CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings pull out come-from-behind shootout victory

Published on February 6, 2004 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN, Miss – The two-time defending CHL champion Memphis RiverKings opened a three game stint at the DeSoto Civic Center with a dramatic 4-3 shootout win over the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs before 5,855 patrons.

Jonathan Gagnon buried his shootout opportunity, and Jean-Francois Racine turned away 3 of the 4 shots he faced to send the rival Mudbugs away in defeat. Gagnon's goal was book-ended by shootout tallies from Alexandre Mathieu and Jay Neal as the ‘Kings won the shootout 3-1.

The ‘Kings jumped ahead early when forward Jeremy Cornish tipped a Derek Landmesser shot past visiting goaltender Jeff Blair. The goal, Cornish's 3rd on the season, negated a delayed penalty against the Mudbugs.

The advantage would not last for long, however, as Bossier-Shreveport equalized late in the frame by way of forward Trevor Buchanan's 9th strike of the season, a slap shot that found its way past Racine.

Bossier-Shreveport would convert next in the form of Jason Basile, who fired home a failed puck clearance for his 6th marker of the campaign during a period in which the Mudbugs out shot Memphis by almost a 2 to 1 margin.

Memphis would pull level late in the period with Brad Mueller hammering home a Jay Neal pass to knot the game at 2. The goal, on the power play, was Mueller's 15th of the year.

Unfortunately for the RiverKings, the deadlock was once again broken, this time halfway into the third period as defenseman Jim Sprott tipped in Jason Buchanan's centering pass into a wide open net.

The ‘Kings would not fold, however, and would force the tie, and sudden death overtime when Jay Neal managed to find Derek Landmesser's shot and deflect it past Blair. Neal's 18th goal came with 14 seconds left in the game.

Racine turned in another fine performance, stopping 36 of the 39 shots he faced during regulation. In the shootout, he went 3 for 4 against the Mudbugs, backstopping the ‘Kings for his 7th win this year.

Jeff Blair also withstood the frantic extra frame, putting up 5 of his 27 saves during the overtime. Blair picked up the loss, only his third of the season and his first loss to the Riverkings since Dec. 23.

The win moved the RiverKings one point closer to the Mudbugs in the Northeast Division standings, by virtue of Bossier-Shreveport receiving a point in the game due to the overtime session. Memphis now sits 9 points back of the Mudbugs in the race for the division lead.

The RiverKings will next be in action this Saturday night at 7:05 pm CST at the DeSoto Civic Center, as they tangle with the Colorado Eagles. The game will be the first for Colorado in the confines of the DCC in franchise history.

All 64 RiverKings games can be heard on Easy 680 AM, as well as worldwide via SportsJuice.com. RiverKings games can also be heard inside the DeSoto Civic Center on FM frequency 107.9 FM. Select RiverKings games will also be available through CHL TV, a league-wide video streaming enterprise. CHL TV is available at www.CHLTV.com. Information on the RiverKings, including the latest roster moves, press releases, and pictures, is available at www.riverkings.com.

Group and individual game tickets for all remaining RiverKings games are available. For more information, telephone (662) 342-1755.

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Central Hockey League Stories from February 6, 2004


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