SPHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Weekly Update

April 7, 2003 - SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN, Miss. – The RiverKings had a busy week as they advanced to the Northern Conference Finals by beating Oklahoma City twice and then capturing Game One against Indianapolis. The RiverKings won Game Four Tuesday night 5-3 over the Blazers and then captured the decisive Game Five on Wednesday in Oklahoma City 5-2 to win their best of five first round series. In Game One of the Northern Conference Finals on Friday night the ‘Kings beat Indianapolis 5-3 at the DCC to take a 1-0 lead in the best of seven series. Game Two against Indianapolis is Tuesday night at the DeSoto Civic Center, located just 15 minutes south of downtown Memphis. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. For playoff tickets call (662) 342-1755 or go online at www.RiverKings.com and use the Ticketmaster link.

NEXT UP

The RiverKings will play the Indianapolis Ice in Game Two of the Northern Conference Finals on Tuesday night. Game Three is Thursday in Indianapolis, while Games Four and Five are Saturday and Sunday in Indy as necessary.

MEMPHIS VS. INDIANAPOLIS NORTHERN CONFERENCE FINALS SCHEDULE

Date Time Location Result

4/04 – Friday – Game One 7:05 p.m. Memphis 5-4 Memphis (Series 1-0 MEM)

4/08 – Tuesday – Game Two 7:05 p.m. Memphis

4/10 – Thursday - Game Three 7:00 p.m.** Indianapolis

4/12 – Saturday - Game Four 7:00 p.m.** Indianapolis

*4/13 – Sunday - Game Five 6:05 p.m.** Indianapolis

*4/15 – Tuesday – Game Six 7:05 p.m. Memphis

*4/16 – Wednesday – Game Seven 7:00 p.m.** Indianapolis

* If Necessary ** Eastern Time

MEMPHIS VS. INDIANAPOLIS REGULAR SEASON RESULTS 2002-2003

10/19/02 Memphis 4 at Indianapolis 3
10/26/02 Memphis 0 at Indianapolis 2
11/28/02 Memphis 1 at Indianapolis 4
11/29/02 Indianapolis 3 at Memphis 0
12/08/02 Indianapolis 0 at Memphis 3
01/04/03 Indianapolis 1 at Memphis 6
02/01/03 Memphis 2 at Indianapolis 6
02/21/03 Indianapolis 1 at Memphis 4
02/22/03 Indianapolis 3 at Memphis 4
02/28/03 Indianapolis 5 at Memphis 4
03/01/03 Memphis 5 at Indianapolis 2
03/16/03 Indianapolis 3 at Memphis 6

The ‘Kings went 7-5-0 this year against Indianapolis, including 5-2-0 at the DCC.

POST-SEASON SPECIAL TEAMS

Memphis 26.1 % PP (2nd) 86.0 % PK (4th)

Indianapolis 18.8 % PP (3rd) 67.9 % PK (8th)

OTHER CHL PLAYOFF MATCHUPS

Northern Conference

(1) Indy vs. (3) Memphis (Series 1-0 Memphis)

Southern Conference

(1) Austin vs. (3) Laredo (Series 1-1)

RED LIGHTS ARE FLASHING

· The RiverKings currently lead the CHL Playoffs with 28 goals scored in six games, an average of 4.67 goals per game. In the regular season the ‘Kings averaged 3.67 goals per.

RED LIGHTS FLASHING PART DEUX

· Don Parsons and Jonathan Gagnon are tied for the CHL Playoff goal scoring lead with six.

BAD BOYS

· The ‘Kings lead the CHL Playoffs with an average of 31.2 PIM per game. Memphis also has committed the most minors (71), tied for 1st in majors (5) and most 10-minute misconducts (1). The ‘Kings have also been shorthanded 50 times in six playoff games which is by far the most in the post-season.

BACK-TO-BACK?

· RiverKings forward Don Parsons leads the CHL Playoffs with 11 points. Last year Parsons led the playoffs in scoring with 27 points and 14 goals and captured the CHL Playoff MVP award. The last back-to-back CHL Playoff MVP was Ron Handy from Wichita in 1994 and 1995. Handy was coached by Doug Shedden when the Thunder won two straight CHL titles.

