Sea Wolves Double Up Ice Pilots 4-2
March 2, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Mississippi Sea Wolves News Release
BILOXI, Miss. â Mississippi's Anthony Battaglia notched two goals to spark a Sea Wolves come from behind 4-2 victory over the Pensacola Ice Pilots.
Mississippi moves within four points of Louisiana, who had the day off, for first place in the Central Division.
"We were willing to pay the price tonight and got rewarded," said Bob Woods, coach of the Sea Wolves. "It was a very physical game that we were determined to win. Everyone was on board tonight for the victory."
Pensacola (31-19-6) opened the score at the 13:03 mark. Aaron Phillips darted in on the right wing and blasted a slap shot past Greg Gardner stick side, for his 13th tally of the season. Tyler Beechey picked up the lone assist.
Mississippi (34-18-6) had a great chance late in the stanza. Dwayne Blais raced in after a loose puck fired a shot on net, John Evangelista followed on the rebound only to be robbed by Brian Eklund, who made 16 stops in the first period.
In the second, the Sea Wolves solved Eklund on their 18th shot. Jim Baxter snapped a one-timer past Eklund from the slot on the power-play for his career-tying 16th marker of the season at 1:22. Assists went to Louis Dumont and Travis Lisabeth, who played in his first game back with Mississippi after an eight-game stint with Manchester of the American Hockey League.
The Ice Pilots went ahead again with a power play of their own. At 18:01, Phillips netted his second goal of the game, with Dwayne Hay and Tyler Beechey earning helpers.
In the third, Mississippi got back on even terms at 1:42. Anthony Battaglia shoveled home a centering pass to bury his 15th goal of the campaign and first since January 23. Assists went to Andrei Lupandin and Sergei Kuznetsov.
Sea Wolves took their first lead of the game with 2:32 remaining in regulation. Steffon Walby unleashed a sizzling wrist shot past the glove of Eklund, into the top of the net for his 25th of the season. Dumont and Baxter garnered assists.
Pensacola pulled Eklund in the final minute, but Battaglia deposited his second of the game and 16th of the year at 19:44 to finish off the scoring.
It was the seventh straight win for the Sea Wolves over the Ice Pilots this season.
Mississippi was successful on 1 of 5 power play chances, while Pensacola went 1 for 4. Sea Wolves outshot the Ice Pilots 45-29.
The Sea Wolves remain at home for games at 7:35 p.m. on Friday and Saturday against the Florida Everblades at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. On Friday, promotions include 2-for-1 military, sponsored by Keesler Federal Credit Union and a postgame jersey action to benefit Youth For Christ. The broadcast gets underway at 7:20 p.m. with the Nextel Pregame Show on ESPN Radio WXBD-AM 1490 and online at msseawolves.com.
On Saturday, there are $2 drafts and $2 hot dogs from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and "Jersey Bottle Buddies" giveaway to the first 1,500 fans. Game coverage begins at 7:20 p.m. with the Nextel Pregame Show on WTNI-AM 1640 and online at msseawolves.com.
Flex packs, discounted group tickets and fundraiser opportunities are available by telephone at (228) 275-WOLF.
Individual game tickets can be purchased at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling (228) 594-3707 and online at ticketmaster.com.
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ECHL Stories from March 2, 2004
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