PENSACOLA, Fla – Coming off an impressive 7-0 win the night before, the Pensacola Ice Flyers hosted the Mississippi RiverKings at the Pensacola Bay Center last Saturday night. Looking to avenge the loss and first career shutout by Ice Flyers rookie goalie Ross MacKinnon, the RiverKings came away with redemption in the form of a 4-3 win in front of 2,952 fans.
The first period belonged to the visitors who scored twice while blanking their hosts. Mississippi winger Jeremy Dawes put the RiverKings on the board first at the 8:41 mark with assists going to Patrick Gaul and Darrell Stoddard. Just under seven minutes later, Gaul doubled the lead to two with Nick Walsh and Paul Kurceba earning the helpers.
In the second period, the Ice Flyers’ Ryan Raven helped his team get back in the game by putting the puck past RiverKings goalie David Wilson at the 9:03 mark. A couple of minutes later, Pensacola captain Leo Thomas scored a goal to tie the game at two. Undeterred by the shift in momentum, Mississippi’s Todd Hosmer restored the RiverKings lead with a goal at the 16:09. Not to be undone, Ice Flyers defenseman Jeremy Gates scored with 1:25 left in the period to tie the score at 3-3 heading to the final twenty minutes.
With the next goal possible being the game-winner, Mississippi’s Stoddard beat MacKinnon in the Pensacola net 1:43 in to put his team ahead to stay. The Ice Flyers fought hard for the equalizer, pumping 17 shots on Wilson. The RiverKings netminder stood on his head, shutting out Pensacola’s offense in the stanza to earn the victory.
For the game, Pensacola out-shot Mississippi 43-33 and each team was 0-for1 on the power play.
RiverKing Ian Finnerty (9%2C green) tries to keep his balance as Ice Flyer Tyler Miller (44%2C white) looks on.
The RiverKings celebrate a goal.
Pensacola goalie Ross MacKinnon (1%2C white) scrambles to cover the net as Mississippi%27s Darrell Stoddard (87%2C green) looks for the puck.
Ice Flyer John Dunbar (42%2C white) gets off a pass from his knees as RiverKings Mike Baran (3) and Kyle Lundale (22) lwatch.
Pensacola%27s Tyler Miller (44%2C white) goes down to block the passing lane in front of Mississippi%27s Matt Whitehead.
Mississippi%27s Jeremy Dawes (10%2C green) looks for an open teammate.
Pensacola%27s Jordan Chong (9%2C white) tangles with Mississippi%27s Kyle Lundale (22%2C green).
Pensacola%27s Aaron Schmit (55%2C white) battles a Mississippi opponent for the puck.
Ice Flyer Leo Thomas (24%2C white) speeds past Mississippi%27s Mike Baran.
Contact the photographer at vanessa.johnson@prohockeynews.com Follow us on Twitter @prohockeynews
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