LAFAYETTE, LA - The Mississippi Surge earned a point for the fifth consecutive game, battling back from a two-goal deficit to force overtime before falling 4-3 to the Lousiana IceGators in a shootout on Christmas night.

The IceGators jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when the rebound of A.J. Tucker's sharp-angle shot on a shorthand rush bounced right to Daryl Moore, who backhanded it past Mississippi netminder Bill Zaniboni at 3:08 of the first period. At 15:44, Nick Pernula extened the Louisiana lead to 2-0 when his shot from the right wing bounced off Zaniboni's glove and into the net.

Mississippi drew within one during the second period when Chris Ferazzoli fed a pass up to Stephen Schofield, who broke in alone on Louisiana goalie Jimmy Spratt and tucked the puck behind him at 18:14.

The Surge tied the game at two-apiece when Matt Zultek deflected a shot from Steve Weidlich over Spratt at 10:39. Less than a minute later, Trevor Karasewicz restored Louisiana's lead when his shot from the top of the right circle beat Zaniboni through a screen. With a late power play and Zaniboni on the bench in favor of an extra attacker, Matt Larke's eighth goal of the season tied the game at three, sending the contest to overtime.

After a scoreless overtime, Louisiana got shootout goals from Daryl Moore and Josh Bonar, while Mississippi failed to score on all four shootout attempts as Louisiana took home the 4-3 win. Bill Zaniboni made 28 saves in regulation and overtime to earn an OT, while the Surge power play went 1-for-9.

The Surge host the Louisiana IceGators on Saturday, December 26 at 7:30 p.m

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Southern Professional Hockey League