LAFAYETTE, La. – The Mississippi RiverKings took a four-goal lead and never looked back as they completed the two-game series sweep with a 5-2 victory over the Louisiana IceGators on Thursday night in Louisiana.
The RiverKings got on the board first 12:12 into the first. Cullen Bradshaw set up Todd Hosmer who beat Brad Barone shorthanded to put the RiverKings ahead 1-0.
The RiverKings then came out with three to open the second. Reid Campbell extended the RiverKings lead to two as Reid Campbell’s blast beat Barone to put the RiverKings ahead 2-0. Devin Mantha then collected his third goal of the series as he capitalized on a turnover and rocketed a slap shot to the back of the net and the RiverKings led by three just under the halfway point of the game. Then, with 6:30 left in the second Ryan Marcuz set up Leo Thomas for a one-timer and the RiverKings captain’s shot beat Adam Courchaine, who replaced Barone, to give the visitors a 4-0 lead.
Louisiana got a goal back just over a minute later. While shorthanded, John Daniels took the puck from the left wing corner, to the front of the net and slid a shot past the poke check of Peter Di Salvo to cut the RiverKings lead to 4-1 going into the third.
In the third, the ‘Gators made a late push. From behind the net, Jeremy Boyer’s pass found the stick of Anton Lennartsson who one-timed a shot past Di Salvo to bring Louisiana within two with 8:35 left in regulation.
The rally was not enough as the RiverKings converted with the IceGator net pulled and Leo Thomas fired a shot from the neutral zone to win the series with a 5-2 victory over Louisiana.
Peter Di Salvo (2-0) stopped 18 of 20 shots against in the win. Brad Barone (0-2) took the loss after stopping 10 of 13 shots against. Adam Courchaine did not factor in the decision after stopping 8-9.
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