Seals topple Barracudas, 5-4
February 12, 2004 - SPHL (SPHL)
Florida Seals News Release
Orlando â After two see-saw periods, Joe Pecoraro's slap shot from the high slot on a third period power play lifted the Seals to a 5-4 victory Thursday night over the first place Jacksonville Barracudas.
Orlando showcased two new goaltenders as Head Coach Jim Paek was forced to start Shad Higginbotham in place of the injured David Goverde, who is listed as day to day with an injury suffered in Tuesday's overtime loss to the Miami Manatees. Mike Correia has been on injured reserve since injuring his knee in Lakeland on January 31. Higginbotham was replaced by Eric Scanlan at the start of the third period after giving up 3 goals on 18 shots.
Jacksonville struck on its first shot of the game. Jamie Miller's wrist shot from the left wing circle beat Higginbotham low to the stick side for a 1-0 Barracudas advantage.
Jason Elders tied it up for Orlando late in the first on a power play tally at 19:47. Brad Federenko collected the puck behind the goal line to the left of the Jacksonville net and sailed a perfect pass to a wide open Elders at the right post for a 1-1 hockey game.
The Barracudas regained the lead on their first shot of the second period, as John McCabe's power play goal found the back of the net only 29 seconds into the frame.
The Seals tied it up once again on Elders' second goal of the game â his 18th of the season â at 5:32 of the second. Joe Pecoraro made the long lead pass to Elders whose blistering slap shot sailed under the crossbar, high to the glove side of Randy Hevey, knotting the game 2-2.
The two teams swapped goals later in the third with Darren Banks scoring for Jacksonville and Federenko adding one for the Seals.
Orlando got its first lead of the game at 4-3 in the third period as Mike Sanderson chipped a rebound through Hevey's five-hole for his 12th of the season.
Klage Kaebel tied the game for Jacksonville before Pecoraro lifted the Seals to the victory. Orlando now regains possession of second place in WHA2 standings.
The Seals continue their four-game homestand on Sunday afternoon when they play the Lakeland Loggerheads at 4:05 p.m. All Seals games can be heard at www.IRN.FM.
SPHL Stories from February 12, 2004
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