CHL Mississippi RiverKings

Stoddard scores twice to help RiverKings to second straight win

Published on December 23, 2005 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN --- Rookie forward Darrell Stoddard scored a pair of goals and Ryan Campbell chipped in a goal and an assist to lead the Memphis RiverKings to a 4-2 win over the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs Saturday night at the DeSoto Civic Center. The win was the second in a row for Memphis and snapped a three-game winning streak for Bossier-Shreveport.

Stoddard scored the first and the last goal, an empty netter, to pull the RiverKings to within seven points of the first place Mudbugs in the Northeast Division. Stoddard's first goal came at 5:40 of the first period on a nice feed from behind the net by Travis Banga to give the RiverKings the lead. Ryan Watson followed with a nice feed of his own from the left circle as he backhanded the puck to Campbell in the right slot who put it home for his 10th of the season and a 2-0 Memphis lead after one.

Defenseman Kevin Harris scored his first goal of the season on a delayed penalty at 1:05 of the second period after Banga had carried the puck in the zone and was pulled down. Sheldon Wenzel also assisted for his first RiverKings point and Memphis had a 3-0 advantage.

The RiverKings know all to well that no lead is safe when playing the Mudbugs. Having come back from 4-1 and 3-1 second period deficits already this season at the DCC, the Mudbugs got goals from Dan Wildfong and Milan Vodrazka narrow the gap to 3-2 with 9:19 remaining in the game.

The RiverKings defense, goalie Guy St. Vincent and Darrell Stoddard made sure, though, that none of the team's fans would be getting coal in their stockings this Christmas. Stoddard sealed the game with an empty net goal at 19:30. The goal also gave him the first multi-goal game of his pro career.

St. Vincent made 25 saves on 27 shots to pick up the victory and improve his record to 5-6-0. All-Star goalie Ken Carroll, in his first appearance against Memphis this season, stopped 20 of 23 shots to see his record fall to 6-6-2 and his career record against the RiverKngs fall to 6-5-4.

Memphis host another division opponent that they are chasing after the Christmas holiday as the Youngstown Steelhounds will be at DCC Tuesday at 7:05. Youngstown is second place, four points ahead of the RiverKings who are now tied with Fort Worth for third.

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Central Hockey League Stories from December 23, 2005


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