SMOKIN'

· The RiverKings have managed a power play goal in all six playoff games. Twice they have scored three power play goals in a game, including Game One of the Northern Conference Finals against the Ice on Friday night.

WHERE ARE THE SHOTS?

· The RiverKings have mustered only 146 shots in six playoffs games, an average of 24.3 shots per game. Memphis has been out shot in five of the six games. In the regular season the ‘Kings averaged 32.5 shots per game.

SPECIAL TEAMS BONANZA

· The RiverKings have scored 16 special teams goals in six playoffs games. Twelve have come on the power play while four have been shorthanded. The totals are both tops in the CHL post-season. The ‘Kings in the regular season tallied a CHL high 77 power play goals.

PLAYOFF PARKING PASSES

· RiverKings season ticket holders receive free parking during the playoffs. The parking pass for the regular season will be used for the post-season as well.

NORTHERN CONFERENCE FINALS

· GAME ONE – FRIDAY – 04/04/03 - The RiverKings special teams continued their hot play as three power play goals and a shorthanded tally gave the ‘Kings a 5-4 win over the Indianapolis Ice and a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Northern Conference Finals. Dan Parsons and Jonathan Gagnon each scored their sixth goal of the post season to lead Memphis. The RiverKings started where they left off in the Oklahoma City first round series, and that's with the power play continuing to click. Derek Landmesser one-timed his first of the playoffs through a Brian Tucker screen at 3:29 to get the ‘Kings out to an early lead. The Ice countered with a power play goal of their own when Randy Holmes found a rebound that popped out of the glove of goaltender Mark Richards and stashed it in at 16:09 to tie the game. In the second, the teams traded goals before the RiverKings kept their half of the scoreboard rolling. Parsons tipped a Jay Neal shot from the point top corner for his CHL leading sixth goal of the playoffs at 4:05, but a quick turnover on the next shift gave Kevin St Jacques the chance to slip in his fourth of the playoffs at 4:29. The ‘Kings controlled play the rest of the period and tallied a pair of goals. Michal Stastny flipped in a backhander from the right side of the crease for his third at 10:05. Luch Nasato then fired a shorthanded goal top corner on Shawn Silver at 13:47 to extend the lead to 4-2. The Ice wouldn't melt away though, and a goal from Jared Dumba 90 seconds into the third period pulled them within 4-3. The ‘Kings reestablished control of the game when Jonathan Gagnon scored his sixth of the playoffs on a rink-wide feed from Landmesser, for the ‘Kings eventual game-winning goal at 7:23. Bernie John scored one with 36 seconds left to give the ‘Kings a scare, but the final seconds ticked away to give Memphis a 1-0 series lead. FINAL SCORE Memphis 5, Indianapolis 4. Richards turned aside 16 of 20 Indy shots. Silver allowed five goals on 24 shots. The ‘Kings continued their special team's dominance with three goals on seven chances. ‘Kings penalty killers held Indy to one goal on seven opportunities and scored a shorthanded goal to boot.

