Sea Wolves Strike First Winning Game 1 over Ice Pilots, 5-1
April 2, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Mississippi Sea Wolves News Release
BILOXI, Miss. â The Mississippi Sea Wolves trounced the Pensacola Ice Pilots, 5-1 in Game 1 of the best-of-five Southwest Division Semifinals series.
The Sea Wolves extended two team records, by winning their 13 consecutive home game and added to their unbeaten streak at home to 19 games at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, going 17-0-2 over that span. Mississippi's last loss in regulation was on December 20, 2002.
Mississippi opened the score in the first period. Sergei Kuznetsov took a drop pass from Kent Davyduke, angled from the right circle to the slot and beat Maxime Gingras with a wrist shot over his right shoulder.
In the second, the Sea Wolves capitalized on the power play. Steffon Walby scored his first goal of the postseason, making it 2-0 for Mississippi.
Gardner made a number of key saves including a terrific stop off Brad Dexter early in the second. Dexter cut in front, but Gardner lunged to his right to make a chest stop.
Mississippi made the most of another man advantage at the 5:00 mark on a pretty passing play. Kuznetsov fed Travis Lisabeth, he spotted Mike Scott, who buried his first of the playoffs, giving the Sea Wolves a 3-0 lead.
The Sea Wolves kept applying pressure and extended their lead to 4-0. Darryl Campbell notched a goal from a shot in front. John Evangelista and Jeff Hutchins earned the assists on the goal at 16:54.
In the third, the Ice Pilots solved Gardner on the 21st shot on net. Kerry Ellis-Toddington let go with a point shot on the power play finding the back of the net to cut the Mississippi lead to 4-1.
Dave Paradise rounded out the scoring for the Sea Wolves with the man advantage at 11:51.
Gardner turned away 28-of-29 shots, for a postseason of 1-0. Gingras stopped 38-of-43, dropping his record to 1-1 in the 2003 Kelly Cup Playoffs.
Mississippi converted on 3-of-8 opportunities with the man advantage. Pensacola tallied on 1-of-7 chances on the power play.
Game 2 of the Southwest Division Semifinals is set for Friday at 7:35 p.m. at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
Mississippi's slogan for the postseason is âOne Cup. One Goal.' Special white commemorative sweaters for the 2003 Kelly Cup Playoffs are available at Game 2 and the Sea Wolves hockey office.
Individual playoff tickets are available at all TicketMaster locations, the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office and by calling 228-594-3707.
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