Zydeco Ride Early Lead to Defeat Breakers (4/9)

BATON ROUGE, LA - Kicking off the final weekend of the regular season, the Breakers and Zydeco had one thing in mind, play for pride. With both teams out of the postseason picture, this final dose of the Battle for I-10 would be exclusively for bragging rights. After gathering an early multi-goal lead, the Zydeco never let up and won by a final of 4-2.

Period 1 began with some new and familiar faces in the lineup. Making the start for Biloxi was Garrett Johnson, 1 of 2 players remaining from training camp back in October. The start marks Johnson’s 4th appearance, and first full 60 minutes as the goaltender. The Zydeco brought the pressure early on Johnson, courtesy of an early powerplay and flurry of shots. At 5:23, Chris Ciolek caught a pass as he was streaking down the slot and unloaded a bullet over the shoulder of Johnson to make it 1-0 Zydeco. Less than 2 minutes later, Scott Shorrock grabbed his 12th of the season out of a scrum in front to double the margin at 2-0. Searching for an answer, the Breakers headed into the back half of the frame needing someone to step up. At 14:40, Carter Thornton made a great individual effort on a net drive and squeezed the puck past Bailey Stephens to make it 2-1. The Zydeco would take their narrowest of leads to the room, outshooting the Breakers 16-10. 

The Zydeco once again came out strong to begin period 2, creating plenty of pressure to try and restore their 2-goal lead. Their wish came true at 5:31, with captain Tyler Larwood finding the twine for the 12th time this season to make it 3-1. The Breakers needed an answer, and it didn’t help that they hadn’t recorded a shot in the opening 10 minutes of the middle chapter. Just across the midway point at 10:07, Zachary Pamaylaon caught a pass in the slot and held the puck just long enough to fire a wrist shot over the shoulder of Stephens to make it 3-2. There weren’t any fireworks the rest of the way, but the Breakers did flip the 2nd period shot total in their favor at 9-8. Trailing by 1 heading into the 3rd, the Breakers had a golden opportunity to do something they hadn’t all year, come back and win from being down 2. 

Unfortunately, the mission could not be completed in the 3rd and final frame. The lone goal of the final chapter came courtesy of Scott Shorrock with a nifty dangle and snipe at 4:16 to cement the scoring at 4-2. Biloxi could only muster 6 shots on the offensive side in the final frame, while Baton Rouge countered with 19 of their own. Bailey Stephens gets his first win in 8 starts, while Garrett Johnson stops 39 shots in the loss.

The two teams will battle once again Friday night at 7:05 inside the Raising Canes River Center.