Surge Battle Back To Force Shootout With Bears
Published on December 29, 2009 under SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi Surge News Release
KNOXVILLE, TN - The Mississippi Surge battled back from a 2-0 before eventually falling to the Knoxville Ice Bears 4-3 in a shootout at the James White Civic Coliseum in Knoxville on Tuesday evening.
Mississippi fell behing 1-0 when Taylor Hustead fired a one-timer from the top of the slot off of a drop pass from Kevin Swider past the glove of Surge goaltender Bill Zaniboni at 15:22.
Kevin Swider gave the Ice Bears a 2-0 lead when he fired a wrist shot from the bottom of the right circle off of Zaniboni's pads, got the rebound back and the fired a second shot that Zaniboni also saved before finally putting the third shot past the Surge goalie at 13:47 of the second.
With Mississippi on a five-on-three power play, Matt Zultek got the Surge on the board with his 16th power-play goal of the season, wristing a quick shot past Knoxville netminder Andrew Gallant on the long side at 19:32 of the second period.
Mississippi drew even just 49 seconds into the second period when Steve Weidlich blasted a shot from the point past Gallant on the power play. The Surge drew ahead when Mike Richard dumped the puck into the Knoxville end and Gallant played it into his own net at 5:16. Knoxville drew the contest even at three-apiece when he backhanded a shot past Zaniboni at 7:11 of the third.
Despite three power plays late in the third period and one in overtime, Knoxville held off numerous Surge scoring chances to force the game to the shootout, where Tim Vitek potted the shootout-deciding goal in the fifth round for Knoxville.
Mississippi was 2-for-9 on the power play, and Bill Zaniboni made 34 saves to earn an OT.
The Surge return to the Mississippi Coast Coliseum on January 1, 2, and 3. On Saturday, January 2, come help the Surge white out the Coliseum when they take on the Huntsville Havoc. The first 4,000 fans into the game will get white Surge t-shirts courtesy of Domino's Pizza! Tickets start as low as $8 and can be purchased by calling (228) 287-PUCK.
SPHL Stories from December 29, 2009
- Surge Battle Back To Force Shootout With Bears - Mississippi Surge
- Snakes March 5 Game Rescheduled - Columbus Cottonmouths
- Klaren, Radovich Earn Sher-Wood Player Of The Week Honors - SPHL
- SPHL, Columbus Cottonmouths Announce Schedule Change - SPHL
- Radovich Named Player Of The Week - SPHL
- Huntsville Takes Three Over Holidays - Huntsville Havoc
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