SPHL Mississippi RiverKings

'Kings Score Late, But Fall to Surge

Published on January 31, 2012 under SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


Southaven, Miss. - A hot goalie and good defense diffused all but one RiverKings scoring chance, as the Mississippi Surge took down the RiverKings 2-1 in another Battle of Mississippi at the Landers Center in Southaven Tuesday night.

The Surge got on the board first and never looked back as Mark Versteeg-Lytwyn blasted a Tyler Ruel pass over the glove hand of Scott Darling to put the 'Kings down one.

The score would remain that way until the 17:26 mark of the second period when Adam Stuart slipped behind the defense and converted on a Matt Kinnunen pass to put the Surge up by two heading into the final frame.

The RiverKings could not muster a strong offensive push until the 19:11 mark when Matt Whitehead put a Darrell Stoddard rebound past Kiefer Smiley as the deficit was cut to one. But with Scott Darling on the bench and an extra attacker on the ice, the Surge kept the puck along the boards to kill the remaining seconds off the clock to hand the 'Kings their second straight loss.

Scott Darling took the loss in his first start since returning from Wichita. He stopped 31 of 33 shots against as he fell to 7-11-1. Kiefer Smiley picked up his third straight win as he improved to 11-5-2 after stopping 27 of 28 en route to the first star of the game.

The next RiverKings home game is on Friday, February 3 as the 'Kings take on the Knoxville Ice Bears at 7:05. It's Belhaven University Faith and Family Night at the Landers Center as the game will begin with a pre-game prayer by RiverKings forward Kevin Fukala and Don Jones, Director of Admissions & Student Services of Belhaven University. The nationally recognized Zooperstars! will also be on hand. The group featured on America's Got Talent will perform during the first intermission. For ticket inquiries, contact the RiverKings front office at 662-342-1755.

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