Seals coast to victory
Published on November 19, 2005 under SPHL (SPHL)
Florida Seals News Release
[Kissimmee, Fla.] -Records fell and new careers were started Saturday night at the Silver Spurs Arena. The Seals ended their five game non-win streak in fashion with a 7-1 victory over their rivals from Jacksonville as Seals goalie Morgan Smietana got his first professional victory.
It was a rare night on the ice as both the Seals and Barracudas sent out goaltenders making their season debuts. John Gurskis welcomed Jacksonville goalie Frank Novello rudely as he scored just 18-seconds into the game on the first shot of the night. The rapid goal was a sign of things to come.
Later in the first period the Seals brought the crowd back to life when Art Mnatsakanov took a slap shot and put it to the back of the net for his first goal of the season. Just 47-seconds later Rob Sich scored his second professional goal sending the Seals to the locker room with a three goal lead.
Last night the Seals controlled the first period against the Barracudas only to be outdone in the second period on their home ice. Things were different Saturday night. Florida's Mnatsakanov added his second goal of the night at 14:12 of the period to extend the Seals lead to four after 40-mimutes.
The third period looked similar to the first as the Seals once again exploited the lack of Jacksonville defense. The Seals tallied three more goals starting at the 2:10 mark when Justin Keller scored on the power play, his first of the season.
The Seals looked to be happy with the five goal cushion until the big boys got their guns blazing. Steve Zoryk ripped a shot to the back of the net for the sixth time this season. Just 16-seconds later a huge weight was lifted off the shoulders of David Deeves. The former league Most Valuable Player broke his scoreless drought when he fluttered the shot over the pads of Novello and into the net.
The only negative on the night came with just over eight minutes to go when Mike Fougere scored his fourth goal of the season foiling Smietana's shutout bid. The Seals goalie stopped 31 saves on the night to earn the much needed Seals victory.
One night after setting franchise records in shots, the Seals rewrote team and league record books. Florida record a franchise high 26 shots in the first period and for good measure registered 25 in the third. Overall the Seals set a league and team record with 70 shots on goal. The win moved the Seals into a fifth place tie with their rivals in the Southern Professional Hockey League.
The Seals will travel to Huntsville on Thanksgiving and Columbus next Friday. Florida returns home next Saturday night to host the Cottonmouths. The first 1,000 fans through the doors will be given Seals hockey pucks courtesy of Gaw Realty Services.
To reserve your season tickets or find out more about partnerships with the Seals, call the office at (407) 343-PUCK or go to www.floridaseals.com. Single game tickets for exciting Seals hockey start as low as $10 for an individual and $6 for groups. All home games can be seen live at www.livesportsnetwork.com/sphl.
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