Macon Ousts Orlando In Shootout
March 15, 2003 - SPHL (SPHL)
Florida Seals News Release
MACON, Ga. - Orlando Seals center Louis Goulet forced the game into overtime Saturday with his 20th goal of the year, a power-play tally, but it was the Macon Trax who came away with the 4-3 shootout victory.
Trax forward and league-leading scorer Tommy Stewart scored twice in regulation and added the game-winner in the shootout to give Macon (31-27) just its fourth win in 11 attempts against Orlando. The Seals (42-15) finish with an 18-11 record on the road.
The Seals will get another shot at Macon, who most likely will be Orlando's first-round opponent in the playoffs next week, when they host the Trax at 2 p.m. on Sunday. It will be Orlando's final home game of the regular season.
Sunday is also Fan Appreciation Day where fans will get the opportunity to win unique prizes and attend a post-game autograph session with the 2003 Commissioner's Cup champion Seals.
With less than 3 minutes remaining in the game Saturday and the Trax leading 3-2, Goulet beat Macon goaltender Andy Kollar to send the game into overtime. At the end of the extra session, the scored remained deadlocked at 3-3.
Goulet, who also had two assists on the night, led off the shootout by beating Kollar, but he would be the last Orlando shooter to score.
Macon's first shooter, Rick Emmett, failed to score, but Eden Welch kept the Trax alive with his tally. The Trax failed to score on their third attempt, setting the stage for Stewart's heroics. Stewart, who has 42 goals this season, slid the puck past Correia for the go-ahead goal. When Mark White's shot went wide of the net moments later, Macon had the victory.
Seals goaltender Mike Correia (12-4) made 32 saves in regulation and one in OT. Former Orlando goalie Kollar (6-7) got the win for the Trax after taking over for an injured Geoff Faulkner (20-13), who left the game early in the second period. It was Kollar's third win in three appearances for Macon.
Darcy Johnson gave the Seals the early lead when he converted a pass from Goulet just 4:13 into the game. Todd Nowicki made it 2-2 when he scored his 24th goal of the season at 2:37 of the third period.
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