Manatees bombard Barracudas, 7-3
February 22, 2004 - SPHL (SPHL)
Miami Manatees News Release
Jacksonville â The Manatees finished their three-game road-trip on a positive note as they knocked off the Jacksonville Barracudas 7-3. Darcy Johnson scored two goals, Oak Hewer scored a goal and two assists, and Steve Howard added three assists in the win.
The Manatees power-play continued their recent hot streak when Johnson started the scoring off for the Manatees. Playing down low, he took a pass from Tom Kotsopoulos and went hard to the front of the net to jam the puck past Randy Hevey at 4:29.
As the first period was winding down, Kevin Swider found Greg LeColst entering the offensive zone. LeColst didn't have a path to the front of the net, so he blasted a slap-shot from the left circle that cleanly beat Hevey top-shelf. LeColst's goal helped tie him with an early season personal best six-game goal scoring streak. Swider's assist also extended his assist streak to six-games.
The Manatees continued the scoring as the second period started when Zdnek Vanc carried the puck deep into the Barracudas zone. Holding off a defenseman, Vanc centered the pass to the center of the ice where Chad Cabana, playing in his third game as a Manatee took the pass and one-timed it past Hevey for the three-goal lead at 2:42.
Jacksonville scored on a Jay McCabe goal at 8:32, but Johnson scored his fourth goal in two games when his slap-shot from the point found the back of the net at 11:05.
Jacksonville started to get momentum after Johnson's goal, and they carried the play to the Manatees and pulled within two when Steenbergen scored at 18:08.
But Hewer answered right back on a phenomenal individual effort as the second period winded down. Coming into the offensive zone, Hewer cut across to the high slot, deked out a defenseman and carried the puck to the low slot where his wrist-shot beat Hevey to the left side. Earning the assist on the play was Steve Howard, which was his third point of the night and sixth in two games.
Hewer's goal was enough for Jacksonville coach Ron Duguay, who put Nate Ziemski in the nets to finish the game as the third period commenced. Justin Berry scored at 7:31 of the third period in an effort to get some momentum going.
But the Manatees "Rat- Line" of Dan Donnette, Darren Cain, and Josh Liebenow who shut the door on the Barracudas chance at making a comeback. Liebenow and Cain each scored in the third period as they held the puck deep in the offensive zone and cycled effectively to create prime scoring chances as the game came to the conclusion.
The Miami Manatees face off against the Alabama Slammers, Jacksonville Barracudas, Lakeland Loggerheads, Macon Trax, and Orlando Seals in the WHA2's inaugural season. All games are broadcast on www.irn.fm.
Individual and Group Tickets for the Miami Manatees are now on sale. For further information, please contact the Manatees at (305) 536-PUCK (7825) or visit www.miamimanatees.com.
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