Surge drop opening game
March 30, 2012 - SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi Surge News Release
The Mississippi Surge dropped the opening game of its Southern Professional Hockey League playoff series to the Pensacola Ice Flyers 4-1 Friday night in Pensacola. Game two of the best of three series is set for tonight at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
Casey Mignone broke open a scoresless game at 17:57 a fast paced first period when his shot from the inside edge of the right wing face off circle slid right along the ice just out of the reach of Surge goalie Kiefer Smiley and clanged in off the left goalpost.
Jordan Chong, who was SPHL co-rookie of the year with Smiley, gave Pensacola a 2-0 lead when he batted in a bouncing puck on the power play just a minute and a half into the second period. The Surge got its only goal of the night when Jeff Grant knocked home a rebound off a shot by Shawn Skelly, after some nifty work by Mark Versteeg-Lytwyn set him up for the shot. The Surge carried the play for the final six minutes of the second period but couldn't get the equalizer by Ice Flyers' goaltender Steve Christie.
Pensacola regained its two goal lead Jeff Sapieha scored with 6:38 left in the third period. An empty net goal by Tyler Soehner with 18 seconds left completed the scoring.
A Surge win in game two tonight will force a decisive third game of the series that would be played in Pensacola Sunday at 5:05 p.m. if necessary.
SPHL Stories from March 30, 2012
- Ice Flyers Down Surge 4-1, Take Series Lead - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Ice Bears Victorious - Play Deciding Game Sunday - Knoxville Ice Bears
- Havoc Force Game Three with Overtime Victory Over RiverHawks - Augusta RiverHawks
- Surge drop opening game - Mississippi Surge
- Ice Bears Force Game 3 - Mississippi RiverKings
- Ice Flyers Vs. Mississippi Surge - Pensacola Ice Flyers
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