Series Standing 1-0 Memphis, Best of Seven

FIRST ROUND VS. OKLAHOMA CITY

· GAME FIVE – WEDNESDAY – 04/02/03 -The RiverKings completed a rally from a two games to one deficit with 5-2 win over the Oklahoma City Blazers in front of 6,204 fans at the Ford Center in decisive Game Five and captured the series three games to two. Kahlil Thomas had a goal and two assists and Michal Stastny had a pair of goals and an assist to lead the ‘Kings into the Northern Conference Finals against the Indianapolis Ice. The Blazers took the early lead when Marty Standish one-timed home a power play goal at 5:20. Then even strength Dave Shields hit the post with a shot and Ryan Watson was there to jam home the rebound to electrify the Ford Center crowd at 8:32 and a 2-0 Oklahoma City lead. The ‘Kings got back in the game on the power play when Stastny pushed the puck into the cage on a goal mouth scramble at 13:08. Late in the frame Memphis again benefited from Blazers' penalties as Don Parsons hammered home a one-timer during a five-on-three power play at 16:45 to tie the game. In the second period the Blazers went on the man advantage just under two minutes in, but it was the ‘Kings who capitalized. Thomas poked the puck away from Ryan Campbell at the point and was off to the races on a short handed breakaway, Thomas faked to the backhanded and then wristed the puck off the right post and into the net at 2:52 for the ‘Kings first lead of the night. A little over halfway thru the period the Blazers put on a flurry as they peppered ‘Kings goalie Mark Richards with shot after shot, but he was equal to the task. Oklahoma City continued to push, but Memphis had the answers as Stastny broke down the right wing and fed the puck backdoor for Jonathan Gagnon who tipped it in at 11:47 for a 4-2 ‘Kings advantage. Going the third the RiverKings played smart looking to hang onto the lead. With less than a minute to go Stastny stuffed in his second of the night for an empty netter to seal the win. FINAL SCORE Memphis 5, Oklahoma City 3. Richards came up big with 32 stops on 34 shots to improve to 3-1 in the post-season. Ballard continued to struggle as he allowed four goals on 25 shots and fell to 2-3. Oklahoma City went 1-5 on the power play while Memphis was 2-5.

Series Standing 3–2 Memphis Wins

· GAME FOUR – THURSDAY – 04/01/03 – The RiverKings staved off elimination by holding on with a 5-3 victory over the Oklahoma City Blazers on Tuesday night in front of 3,066 at the DeSoto Civic Center. Facing elimination the RiverKings looked to strike early. The ‘Kings went on the power play halfway thru the first period and continued their hot play on the man advantage. Jay Neal fired a shot from the high slot that deflected past Blazers goalie Boyd Ballard to give Memphis a 1-0 lead at 11:40. The Blazers tied the game when Ryan Campbell got loose on a two on one with Shawn Mamane. Campbell fed the puck backdoor looking for Mamane, but it deflected off the stick of RiverKings defenseman Derek Landmesser into the net at 16:32 to tie the game. Just 57 seconds into the second period the ‘Kings grabbed the lead again. Don Parsons cut into the zone and gunned a wrister top shelf for a 2-1 advantage. Then with Memphis looking for production out of other people in the lineup they got a big boost from an unexpected place. Defenseman Anthony DiPalma got loose down the left wing and fired home a wrist shot low stick side for a 3-1 lead at 2:20. Then the ‘Kings killed off a penalty and when DiPalma came out of the box Brian Tucker hit him with a perfect lead pass for a breakaway. DiPalma stuffed in the rebound of his own shot at 6:05 to make it 4-1. In the regular season DiPalma had just one goal. Late in the period the Blazers got back into it when Hardy Sauter blasted in a power play goal at 18:18. In the third, the ‘Kings sat back with their lead and nearly allowed it fizzle. Blazers forward Jonathan Dubois scored another big goal, his third of the series, just 60 seconds into the frame with the ‘Kings on the power play and pulled the Blazers within a goal. The third period continued with a slew of icings courtesy of the RiverKings. Slow down defensive hockey was enough until Brian Tucker capped the game with an empty net goal with 37 seconds remaining for his 2nd of the postseason. FINAL SCORE Oklahoma City 3, Memphis 5. Boyd Ballard allowed four goals on 17 shots, while Mark Richards turned aside 20 of 23 shots. After combining for 57 power play chances in the first three games the teams had just 10 combined in Game Four. The Blazers were 0-for-5 on the man advantage while the RiverKings converted one chance out of five.

Series Standing – 2–2 Memphis

ON THE AIR

· All Memphis RiverKings playoff games will be broadcast this year on RiverKings Radio Easy AM-680 WJCE. Catch the pre-game show twenty minutes prior to face-off and then stay tuned for the play-by-play.

COACHES SHOW AIRING MONDAY THIS WEEK ON LOCATION

· The Memphis RiverKings Coaches Show will air tonight on Sportsplus 790-AM WMC on location at the Roadhouse Grill in Horn Lake. The show will start at 6 p.m. Dave "wolo" Woloshin will host the show and head coach Doug Shedden will join him. Call the SportsPlus 790 studio lines with your questions at 901-274-7979.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE TIME Monday, April 7th 6-7 p.m.



SPHL Stories from April 7, 2003


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