Sea Wolves Clip Ice Pilots, 6-5 in Overtime

March 14, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Mississippi Sea Wolves News Release


PENSACOLA, Fla. – For the second straight game, the first place Mississippi Sea Wolves rallied from three goals down to win in overtime, this time knocking off the Pensacola Ice Pilots, 6-5.

The Sea Wolves won their fifth straight game and tied a team record by notching win number 41 on the season. Mississippi remains in first place in the Southwest Division with 86 points, nine more than second place Louisiana.

Pensacola (33-25-6) opened the score with the man advantage at 4:19. Mike Jones point shot was re-directed by Marquis Mathieu and past goaltender Greg Gardner. The goal was Mathieu's 15th of the season.

The Ice Pilots added to their lead with another power play goal. Greg Pankewicz played the puck off the end boards and banked it in off Gardner for his league-leading 40th goal of the year.

Mississippi (41-21-4) got its offense in gear on the power play. Jim Baxter sent a right circle shot towards the net re-directed by Cody Bowtell and past Maxime Gingras. Bowtell's 24th of the campaign, cut the Pensacola lead in half at 2-1. The assist for Baxter was his 57th of the year, setting a team record for one season.

In the second, Pensacola regained its two-goal lead at 1:21. Mathieu and Pankewicz moved in on a 2-on-1 break, Pankewicz buried on his own rebound. The second of the game for Pankewicz, his 41st of the season made it 3-1.

The Ice Pilots made it 4-1 at the 15:02 mark of the middle stanza. Brad Dexter's centering went off of Sea Wolves' defenseman Austin Miller and through Gardner. The goal was Dexter's eighth of the year.

Mississippi cut the margin in half just 47 seconds later. Steffon Walby tallied his 39th of the campaign, closing the Pensacola lead to 4-2.

But with 18 seconds left in the second, Pensacola continued to press after a Mississippi penalty and Gregor Baumgartner deposited his 28th of the year, making it 5-2 for the Ice Pilots through 40 minutes of action.

In the third, the Sea Wolves started their rally at 5:12. Mike Scott netted his 23rd of the season. Then at 6:44, Dave Paradise connected on the power play from the high slot, for his 37th of the year.

Mississippi tied it at 13:18, as Travis Lisabeth sidestepped two Pensacola checkers and fed Baxter in front, knotting the score 5-5.

In overtime, Walby ended it 19 seconds in, by wiring a right circle shot over the right shoulder of Gingras. Walby's 40th goal of the year and second of the game completed Mississippi's comeback.

Gardner won his ninth consecutive game turning away 39-of-44 shots, improving to 29-14-4. Gingras stopped 22-of-28 shots, dropping to 23-21-6.

Mississippi converted on 3-of-5 opportunities on the power play. Pensacola went 2-for-8 with the man advantage.

Goaltender Sean Matile did not suit up for the game. He was injured on Thursday against Jackson and is listed as day-to-day. As a result, the Sea Wolves signed Chuck Thuss as emergency back-up goaltender. Thuss, 31, played four seasons with the Sea Wolves and is currently the Director of Player Development for the organization. The 6-foot-1 and 210-pound native of Arkona, Ontario is the all-time team leader in goaltender wins with 58 and holds the Sea Wolves career shutout record with eight.

Mississippi visits Arkansas in a rare Monday night game beginning at 7:05 p.m. at ALLTEL Arena in North Little Rock.

The start time for the Sea Wolves next home game has been changed to 7:05 p.m. on Sunday, March 23 against Arkansas at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.

Individual game tickets are available at all TicketMaster locations, the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office and by calling 228-594-3707.



ECHL Stories from March 14, 2003


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