Louisiana game notes vs. Columbus, 11/24

Published on November 24, 2002 under ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release


Cottonmouths at IceGators – The Columbus Cottonmouths conclude their first-ever trip into the Cajundome this afternoon for the second half of a back-to-back set, although the organization, which was previously the Hampton Road Admirals, made four appearances. The IceGators went 0-1-1 on a two-game trip to the Columbus Civic Center earlier this season, losing both games by identical 4-3 margins, before last night's 7-3 rout. In the first game, Louisiana held a two-goal lead with less than 10 minutes remaining, and in the second, the IceGators' rally from a three-goal deficit fell just short. All-time, Louisiana is 5-3-1 all-time against the Hampton Road/Columbus organization, including a 3-2-0 mark at home. Since the Cottonmouths relocated, the IceGators sport a 2-1-0 record against them.

Last night – Bruce Richardson exploded for his first career four-goal game – the team's first in 3 1/2 seasons – and set a new career-high with five points, as the Louisiana IceGators rode a four-goal second period to a 7-3 rout of the Columbus Cottonmouths at the Cajundome. Daniel Goneau celebrated his 400th pro game with a career-high tying four assists, while Tony Tuzzolino had a goal and two helpers for the IceGators, who earned their third straight win and fifth in six tries. Shawn Skiehar and Shawn McNeil also scored and Kyle Kettles made 26 saves for his second straight win. Matus Kostur yielded three goals on 14 shots for Columbus, which has dropped a season-high four straight. Mike Morrison turned aside 14-of-18 shots in relief of Kostur to take the loss, while Mike Bishai scored two goals and Ryan Risidore added a tally for the Cottonmouths.

Scouting the Cottonmouths – Columbus has dropped four straight for the first time this season, including going 0-2-0 on this Southwest Division swing that started with Friday's 4-3 loss in Mississippi. The Cottonmouths last won on November 16 at Greenville, a 4-1 decision. The recent losing streak has followed an impressive 6-1-1 stretch. It's no coincidence that the recent rough stretch for the Cottonmouths has happened without leading scorer Jeff Zehr, who is on injured reserve and has missed each of the last four games. Zehr is eligible to come off injured reserve today, although his availability is not known. Without Zehr available, the bulk of the scoring load will fall on the shoulders of right wing Brent Cullaton (9g, 14a) and center J.J. Hunter (5g, 11a). Mike Morrison, a rookie Edmonton prospect who beat the IceGators twice earlier this month, has gotten the majority of the load lately in net. Morrison suffered the loss last night in relief, although the game was well in hand when he entered. Morrison is 5-5-2 with a 3.17 goals against average and a .902 save percentage. Morrison is usually backed up by New Jersey Devils prospect Matus Kostur, who is 4-3-0 with a 4.52 goals against average.

There's about to be a new goals against average leader of all-time!!! – Frederic Cloutier's career goals against average is 2.13 in 49 games played. In one more game, he will qualify for the ECHL's all-time leaderboard in that category, which he would currently lead. Former Peoria netminder Curtis Sanford, who has played for the St. Louis Blues this season, had a 2.17 gaa in 51 games. Cloutier needs to give up three goals or less to keep his goals against average below 2.17 and take the lead, and four goals to tie Sanford.

Back on top – The IceGators are back where they are used to being, although they aren't there alone. Mississippi and Arkansas each won last night to maintain a three-way tie atop the Southwest Division standings at 24 points. The IceGators and Sea Wolves are percentage points ahead of the RiverBlades. Louisiana's win Friday night vaulted them into the first-place tie. Louisiana hadn't been out of first this late in the season since December 20, 2000 and hadn't been in first place this season since November 1. Louisiana was 6-1-0 that day, tied with Mississippi for first place.

Magic numbers all around – The IceGators are 9-0-0 when scoring four or more goals, and they are 10-1-1 when allowing three or less.

