Streaks Snapped!
February 3, 2012 - SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi Surge News Release
Biloxi, MS - A pair of four-game streaks ended tonight at the Louisiana IceGators defeated the Mississippi Surge 3-1. The Surge arrived at the CajunDome in Lafayette riding a four-game win streak and having won five in a row on the road, while the Gators had lost four in a row and six of their last seven games.
Louisiana set the tone early, getting out to a huge shot advantage in the first period. The SPHL's top-ranked power play solved Surge goaltender Kiefer Smiley at 4:39 of the period when defenseman Tyler Lyon took a cross-ice pass from rookie Brayden Metz and deposited it into an empty net with a back-door one-timer while Adam Stuart was off for a butt-ending double minor. Smiley, the league's SBK Player of the Month for January, stood tall for the rest of the period, stopping 13 of the 14 shots he faced. The Gators enjoyed an extended power play with Billy Siers and Mark Versteeg-Lytwyn in the box, but were not able to convert on the power play again and took a 1-0 lead into the dressing room after one period.
The Surge would come back with a power play tally of their own, with rookie Shawn Skelly netting his 12th of the year at 4:51. Versteeg-Lytwyn and defenseman Matt Ridley were credited with assists. The tie game would not hold up however, as the Gators would score off a faceoff just 1:16 later as Rob Short redirected Lyon's shot from the point past Smiley at 6:35. Both teams would struggle with sloppy play, but both goaltenders kept the game close.
The third period saw the teams trade minor penalties, and the Surge were able to muster a couple of good chances, including a partial breakaway by Versteeg-Lytwyn that BJ O'Brien was able to close the door on. The Gators would seal the victory when defenseman Phil Crea scored from the point just six seconds after a holding penalty to Glenn Cacaro expired. Jason Hill and Metz were credited with assists.
The Surge take the ice on Friday at the Power Plant against rival Pensacola for Mardi Gras Night, featuring a post-game jersey auction and a Mardi Gras atmosphere.
SPHL Stories from February 3, 2012
- RiverHawks Slide by Cottonmouths - Augusta RiverHawks
- Ice Flyers Come Up Short In A Shootout Loss - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- IceGators Snap Slide with Win over Surge - Louisiana IceGators
- Streaks Snapped! - Mississippi Surge
- Back in the Win Column - Mississippi RiverKings
- Streak comes to end - Mississippi Surge
- RiverKings Fans Enjoy Fellowship, Food and Fun at Fillin Station Grille Pre-Game Warm-Up - Mississippi RiverKings
- Surge Netminder Kiefer Smiley Named SBK Player of the Month - SPHL
- Surge Game Preview - February 3, 2012 - Mississippi Surge
- Game Preview - Ice Flyers at Huntsville Havoc - Pensacola Ice Flyers
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