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SPHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Win Thriller to Snap Streak

February 2, 2014 - SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN, Miss. -- Dan McWhinney stopped 37 shots and Devin Mantha tallied the game-tying goal in the third and game-winner in a shootout as the Mississippi RiverKings (20-13-3) snapped a five-game losing streak with a 5-4 shootout victory over the Columbus Cottonmouths (16-16-3) on Saturday night in Southaven.

The RiverKings wasted little time lighting the lamp in the first. Mike Hayward ripped the game's first shot past Curtis Martinu to give the RiverKings a 1-0 lead just 1:38 into the first. Minutes later, Lucas LaBelle hammered home his third goal of the season to put the RiverKings on top 2-0. But the Snakes chipped away at the lead on the power play at the 10:31 mark of the first as Levi Lind put the puck over Dan McWhinney to cut the RiverKings' lead to 2-1 going into the first intermission.

Scoring opened up in the second starting with the RiverKings extending their lead. Patrick Schafer scored his second goal in as many nights putting home a Phil Bronner pass past Martinu with the man-advantage to put the RiverKings up 3-1. Columbus battled back with two goals of their own just 38 second apart. Jordan Draper beat McWhinney 13:34 into the period before Matt Gingera scored his first goal of the night moments later to tie the game at three going into the third period.

After a scoreless start to the third, the Cottonmouths took their first lead of the night. Gingera notched his second goal of the night off of a rebound to put the Snakes ahead 4-3. But Devin Mantha capitalized on the power play to tie the game and force overtime.

In overtime, neither team was able to find the back of the net and the game headed to a shootout. After Matt Whitehead and Sean Jones put the RiverKings ahead after two rounds, Matt Gingera kept the Snakes alive with a goal past McWhinney. The next shooter for the RiverKings, Devin Mantha, wristed a shot past Martinu to snap the team's losing streak with a 5-4 shootout win.

Dan McWhinney (11-8-0) picked up the win after stopping 37 of 41 shots against. Curtis Martinu (0-0-1) took the loss after stopping 36 of 40 shots against in his professional debut.

The RiverKings hit the ice on Friday night against the FireAntz in Fayetteville. The puck drops at 6:05 p.m. with all the action airing live at Old Style BBQ, the Official Away Game Watch Party Headquarters of the RiverKings.



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