McNeil's three-point night tops Baton Rouge

October 19, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release


Lafayette, LA - Shawn McNeil capped off a three-point night with the game-winning goal midway through the third period to help the Louisiana IceGators rally past the Baton Rouge Kingfish, 5-3, at the Cajundome. Chris Taliercio and Kevin Mitchell each had two assists for Louisiana, which is 3-0-0 for the third time in as many seasons. Kenny Corupe (pictured, facing off with Jerry Gernander), Bobby Brown and Bruce Richardson also scored for the IceGators. Kyle Kettles made 26 saves for a win in his pro debut for Louisiana, which plays at Mississippi at 5:05 p.m. on Sunday.

Trevor Demmans, Clark Jones and Bryan Richardson each scored for Baton Rouge, which dropped to 2-3-0.

Demmans and Jones scored 26 seconds apart, each on a 4-on-3, to put the Kingfish ahead late in the first period.

The score stayed that way until late in the second period, a stanza which the IceGators dominated. Louisiana outshot the Kingfish 13-5 and finally struck with 30 seconds remaining with Sean Peach in the penalty box for cross-checking.

Corupe took a pass from McNeil in the right circle, walked in on Jeff Blair and fired a shot over the netminder's shoulder.

"That was a huge goal for us," said IceGators head coach and vice president of hockey operations Dave Farrish. "If you're even heading into the third period, you're in great shape. He made a great play."

The IceGators got the lead at 3-2 early in the third, as Benazic's shot from the point eluded Blair. Taliercio picked up the first of two, third-period assists on the play.

The lead was shortlived, as Bryan Richardson knotted the score shorthanded at the 3:24 mark. Richardson broke in on Kettles along with Demmans, and he took the pass and got it past the netminder.

Louisiana went on top for good, 4-3, at the 10:37 mark. Taliercio got the puck to McNeil at the blueline, and he streaked into the left circle. McNeil deked a defender to make some room, and wristed a shot over Blair to give the IceGators the lead for good.

Baton Rouge pulled Blair with 55 seconds left, but Bruce Richardson capped off a two-point (1g, 1a) night with his second empty-net goal in as many nights.

Brown made it 1-0 IceGators when he redirected a McNeil shot from the left circle past a screened Blair at 2:08 of the first period. Brown has six points (2g, 4a) in his first three games as an IceGator.

Blair finished with 29 saves, dropping to 0-2-0.



ECHL Stories from October 19, 2002


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