the net. The Wolves cut the Inferno lead to 3-2 when Ryan Menei, skating on a 2-on-1, received a pass from Jason Tejchma and wristed a shot past Jakaitis' glove side from the near circle at 15:20. Mississippi completed the first-period turnaround with 16:13 when Mark Rooneem poked a rebound over the goal line past Jakaitis' outstretched arm.

The Inferno reclaimed their lead at 2:04 in the second period when Faulkner scored his sixth of the season and second of the night when he slipped a Reid Cashman rebound past Cey. Former Inferno player Travis Lisabeth answered right back at 16:09 when he corralled a rebound and put it past Jakaitis' left leg.

Mississippi took its first lead of the night at 10:32 of the third period when, directly off a face-off, Andy Rogers blistered a shot past Jakaitis. The Inferno were down 5-4 until the final seconds when Daniel Sparre netted his 13th of the season with just 37 seconds left. Sparre swatted at a Ralph rebound in midair, putting it past Cey's glove-side shoulder and sending the game to overtime.

Mississippi took advantage of Ralph's cross-checking penalty when Mark Hurtubise converted a perfect cross-crease pass from Chris Cava passed a helpless Jakaitis, giving the Sea Wolves a 6-5 victory.

Jakaitis stopped 39 of 45 shots, while Cey turned aside 20 of 25.

The Inferno host the Florida Everblades tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. for the inaugural Shandon-Wood Dog Bowl. Fans are encouraged to bring their leashed dogs to the arena, and the first 500 fans will receive a limited-edition dog bowl courtesy of Shandon-Wood Animal Clinic. The U.S. Marine Corps will also be at the game, collecting new, unwrapped toys for their annual Toys for Tots drive.

Season tickets, group tickets, fundraisers and the coolest birthday parties in town are all available by calling 803.256.7825 or by logging on to columbiainferno.com.



ECHL Stories from December 7, 2007


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