Kettles has franchise-best 51 saves as 'Gators top Florida 3-1

Published on January 31, 2003 under ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release


Lafayette, LA – Rookie Kyle Kettles made a franchise-record 51 saves, Nathan Rempel scored twice and Shawn McNeil added a goal and an assist, as the Louisiana IceGators beat the Florida Everblades 3-1 in front of 4,899 on Church Night at the Cajundome. John DePourcq added two helpers for Louisiana, which maintained its four-point Southwest lead over Arkansas, which rallied for a 4-3 home win against Jackson tonight. The IceGators and Everblades meet again at the Cajundome on Saturday at 7:05 p.m.

Kettles made 20 saves in the first period, 17 in the second and 14 in the final third period, eclipsing a record that stood for nearly six years. Marc Delorme held the previous mark, making 49 saves on March 12, 1997 against Pensacola, a game in which his team posted a 3-2 victory.

George Awada scored for the Everblades and Rob Zepp turned aside eight-of-10 shots before being pulled for Florida, which had its three-game unbeaten streak (2-0-1) snapped. The Everblades fell to 0-5-0 all-time at the Cajundome. Cam McCormick made 18 saves in relief of Zepp.

Florida pelted Kettles with 52 total shots, bettering the old mark of shots against at home by two. New Orleans had 50 shots at the Cajundome on December 31, 1999.

Kettles stood strong despite 11 Florida power plays, which resulted in 23 shots but just one goal. The IceGators finished 1-for-5 on the power play.

"Kettles really did a great job smothering all of their original shots," said IceGators head coach and vice president of hockey operations Dave Farrish. "He either covered up the shots, or our guys pushed their guys off the rebounds."

The IceGators had yielded a goal on their opponents' first shot in each of their last four games, but it was Louisiana that struck on its first shot tonight in a game with playoff-type atmosphere.

Branislav Kvetan made a diving stop to keep the puck in the Florida zone, and it popped up in the air. DePourcq, who appeared to be the only person in the arena to know where the puck was, settled it in the lower right circle. DePourcq waited for McNeil to streak into the mid slot and fed the winger, who beat Zepp low glove side. Twenty-two of McNeil's 27 goals have either tied the game or given the IceGators the lead.

Louisiana had another chance with 3:50 left, but Zepp stopped McNeil from the lower left circle, and the rebound rolloed away from a pair of IceGators.

McNeil almost made it 2-0 just 23 seconds into the second period shorthanded. McNeil intercepted a clearing attempt and skated in on Zepp alone. McNeil faked, got Zepp to the ground, but the netminder split and made the pad save.

Louisiana found itself shorthanded for the fifth time just six minutes into the second period, when Kettles made another incredible save. Seconds after stopping a shot from the right point, Kettles ranged far to his right to kick aside a shot from the left blueline.

The IceGators took a 2-0 lead on Rempel's 23rd goal, shorthanded, at the 7:57 mark of the second. The tally came with 3:26 left on a four-minute Florida power play after Louis Mass was called for elbowing and a cross check. McNeil won the draw back to Rempel, coming off a hat trick Sunday, at the top of the right circle, and the winger ripped a one-timer low by Zepp's glove. Zepp was pulled in favor of Cam McCormick 1:02 later after making eight saves.

Florida entered the game last in the league in fighting majors and penalty minutes, but Brian Goudie squared off with Dennis Shiryaev at 12:13 of the second period. The pair took quite awhile to face up, and locked arms once they did. With officials moving the net that was in their way, the went along the boards, where Shiryaev landed several rights to Goudie's head.

Penalties finally caught up to the IceGators on Florida's eighth power-play chance, with McNeil in the box for high-sticking, at the 14:35 mark. Kevin Brown, behind the net, slid the puck to Awada all alone on the doorstep. Awada had an easy time putting the puck past Kettles for his 13th goal of the season. Kettles stopped the first 36 shots sent his way.

