McNeil sends game into OT, Richardson wins it for IceGators

Published on January 19, 2003 under ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release


Lafayette, LA – Shawn McNeil's fourth extra attacker goal of the season with 51.1 seconds left sent the game into overtime, and Bruce Richardson deflected home the game-winner 1:33 into the extra session, as the Louisiana IceGators rallied for a stunning 2-1 victory over the Arkansas RiverBlades in front of 4,836 at the Cajundome.

Kyle Kettles made 29 saves for Louisiana, which snapped a two-game skid and improved to 9-3-3 in its last 15. The IceGators, who moved to 56 points and guaranteed themselves at least a share of first place at the All-Star break, are off until Friday, when they host Mississippi at 7:05 p.m. Mississippi, which entered the night tied with Louisiana, hosts Baton Rouge later Sunday.

Former IceGator Jason Saal made 31 saves and Mike Sandbeck scored on Arkansas' first shot of the game as the RiverBlades were able to extend their unbeaten streak to a season high-tying eight games (5-0-3).

The IceGators also extended their streak of games without being shut out to 110. For the second time in eight games, they needed to score inside the final minute to keep the streak going.

McNeil's game-tying goal was his ninth in 10 games against Saal, his former teammate, this season. Richardson won the draw back to Cal Benazic, whose shot was turned aside by Saal. McNeil's rebound attempt was sent into the corner by Saal, a move that was the netminder's undoing. McNeil tenaciously tracked down the puck and banked it off Saal's right skate into the net from along the boards for his team-best 23rd goal of the season. The tally came with 51.1 seconds left, just six ticks after the IceGators pulled Kettles.

"I think I learned some things from practicing against (Saal)," said McNeil. "There's not a lot of practice for that though."

Kettles was able to turn aside Jason Bermingham with 20 seconds left in regulation, and J.P. Morin cleared away the puck, forcing overtime.

Richardson's 19th tally of the season was his third game-winner. John DePourcq got the puck back to All-Star Rod Sarich, whose shot was deflected in front of the net by Richardson. Louisiana activated DePourcq from the injured reserve list prior to the game. DePourcq had missed 28 of the last 29 contests due to injury and is playing in just his seventh game this season.

"If I end up the leading scorer in the league, it's not because of anything fancy," said Richardson, who has 62 points – four behind Roanoke's Jason Jaffray for the ECHL's top scorer. "Good things happen when you go to the net. We had a great team meeting this morning. There's still some things we have to work on, but this was a great win for us."

This marked the fifth time this season that Louisiana has trailed with five minutes left in regulation and has picked up at least a point. The IceGators are now 3-8-2 when trailing with five minutes left, including a 3-2-1 mark at home.

Both teams had trouble early on in the game, as they combined for just one shot – by Louisiana – in the first seven minutes of the game. The IceGators had two minutes of a five-on-three, but failed to record a shot.

Arkansas scored on its first shot, which didn't come until the 7:07 mark. Dean Stock, behind the net, slid a pass to a wide open Sandbeck between the circles. Sandbeck got the puck over Kettles' blocker for his seventh goal of the season.

The RiverBlades had a good chance to go up 2-0, but Bermingham pushed a bouncing puck wide on the power play with 9:45 left.

Nathan Rempel had a great chance with 4:15 left, double deking a defender to the ground, but Saal kicked out his pads and turned the puck aside.

The second period saw just one excellent chance for each team.

With 8:26 left, Daniel Goneau skated in on the right wing and got a shot that deflected off Saal's pad. The puck eventually came to Richardson skating up the slot, but Richardson's shot went above the crossbar.

Kettles kept the margin one goal with 3:45 left in the second, robbing Bermingham with the glove from the left circle.

In the third, the IceGators had an early power play, and Bobby Brown's shot from between the circles was just wide on the team's best chance.

Just 16 seconds after that power play expired, Semir Ben-Amor was called for roughing in the corner, sending Arkansas back on the man advantage.

But the IceGators killed the man advantage off and had a 3-on-2 a minute later. DePourcq left a pass for McNeil on the left wing, but Saal stoned his nemesis, and a defender quickly cleared the puck away.

Arkansas, which entered the game with the top power play in the ECHL, went 0-for-5 with the man advantage, as did Louisiana.

Gator Bites:

Saal was looking to join Mike Tamburro as the only goalies to shut out the IceGators at the Cajundome. Tamburro did it three times.

Saal would have been the only former IceGator netminder to shut the IceGators out.

Sandbeck's goal was his first point in 10 games against Louisiana this season.

Five of Louisiana's eight minor penalties were roughing calls.

Benazic scored two extra attacker goals in the final minute against Baton Rouge to help the IceGators to a 3-2 lead on New Year's Eve.

McNeil has four of Louisiana's seven extra attacker goals this season, not counting a Brown goal on a delayed penalty.

The IceGators are 4-8-2 when trailing after two periods, including a 3-2-1 mark at home.

McNeil extended his scoring streak to six games (3g, 7a).

Richardson has seven assists in a four-game assist streak.

Benazic has one assist in three straight games, tying his season-high.

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