CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Dominate Oilers in Series Opener

March 31, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


TULSA, OK --- The Mississippi RiverKings opened its first-round Central Hockey League playoff series against the Tulsa Oilers with a convincing 7-3 victory in Tulsa, Oklahoma Thursday night, March 31st. Seven different players scored goals for the RiverKings as Mississippi took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

Mississippi took a 3-1 lead in the first period on goals from R.G. Flath, Louis Dumont, and Chris Richards. Flath opened the scoring shooting in a rebound after a shot from Brennan Sarazin with just 37 seconds gone in the opening session. Dumont scored on an assist from Russell Smith and Patrik Levesque at 13:35, and Richards netted his first of the post-season on assists from Derek Landmesser and Matt Boyd at 17:16.

Tulsa scored in the first period on a power play goal from Michel Beausoleil at 13:35.

The two teams traded goals in the second period, as the RiverKings took a 4-2 lead into the locker room for the second intermission. Levesque gave the RiverKings a 4-1 lead at the 7:27 mark on assists from Dumont and Andrew Lackner.

That was answered by a power play goal from Derek Eastman of Tulsa at 18:46, assisted by Tom Dignard and Chad Costello for the 4-2 second intermission score.

The RiverKings broke the game open in the final period with a trio of goals before the Oilers completed the scoresheet with a late marker. Evgeny Timkin opened the Mississippi scoring at 8:23, assisted by Darrell Stoddard and Dumont, followed by Matt Boyd's goal from Flath at 9:54 and Sarazin's unassisted goal at 11:39 for a 7-2 RiverKings' lead.

Bates Battaglia finished up the scoring with his first CHL playoff goal on the power play, assisted by Gary Steffes and Anthony Battaglia at 17:38 for the final tally.

Mississippi outshot the Oilers 38-30 for the game. Goaltender Alexander Pechurskiy won his first playoff game for the RiverKings with a 27-save effort. Ian Keserich took the loss for the Oilers, stopping 31 of 38 shots.

On the power play, the RiverKings were 1-for-5, while the Oilers scored all three of their goals on the power play in ten chances.

Game two of the series will be in Tulsa tomorrow night at 7:35, before the series comes to Southaven's DeSoto Civic Center Sunday afternoon at 5:05 PM for Game Three.

For RiverKings playoff ticket information, call 662-342-1755 or go online to www.riverKings.com today!

Tulsa vs. Mississippi (all times PM) Game 1 - Thu., Mar. 31 - Mississippi 7, at Tulsa 3 (Mississippi leads best-of-five 1-0) Game 2 - Fri., Apr. 1 - Mississippi at Tulsa, 7:35 Game 3 - Sun., Apr. 3 - Tulsa at Mississippi, 5:05 *Game 4 - Tue., Apr. 5 - Tulsa at Mississippi, 7:05 *Game 5 - Sat., Apr. 9 - Mississippi at Tulsa, 7:35 *-if needed



Central Hockey League Stories from March 31, 2011


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