Sea Wolves topple IceGators 5-2

April 9, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release


Biloxi, MS – Steffon Walby had a goal and two assists, leading the Mississippi Sea Wolves over the Louisiana IceGators 5-2 in Game 1 of the Southwest Division Finals at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Mike Scott, David Cornacchia and Kent Davyduke each added a goal and an assist, and Jim Baxter was credited with the game-winner for Mississippi, which will travel to Lafayette for Game 2 Saturday.

Bobby Brown and Semir Ben-Amor each scored for Louisiana, which had swept through Arkansas in the divisional semifinals. Kyle Kettles finished with 29 saves for the IceGators.

The Sea Wolves scored three power play goals on eight chances, going to 13-30 with the man advantage in the post-season. Louisiana got just five chances on the power play, scoring one goal.

Mississippi got rolling on the power play with 7:37 left in the first period, as Cornacchia crashed the net far post and poked in the rebound of Walby's miss.

The Sea Wolves went up 2-0 with just 1:42 left in the first, as Scott picked off an errant pass at the blueline and sent one to Davyduke in the lower left circle. Davyduke ripped a one-timer that Kettles got a piece of with his glove, but the puck barely trickled over the goalline before Kettles could recover.

Mississippi extended its lead to 3-0 with another power-play goal just 5:25 into the second, as Baxter's rocket from the right point went through traffic past Kettles.

The Sea Wolves appeared to have put the dagger in Louisiana less than three minutes later, with Scott's hard-angle shot from the right corner. Scott turned and fired one off Kettles' stick that went behind the netminder in to the cage.

Louisiana started its comeback just 1:05 later, at the 9:27 mark, on the power play. Kevin Mitchell's attempt from the point was redirected past Gardner by Brown.

The IceGators had a golden chance to get further in the game after John Evangelista's five-minute match penalty for attempt to injure. The 5-foot-9 winger slid headfirst into 6-foot-7 Derek Boogaard's lower leg, sending the IceGator down in a heap.

Louisiana had several good chances on that power play, perhaps none better than when Rod Sarich just sent one wide of an open net. Gardner also made a great save on Shawn Skiehar's rebound attempt as the power play expired.

The IceGators would get within two on Ben-Amor's shorthanded tally with four seconds left in the second. With Cal Benazic in the box for his third of four minor penalties of the game, Ben-Amor took a feed from Casey Kesselring and went in on Gardner when Cornacchia fell down. Ben-Amor, who had just three regular-season goals, lifted one over Gardner.

Louisiana couldn't get within one in the third, mustering just four shots thanks to three more minor penalties.

Mississippi finished the scoring when Walby one-timed a pass from Bowtell in the lower right circle.



ECHL Stories from April 9, 2003


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