Surge Falls to Huntsville in Shootout
February 17, 2013 - SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi Surge News Release
Working overtime is becoming quite a habit for the Mississippi Surge.
For the third straight game Sunday night, the Surge went into overtime--and eventually a shootout--before falling to the Huntsville Havoc 3-2 in Huntsville.
Early, the game had the appearance of a wide open high scoring affair. The Surge raced to a 2-0 lead. Kyle Kudroch gave Mississippi the lead just three and a half minutes into the game. The Surge took a 2-0 lead when Jeff Grant scored his 14th goal of the season at 11:41 of the first period. But just 13 seconds later, Kyle Laughlin scored for Huntsville, cutting the lead to 2-1.
It stayed that way until the third period. With the Surge shorthanded as the the result of a too many men on the ice penalty, Anthony Battaglia scored the tying goal for Huntsville with 8:44 left to play. It was Battaglia who had also scored in the final half minute Friday night to force overtime against the Surge (the Surge won that game 4-3).
Even without any scoring there was still plenty of drama before the shootout. The Surge had to play the final 4:50 of regulation time and first 50 seconds of overtime shorthanded as the result of a major spearing penalty called against Andrew Harrison. The Surge killed that penalty but then were shorthanded again when Andrew Oke was whistled for goaltender interference midway through the five minute overtime.
While killing that penalty, the Surge's Branden Koslofsky was hooked on a breakaway and awarded a penalty shot with 41 seconds left in the overtime. Huntsville goaltender Dan McWhinney thwarted that effort which would have won the game for Mississippi.
In the shootout, Laughlin and Ian Boots both scored on Surge goaltender Kiefer Smiley. Only Mark Versteeg-Lytwyn was able to beat McWhinney for the Surge in the shootout. With three straight overtime games, the Surge has earned four out of a possible six points in the standings in that stretch.
The Surge, which has just completed a grueling schedule stretch of 10 games in 17 days, will now be off until Friday. That night the Surge will host the Pensacola Ice Flyers at 7:05 in the Mississippi Army National Guard Millitary Appreciation Night. The Surge players will wear special military themed jerseys for that game.
SPHL Stories from February 17, 2013
- Surge Falls to Huntsville in Shootout - Mississippi Surge
- RiverHawks Drop Close One to FireAntz, 3-2 - Augusta RiverHawks
- Augusta RiverHawks Release Statement Regarding Auffrey Family - Augusta RiverHawks
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