Kettles had 37 saves through two periods, just two off his career-high.

The IceGators went on an early power play in the third, but couldn't extend their lead.

Kettles again earned his keep on a Florida 5-on-3 with inside of eight minutes left. He went far to his left to turn aside Laurent Meunier's rebound attempt. The 5-on-3 lasted for 35 seconds, and Florida's power play ended with 52 seconds left when Sean Curry was whistled for charging.

On the 4-on-4, Kettles sprawled flat on the ground to stop an attempt by Don Smith.

"My team played great in front of me tonight," said Kettles. "There wasn't a shot that I didn't see."

The Everblades again went on the power play – their 11th and final – with 4:21 left when Rod Sarich was whistled for high-sticking.

"To come out of here with two points after being outshot like that and being shortstaffed due to penalties is great," said Farrish. "I'm not sure if I've ever seen one team play so shortstaffed for an entire game."

Florida has 23 shots on the power play, just six fewer than the IceGators had as a team.

A Florida penalty eventually led to the Everblades' demise in the waning minutes. Goudie swung his stick in an attempt to incite Shawn Skiehar. Goudie was given a 10-minute misconduct and finished with 29 penalty minutes.

Just 17 seconds after Goudie was sent off, Rempel took a pass from DePourcq, who was along the boards, and Rempel slipped one by McCormick from the low slot for his 24th tally of the season. McNeil also picked up an assist on the play.

McNeil, coming off a four-assist game Sunday against Pensacola, has either scored or assisted on nine of the team's last 11 goals. McNeil and his linemates (DePourcq, Rempel) have combined for 17 points in the last two games.

"That's really a big line for us right now," added Farrish. "With Piggy (DePourcq) back in the center, he's starting to see his way around better, and he made some great setups tonight."

Gator Bites:

Former Detroit Lion running back Derrick Moore gave an inspirational speech during the first intermission, while Satellite Soul played a 90-minute concert after the game.

Kettles is the first IceGator netminder to start nine straight games since Sean Gauthier from November 19-December 10, 2000.

Kettles became just the eight IceGator netminder in team history to record 45 or more shots in one game.

The IceGators held the lead after one period for just the second time in seven games, and for only the third time in the last seven home games.

McNeil played in his 248th game with Louisiana, moving past Ryan Shanahan into seventh place on the team's all-time list.

McNeil's goal was his 121st with the team, just 11 behind Chris Valicevic for third place on the IceGators' ledgers.

Zepp became the 47th goalie that McNeil has scored on.

Thirteen of McNeil's goals have given the IceGators the lead, and he also has scored Louisiana's first goal 13 times.

McNeil has 11 points (4g, 7a) in eight career games against Florida.

IceGators left winger Daniel Goneau played in his 400th game as a pro in North America.

Shiryaev played in his 99th game with the IceGators.

Louisiana is 19-1-3 this season when leading after two periods, and the IceGators are 90-5-4 under Dave Farrish when leading after 40 minutes.

Rempel has two shorthanded goals, tying Bruce Richardson, currently in AHL Hershey, for the team lead.

Louisiana improved to 4-1-2 against the Southeast Division, while Florida dropped to 4-1-0 versus the Southwest. The Everblades had previously beaten Pensacola four times.

Goudie's fighting major was just Florida's 24th this season. The IceGators lead the ECHL with 79.

Louisiana has won four straight home games. The most saves by any goalie in the Cajundome is 57, by Jacksonville's Steve Vezina, on March 26, 1997.

The Everblades entered tonight's game ranked last in the ECHL in road power play.

Louisiana's Derek Boogaard picked up 22 PIM's, including a game-misconduct, late in the second period in a scrum with Jim Verdule near the goal.

Mississippi fell 3-1 in Dayton tonight, dropping six points behind the IceGators and two points behind Arkansas for second place.

Every Everblade finished with a shot except Tom Nelson.

Rempel has 10 power play goals, tied with McNeil for the team lead.

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