SPHL Mississippi RiverKings

'Kings Battle, But Fall to Fayetteville

Published on January 6, 2012 under SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


Southaven, Miss. - The Mississippi RiverKings fought to the final minute, but lost to the Fayetteville FireAntz on Friday night before an announced crowd of 3,101 at the Landers Center in Southaven.

Fayetteville jumped out to a 2-0 lead early as Jesse Biduke scored on a backhander at the 14:20 mark of the first period, while Bobby Reed netted home the second goal five minutes later on a pass from Biduke as it was all FireAntz in the first frame.

But the RiverKings came out flying to start the third. Ken Selby hammered home a rebound in the slot off a Darrell Stoddard shot on the power play to bring the 'Kings within one. Just 30 seconds later, Jeff Topilko ripped a shot from the left circle to beat Mike Brown as the RiverKings tied it up at two.

The game remained tied until the 18:44 mark when Matt Smyth fired a shot past Scott Darling to give the FireAntz the lead again.

Early in the third, Mike Tuomi scored on a Nick Vandenbeld pass in the slot as he put a shot high over Mike Brown to tie the game up at three.

But Fayetteville did not go away. Three minutes later Josh McQuade weaved through the RiverKings' defense and slipped the puck past Darling as the FireAntz retook the lead. Six and a half minutes later, Biduke added his second goal of the night as he let a one-timer rip from the slot to put Fayetteville by two.

The RiverKings had a final burst with five minutes left to go as Mike Tuomi took a Kyle Lundale outlet pass and beat Brown to bring the game within one.

Tempers boiled-over after the final whistle blew as fights broke out near the Fayetteville net as Lundale and Tanner Hlookoff took fighting majors and Darrell Stoddard and Matt Smyth dropped the gloves.

Scott Darling took the loss as he stopped 17 of 22 as he fell to 4-10-1 on the season. Mike Brown got the win as he improved to 8-13-2 after stopping 39 of 43.

The RiverKings next game is Saturday night as they travel to Huntsville to battle the Havoc. Be sure to join your fellow RiverKings fans at The Spot in Hernando for the official RiverKings Away Game Watch Party. Puck drops at 7:30.

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SPHL Stories from January 6, 2012


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