He's the guy who puts the power into play – IceGators defenseman Kevin Mitchell has 18 points (1g, 17a) this season, and 15 of those points (1g, 14a) have come on the power play. Five of Mitchell's eight career goals have come with the man advantage. Mitchell is set to play in his 100th game as a pro tonight, and is one assist shy of becoming the 19th player in team history with 50 assists.

Give the man a hat, plus one – Last night, Bruce Richardson had his first career hat trick by the midway point of the second period and ended with the franchise's sixth four or more goal game. Richardson, who had two power play goals, a shorthanded and an even-strength tally, registered the 50th hat trick in team history. The last Louisiana player with four goals was John Spoltore on March 26, 1999. Richardson had never before registered a hat trick, and his previous high of points was four, all assists, on October 27 of this season in a 6-1 win over Jackson. He picked up the 24th five-point game in team history and the first in nearly two seasons. The last was on December 9, 2000, against Birmingham, as both Chris Valicevic (5a) and Ryan Shanahan (2g, 3a) notched five points. Richardson is the 12th player with five or more points as an IceGator. Richardson was hooked off a partial breakaway late in the second period, a tally that would have helped him match Bob Berg's franchise record of five goals. Berg accomplished the feat on December 6, 1995, against Mobile. Richardson had scored two goals in a game just twice previously, the last time on October 15, 2000, with Louisiana against Tallahassee. Richardson is the second ECHL player this season with four goals, joining Columbia's Justin Morrison on October 24. He is the sixth player with five points, the last being Trenton's Adam Edinger Friday night. Richardson has seven goals in his last six games, including three goals in as many games for AHL Milwaukee.

Goneau gets four in 400th game – Daniel Goneau played in his 400th game as a pro last night, counting European games. Goneau has 242 points (116g, 126a) in 400 games. He tied his career-high with four assists and points last night. Goneau had four assists in a game one other time, with AHL Binghamton against Rochester on March 8, 1997. It marked his fourth career four-point game, the last coming with AHL Hartford versus Worcester on March 4, 1998.

Skiehar goes back-to-back for first time – Shawn Skiehar had just one ECHL goal in 41 games before his last contest, November 13 at Jackson. He now has goals in back-to-back games, having served a three-game ECHL suspension from November 15 until Friday night.

McNeil leads all ECHL goal scorers, since 2000-01 – Shawn McNeil has more goals than any other ECHL player since the beginning of the 2000-01 season. McNeil has 81 goals, four more than former teammate Jay Murphy.

Doing their best work while shorthanded – The IceGators yielded nine power play opportunities Saturday night. Amazingly, Louisiana is 6-0-1 when allowing eight or more power play opportunities.

Haven't I seen you before – Both Jaroslav Kerestes and Kenny Corupe are former Cottonmouths. Kerestes played for Columbus for two seasons when it was in the Central Hockey League, and also last season in the ECHL. Corupe had six points (2g, 4a) in 11 games with the Cottonmouths last season.

Quick hits

Jeff Worlton, who has a fighting major in five straight games, fought Columbus' Mike Lee for the second time this season last night. The two squared off on November 2.

Kevin Mitchell's third-period kneeing penalty last night gave him an even 200 penalty minutes as an IceGator.

Bruce Richardson's first point last night was his 50th as an IceGator.

Bruce Richardson has played three straight penalty-free games after 10 straight with a penalty.

Bruce Richardson is a plus-eight in his last five games, with 10 points (5g, 5a) in that span.

Bruce Richardson leads the IceGators with five third-period goals this season.

The IceGators are just 8-5-0 when outshooting their opponents, but they are 5-1-0 when accomplishing the feat at home.

Louisiana is 9-5-1 when Shawn McNeil has a point, but 5-1-0 at home in that situation.

Tony Tuzzolino's last three-point game was on December 5, 2001, against Worcester with Providence. Tuzzolino registered a goal and two assists in that game.

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