CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings start strong, finish with 2-1 series lead

April 1, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN, MS --- Five different players scored goals to lead the Memphis RiverKings to a 5-2 win and 2-1 series lead over the Oklahoma City Blazers Sunday at the DeSoto Civic Center. The CHL best of seven first round series now moves back to the Ford Center in Oklahoma City for game four Tuesday night at 7:05.

The RiverKings opened the game with three goals, the first two on the power play, in the first period and did not look back. Jason Sessa, Phil Aucoin and Ryan Held scored in the first, followed by markers from Ryan Campbell and Bobby Gates in the second. Garret Prosofsky, who had a hat trick in the Blazers' win on Friday, scored both of his clubs goals and now has five in the series.

Three of the RiverKings goals were the result of great passing while two were helped out by fortunate bounces. Sessa's goal came off a Derek Campbell pass from the left wall just inside the Blazers' zone. The pass found Sessa's stick as he was arriving in front Oklahoma City goalie Sebastien Centomo. Sessa directed it in for his first of the playoffs and a 1-0 lead.

Aucoin was the beneficiary of a wild carom off of the end boards on a dump-in by Travis Banga at 10:19 of first period. The puck darted back out in front to the high slot area and Aucoin shot it in for his first pro playoff goal. Held made it 3-0 when he and Ryan Campbell duplicated the Sessa/Derek Campbell goal, only this time the pin-point pass was from the right side.

Prososfky's first of the night at 3:52 of the second cut the lead to two only to have the RiverKings come back and execute a tailor-made tic-tac-toe on the power play 2:45 later. Defenseman Jason Tessier started the play by faking a slap shot around a downed defender, fed Banga low, who then one-timed a touch pass to Ryan Campbell. Campbell buried the puck from out front for his third goal in two games.

The last RiverKings goal came as Bobby Gates skated from behind his net, crossed the red line and sent a shot in from the neutral zone on Centomo. Centomo failed to control the puck and it slipped past him. Prosofsky's second of the night was the only goal scored in the third period.

The RiverKings, who out-shot the Blazers 49-21on Friday, had a 32-23 advantage on Sunday, including a 15-5 total in the third period. The RiverKings were three for 11 on the power play and held the Blazers scoreless on their eight chances with the man advantage.

Larry Sterling made 21 saves to pick up his second post-season win. Centomo, who was replaced by Sean Connors to start the third period, stopped 12 of 17 to fall to 1-2 in the series.

Following game four on Tuesday in Oklahoma City, the series shifts back to the DCC for game five Friday night at 7:05.

SERIES SCHEDULE/RESULTS

GM 1 - Thur, March 29 MEM 3 OKC 2 @ OKC (MEM leads 1-0)

GM 2 - Fri, March 30 OKC 5 MEM 2 @ MEM (Series tied 1-1)

GM 3 - Sun, April 1 MEM 5 OKC 2 @ MEM (MEM leads series 2-1)

GM 4 - Tue, April 3 @ Oklahoma City (7:05 PM) on WHBQ AM 560

GM 5 - Fri, April 6 @ Memphis (7:05 PM)**

GM 6 - Sat, April 7 @ Oklahoma City (7:35 PM)**

GM 7 - Tue, April 10 @ Memphis (7:05 PM)**

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The RiverKings are back in the CHL Playoffs...Back with a Vengeance! Single-Game Playoff Tickets are on sale at the DeSoto Civic Center box office and at all TicketMaster locations and at ticketmaster.com.

A RiverKings playoff game is even more fun when you come as a group. Groups of 10 or more save up to 30% on the box office rate, plus every person in the group receives a player mini bobblehead. Call 662-342-1755 for more information.

Be sure to gather at Beef O' Brady's for a playoff listening party for game four of the RiverKings' first round series versus the Blazers from Oklahoma City on Tuesday, April 3. The broadcast starts at 6:45, so get there early for a good seat.

After every RiverKings home game, the party heads to the new Buffalo Wild Wings on Airways in Southaven, the official Post Game Hang-Out of the RiverKings.



Central Hockey League Stories from April 1, 2007


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