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Smith, Blades Ground Ice Pilots

February 27, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Arkansas RiverBlades News Release


Buddy Smith tallied two assists, and Eric Long and Matt Pagnutti added a goal and an assist each as the Arkansas RiverBlades defeated the Pensacola Ice Pilots 4-3 Thursday at Alltel Arena.

Smith's two points give him 83 on the season, setting a new team record for most points in a season. The old record was 81, set by Mark Cadotte in 2000-2001.

Mike Cirillo opened up the scoring at 9:04 of the first period, netting his 15th of the season from Damon Whitten and Terry Marchant.

Then, in the second period, Chris Minard would tie it for Pensacola, set up by Kevin Cloutier and Eric Van Acker.

A minute and a half later, Eric Long gave the RiverBlades the lead again, with his 12th of the campaign from Buddy Smith and Matt Pagnutti.

Just over a minute after that, it was Matt Pagnutti's turn to light the lamp, slapping home his 14th goal of the year from Long and Smith.

Pensacola would cut the lead to 3-2 just before intermission, as Louis Dumont got his 18th goal from Greg Pankewicz and Gregor Baumgartner.

Then, in the third, the Ice Pilots would tie it, as Brad Cruikshank found the net with his 3rd goal assisted by Matt Poapst.

Dean Stock would then net his 4th of the season to give the RiverBlades the lead for good assisted by Mike Sandbeck and Aaron Davis.

Scott Fankhouser made 20 saves earning his third win as a RiverBlade, and Maxime Gingras stopped 39 in the loss for Pensacola.

Pensacola was 1-for-10 on the power-play, and the Blades were 2-for-8.

Arkansas returns to action Saturday in Biloxi, as the Blades play the Mississippi Sea Wolves. Faceoff is set for 7:05 p.m.



ECHL Stories from February 27, 2003


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