Surge outlast Columbus
October 22, 2011 - SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi Surge News Release
In spite of playing its third road game in as many nights, the Mississippi Surge outlasted the Columbus Cottonmouths 4-3 in a shootout Saturday night in Columbus. It is the first win of the young season for Mississippi, and first for rookie head coach Jeff Bes.
The Surge showed no signs of fatigue early, as Mark Versteeg-Lytwyn scored the first of his two goals on the night, a power play goal only 3:45 into the first period. The Surge had a blazing start, outshooting Columbus at one point 8-1 in the first period. Mississippi had 15 shots on goal, the most of any period on the season opening road trip. In spite of the edge in shots, the Surge came out of the first period tied as Jordan Braid evened the score for Columbus.
Matt Ridley put the Surge back on top with his first goal of the season, coming at 1:28 of the second period. But Columbus wiped that out with a shorthanded goal by John Sullivan, and a goal by Levi Lind with two and a half minutes left in the period.
Versteeg-Lytwyn's second goal of the game and season came at 8:05 of the third period. The teams remained scoreless the rest of the way, and neither team could score in the five minute overtime.
In the shootout, Shawn Skelly scored for the Surge on the first attempt, and it was all the Surge would need. Rookie goaltender Kiefer Smiley stopped all four Columbus shooters in the shootout. Adam Krug also scored for Mississippi in the shootout, and Smiley's four stops made the fifth round of shooters unnecessary.
The Surge wrapped up the three game road trip 1-2-0 and will open the home season Friday against the Huntsville Havoc at 7:05 p.m. That will start a seven game homestand for Mississippi.
SPHL Stories from October 22, 2011
- Havoc Ground the RiverHawks - Augusta RiverHawks
- Surge outlast Columbus - Mississippi Surge
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