Sea Wolves drop IceGators, 4-1

Published on February 16, 2003 under ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release


Lafayette, LA – Steffon Walby and Mike Scott each scored on the red-hot Mississippi power play, as the Sea Wolves beat the IceGators 4-1 at the Cajundome. Jim Baxter and Dave Paradise each added a goal and an assist, and Sean Matile finished with 29 saves for Mississippi, which moved into second place in the Southwest Division with 68 points, just two shy of the IceGators.

Kyle Kettles, playing his third game in as many nights, turned aside 26 shots and Shawn Skiehar scored a power play goal for Louisiana, which has lost three of four. The IceGators, who went 16 minutes without a shot in the second and third periods, could have moved within two points of a playoff berth with a win. Louisiana could still clinch its eighth straight post-season appearance with a home win Wednesday over Pensacola, if Baton Rouge falls to Arkansas at home on Tuesday.

The IceGators have scored just one goal in each of two straight games for just the fourth time in team history and for the first time since February 23 and 24, 2001. Louisiana got shut out 5-0 at South Carolina, then lost 5-1 in Greenville the next night.

Mississippi went 2-for-4 on the power play, improving to 7-for-15 in their last three games. Louisiana scored its first man-advantage goal in three contests, going 1-for-5.

Things started out promising, as Louisiana got a power play just 23 seconds into the game when John Evangelista went for boarding but didn't score.

The Sea Wolves capitalized on their first chance with the man advantage, at the 7:47 mark. Forty seconds after Shawn McNeil went for tripping, Walby capitalized on a wild scramble in front for his 34th goal of the season. Baxter started the sequence with a pass from the point down low to Scott. Scott's shot was blocked, but Walby crashed the net and slid the puck underneath a sprawled Kettles.

Louisiana evened the score on the power play with 39 seconds left in the period. With Jeff Hutchins' holding penalty almost over, Chris Taliercio sent a hard-angle shot from the lower left circle. Skiehar picked up the rebound and lifted it over Matile for his fifth goal of the season.

The IceGators dominated Mississippi early in the second, but couldn't find the scoreboard.

Matile, who picked up his 50th pro win, moved left to right with 14:52 left in the second to make an amazing stop on Nathan Rempel on a power play. McNeil had sent a cross-ice pass from the right circle.

Mississippi scored twice in a 2:48 span midway through the period to take control, while holding the IceGators without a shot for the final 12 minutes of the stanza.

Scott scored on the power play 8:09 into the second to put the Sea Wolves back on top, with Skiehar in the box for interference. Scott camped out at the bottom of the right circle, took a feed across the crease from Kent Davyduke and beat Kettles high short side.

Baxter made it a two-goal edge with 9:03 left in the second with the game's first even strength score. Darryl Campbell ripped a shot in transition from the top of the left circle. Campbell's shot hit the right post, but Baxter came untouched between the circles and tapped the puck pinto an empty net.

McNeil's wrister from the left circle four minutes into the third snapped a 16-minute stretch without an IceGators shot.

Mississippi's Ryan Clark was whistled for holding at 7:49 of the third, sending the IceGators on the power play. But every shot Louisiana sent on net was deflected wide by the swarming Mississippi defense. At the end of the power play, Matile stopped McNeil, and the rebound rolled off newcomer Casey Kesselring's stick.

Paradise capped off the scoring with an empty-netter with 33 seconds left.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from February 16, 2003


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central