Surge Score Twice In 3rd To Beat IceGators

Biloxi, Miss.--Another night, another late lead lost.

The Mississippi Surge scored two goals in a 35-second span in the third period to steal a 4-3 victory from the Louisiana IceGators.  Tommy Lange led the Surge with two goals, including the game-winner at the 8:13 mark of the final frame.

The IceGators return to the ice next Friday night when they travel to play the Mississippi RiverKings.  Game time in Southaven is set for 7:05 p.m.

“It’s a tough loss,” said IceGators head coach Kevin Kaminski.  “I thought our effort was there, but turnovers cost us the game.  We have to bear down on getting pucks in and out of the zone, especially with a 3-2 lead on the road.  Our goaltending needs to step up, too.”

The Surge jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Justin McDonald scored an unassisted goal 1:43 into the game.

The IceGators tied the game twelve minutes later when Shawn McNeil scored off assists from Adam Stuart and Greg Brown.

Lange scored his first goal of the night at the 3:08 mark of the second period to give the Surge a 2-1 lead.

Back-to-back power play goals--one from Kirk Byczynski at the 10:41 mark and another from Chris Wilson at 18:57 mark--gave the IceGators a 3-2 lead heading into the second intermission.

The Surge tied the game at the 7:38 mark of the third period when Mike Lysyj scored off assists from Bill Baker and Kyle Kurdoch.

Lange recorded an unassisted goal 35 seconds later to put the Surge ahead for good.

Although he says his team played well enough to have a chance at winning, Kaminski says his players need to find their confidence and swagger during the next week.

“I thought we did a lot of good things tonight,” Kaminski said.  “We have to fight through this adversity together as a team and come back stronger.  If we learn to be relentless with the puck and get it in and out of the zone, we’ll be okay.”