Manatees win sixth in a row in overtime thriller
January 25, 2004 - SPHL (SPHL)
Miami Manatees News Release
Miami â Despite dropping to a 5-2 deficit by 3:21 of the second period, the visiting Macon Trax wouldn't quit against the Manatees Sunday night.
The Manatees came out flying in the first period, getting on the board just 1:02 into the game when Tom Perry's slap-shot from the point eluded Geoff Faulkner on the power-play.
Later in the first with the Manatees killing a penalty, Dan Donnette intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and shot it around the near boards. Faulkner came out to play the puck behind the net, but the puck took a funny bounce off a stanchion and went into the goal from an odd angle for the two-goal lead.
Hewer scored the third goal for the Manatees, but the Trax roared back with two quick goals from Ryan Rivard and David Deeves to pull within one goal at the end of the first period.
Greg LeColst and Kevin Swider scored two goals in a 2:41 span to start the second period. But the Trax fought back within two goals before Swider scored his second of the night at 11:54 in the second period. Swider's goal was also to be the last goal in regulation time.
Macon again fought back to end the second period, scoring three unanswered goals from Art Mnatsakanov, Deeves, and Andrew Katzberg to send the game to overtime.
But the hero of the game in the overtime session was Kevin Swider. On a two-on-one breakaway with Tom Perry, Swider deked out back-up goaltender to the ice and shot the puck into the wide-open net for the 7-6 Manatees win.
Swider's hat-trick was the second consecutive hat-trick for the Manatees in two nights. Oak Hewer scored three goals against the Orlando Seals in the 7-3 win on Saturday.
With the win, the Manatees extend their home-record to a WHA2 best 14-1-1 and move into a 2nd place tie with the Alabama Slammers at the half-way point of the season.
Mark Gowan made 27 saves for the win, while Andy Kollar earned the loss as the replacement goaltender.
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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SPHL Stories from January 25, 2004
- Barracudas home streak reaches 10 games - Jacksonville Barracudas
- Loggerheads plan to bite the Seals - Lakeland Loggerheads
- Manatees win sixth in a row in overtime thriller - Miami Manatees
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- Loggerheads Bachelor Auction - Lakeland Loggerheads
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