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SPHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Run Winning Streak to Six

February 7, 2015 - SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN, Miss. - The Mississippi RiverKings (22-15-2) grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second period, but needed a Devin Mantha goal in the third to beat the Pensacola Ice Flyers, 3-2, Saturday night at the Landers Center. The win gives the RiverKings six straight wins and 10 wins in the last 11 games.

After a back-and-forth start to the game the RiverKings settled in to take a 1-0 lead late in the first period. Mantha worked the puck up the right boards to the right point, where Mike Hayward held in at the blue line. He sidestepped a check and went to the right circle, where he floated a pass to the slot, where Joey Holka teed up a one-timer that went under the crossbar for his third goal of the season and a 1-0 lead at 18:08 of the first.

The RiverKings played a strong second period and were rewarded with a power-play goal and a 2-0 lead. They went on the man advantage after Hayward connected on a check against Brett Lutes. Nick Larson came to his defense and dropped the gloves, drawing a fighting and roughing penalty, the latter of which put the RiverKings up a man. Just over a minute into the power play Daniel Sobotka fired a slap shot from the right point, which beat Andrew Flemming for a 2-0 lead at 14:10. Andrew Randazzo and Matt Whitehead got assists on Sobotka's first goal of the season. A few minutes later the Ice Flyers got back within one on a delayed penalty. Lutes drew the penalty trying for a breakaway and after failing to get a shot the puck came back in front. After Adam Courchaine made an initial left pad save Lutes pried it free from his knees and poked it into the goal for a 2-1 game.

There was a carryover RiverKings power play to start the third, but they came up empty and just a few moments later Nick McParland tied the game at two 1:31 into the period when he slid a shot under the pads of Courchaine on a 2-on-1. Mississippi responded to retake the lead just over three minutes later. Reid Campbell connected on an outlet pass to Linden Bahm. He sent it to Mantha down the right wing and he zipped a shot from the right faceoff dot past the blocker of Flemming for a 3-2 lead. The Ice Flyers would outshoot the RiverKings 10-4 in the third, but Mississippi held on for a 3-2 win.

Notes: The RiverKings raised over $1,500 for Wings Cancer Foundation, the MVP Non-profit of the game during Pink in the RInk presented by ServiceMaster by Stratos... Daniel Sobotka's second period power-play goal was his first goal since Feb. 11, 2014. It was the fifth goal of his career and the first one that was not a game-winning goal... The RiverKings raised $9,650 for the RiverKings ReachOut Fund through their postgame jersey auction of their pink jerseys.

The RiverKings are back home Tuesday, Feb. 17 against the Huntsville for Mardi Gras Night. Draft beer and hot dogs will be $3 each and fans wearing the traditional Mardi Gras colors of gold, green and purple will receive $2 off walkup prices at the Box Office. Mardi Gras beads will be given away during the game. Single-game tickets can be purchased at riverkings.com/ticketmaster and groups of 15 or more get a discount, with group tickets starting at $8 per ticket, by calling the front office at 662-342-1755.



SPHL Stories from February 7, 2015


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