KINGFISH CAN'T HOLD LEAD IN THIRD PERIOD, FALL TO MONARCHS

SOUTHAVEN, MISS., – Two unanswered third-period goals from the Mid-South Monarchs handed the Baton Rouge Kingfish their first loss of the season, 4-3, tonight at Landers Center. 

Baton Rouge got off to a great start in the first period. Joe Drapluk's second goal of the season gave the Fish a 1-0 lead just 4:20 into the game, and Dmitry Kuznetsov snapped home a wrist shot 5:39 later on the powerplay to make it a two-goal advantage. However, Mid-South drew a goal closer prior to the intermission, capitalizing on a Kingfish turnover at 13:15.

The Monarchs leveled the contest at two goals apiece 11:40 into the second, taking advantage of a transition opportunity down the right wing. It looked like the game would be deadlocked, 2-2, heading into the second intermission. However, Matt Stoia slotted in a shorthanded one-timer off a beautiful pass from Tyler Williams with just 56 seconds remaining in the middle frame. Baton Rouge had the lead, 3-2, after 40 minutes.

Unfortunately for the Fish, that lead lasted just 15 seconds into the third period. The Monarchs took advantage of a neutral zone turnover, tying the game at three on a shot wired in from the left circle. Mid-South then grabbed its first lead on a well-executed face-off play at 7:52 of the final stanza.

The Kingfish had opportunities to tie the game late in the third, including two minutes of powerplay time inside the game's final five minutes. However, they couldn't get the puck to bounce their way. Baton Rouge scored on just three of its 42 shots. 

Ed Coffey parried 24 Mid-South shots in his third start of the season in the blue paint for the Kingfish. 

Baton Rouge and Mid-South rematch tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at Landers Center. The three-in-three series concludes Sunday with a 4:05 p.m. battle in Baton Rouge at Raising Cane's River Center.