CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Rally, But Fall at Fort Wayne

December 29, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


FORT WAYNE, IN --- The Mississppi RiverKings scored four times in the fourth period, but could not overcome a 5-1 second intermission deficit in a 7-5 loss at Fort Wayne Tuesday, December 29th. Defenseman Derek Landmesser led the Mississippi offense with a goal and four points, but six Komets scored in the game, including two goals from Leo Thomas.

Fort Wayne opened the scoring in the first period with a pair of goals, one on the power play and the other an even strength goal.

Neil Musselwhite opened the scoring with a wrist shot that beat RiverKings goaltender Alexander Pechurskiy for the power play goal at 3:16 of the opening frame for the 1-0 lead.

The Komets made it 2-0 in the first period when Frankie DeAngelis scored his sixth goal of the year, an even strength tally at 11:09.

Fort Wayne broke the game open with three goals in the second period after the RiverKings got within one early in the session.

Darrell Stoddard converted a puck deflection past Fort Wayne goaltender Nick Boucher for his fourth red-lighter of the year at 2:15.

But, the Komets scored three straight times after the Stoddard goal and Leo Thomas scored two of them. Tab Lardner scored at 3:28 for a 3-1 lead. Thomas scored his tenth of the year at 7:56 of the middle session for a 4-1 advantage, and Thomas made the lead 5-1 on a power play goal at 17:10, which became the second intermission score.

In the third period, Mississippi picked up the offense and scored four times, twice on the power play. Derek Landmesser scored his fourth of the season at 2:20 to get the RiverKings within 5-2, then Matt Summers netted his 11th of the year with a power play goal at 6:07 to draw the RiverKings within 5-3.

Patrik Levesque stuffed a loose puck by Boucher on the power play at 9:36 to score the RiverKings' fourth goal, but the Komets quickly answered when Chris Francis broke in and beat goaltender Larry Sterling for a 6-4 Fort Wayne advantage.

R.G Flath drew Mississippi within 6-5 at 17:56 of the final period, but Derek Patrosso's goal with 1:21 remaining resulted in the final score.

Mississippi scored twice on the power play in six chances during the contest, but allowed three power play goals in four Komets' opportunities.

Pechurskiy took the loss in net for the RiverKings, stopping 18 of 23 shots on goal, as his record fell to 7-6-0 for the year. Sterling relieved Pechurskiy in the third period and made six saves in eight shots on goal.

Boucher moved to 7-9-1 for the season with a 36-save, five goal performance at the Komets' crease.

Mississippi has now lost three straight games and are winless in its last seven road contests, as the RiverKings fell to 13-15-1 for the season. With the victory, Fort Wayne won its eighth of the year (8-15-2) and has now won two in a row.

Up next, the RiverKings play at Evansville tomorrow night at 7:35 PM. Broadcast coverage will be available on 87.7 FM "The Pig," at 7:20 PM. Mississippi will complete the current five-game road trip at Bossier-Shreveport on Saturday, January first at 7:05 PM.

The next home game for the RiverKings is Sunday afternoon, January 2nd at 3:05 PM in a re-match with the Mudbugs. Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of Memphis will be the game's non-profit MVP.

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



Central Hockey League Stories from December 29, 2010


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