Snakes Defeat Mississippi At Home

Published on February 15, 2010 under SPHL (SPHL)
Columbus Cottonmouths News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Columbus Cottonmouths extended their season-high winning streak to three games on Tuesday morning with a 4-3 overtime victory over Mississippi on "Cool School Day" at the Snake Pit, the first of its kind in Columbus hockey history. The Snakes dropped two road games on the week, however, losing at Knoxville on Friday and Fayetteville on Saturday. The Snakes play two games this week with road games at Huntsville on Tuesday and at Louisiana on Friday. Both games will be broadcast on B2 Networks with both a video and audio feed, with a nominal fee for each game. A free audio-only webcast of the games is also available. Details can be found at www.cottonmouths.com. In addition, road games are now broadcast locally in the Columbus area on 106.9 WRCG-FM.

CURRENT RECORDS AND STATS

Last Week: 1-2-0

Record: 16-18-5, 37 pts (6th Place, SPHL)

119 GF, 139 GA

18.3% PP (6th, SPHL); 83.8% PK (3rd, SPHL)

LAST WEEK'S TRANSACTIONS

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UPCOMING GAMES AND PROMOTIONS

Tuesday, February 16 - Columbus at Huntsville, 8:35 PM EST (Season Series vs. HSV: 1-4-1)

The Snakes make a Fat Tuesday trip to the Von Braun Center in Huntsville to take on the hometown Havoc. Huntsville is coming off a huge win on Sunday at home against Knoxville, a win that kept their name out of the SPHL history books for the dubious feat of most games without a win in league history. The Havoc had been on a nine-game winless skid prior to Sunday, including a 3-2 overtime loss in Columbus on February 6 in the Snakes' first win over Huntsville this season. The Havoc and Mississippi are deadlocked in a first-place tie in the SPHL standings with identical 22-10-8 records on the season, with the Surge playing two crucial games in Huntsville this Friday and Saturday.

Friday, February 19 - Columbus at Louisiana, 8:05 PM EST (Season Series vs. LOU: 1-2-0)

The Cottonmouths visit Acadiana for the first time in over three months on Friday night with a game against the Louisiana IceGators at Blackham Coliseum in Lafayette. In the only meeting between the two teams so far this season in Louisiana, the IceGators defeated Columbus 2-1, but due in large part to the goaltending of Jamie Gilbert, who now dons a Pensacola sweater instead of Louisiana. The IceGators have visited the Snake Pit twice since then, splitting the two games played in Columbus. The Snakes and `Gators will play each other three more times this season, crucial games from Louisiana's standpoint to keep their slim playoff chances alive and from a Columbus standpoint to pad their lead in the standings over the IceGators.

COTTONMOUTHS WEEK IN REVIEW

Tuesday, February 9 - Mississippi 3 at Columbus 4 (OT) (Attendance: 6,286)

In what was easily the Snakes' season high for attendance on Tuesday morning, bolstered by over 5,000 Columbus area schoolchildren, the Cottonmouths did not disappoint, coming back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Mississippi Surge 4-3 in overtime. Tyler Johnson scored two goals on the day with the first goal for Columbus and the overtime game-winner. Brent Clarke scored his first point as a Cottonmouth with a goal and Ryan McCarthy lit the lamp once as well. Ian Vigier made 37 saves on 40 shots in the win in goal for Columbus while Mississippi's Bill Zaniboni had 26 saves on 30 shots in the losing effort between the pipes for Mississippi. The Snakes were 2 for 5 on the power play while the Surge were 1 for 9 with the man advantage.

Friday, February 12 - Columbus 1 at Knoxville 5 (Attendance: 3,317)

Only a Tommy McMonagle goal kept SPHL playoff MVP turned journeyman Chad Collins from his first shutout of the season on Friday night as the Snakes fell to Knoxville 5-1 in Tennessee. Collins turned in a 27-save effort on 28 shots on goal, while Ian Vigier had 32 saves on 37 shots in net for the Snakes. Both teams were an identical 0 for 4 on the power play.

Saturday, February 13 - Columbus 5 at Fayetteville 7 (Attendance: 3,429)

After defeating Columbus 9-4 in the last game in Fayetteville on February 2, the FireAntz put six goals past Columbus netminders on Saturday night and added an empty-netter for a 7-5 win. The win spoiled a two-goal effort by the Snakes' Jesse Cole, and Tim Green, Levi Lind, and Ryan McCarthy chipped in a goal apiece for the Cottonmouths. It also spoiled a Snakes season high in shots on goal, with 57 shots on goal thrown at Fayetteville goaltender Guy St. Vincent, who turned away 52 of them. Chad Rycroft made 11 saves on 16 shots in net for Columbus before being spelled by Ian Vigier, who finished with 17 saves on 18 shots. Columbus was 2 for 3 on the power play while the `Antz were 1 for 4 with the man advantage.

THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1. F Jesse Cole - Cole had two assists on Tuesday and two goals and an assist on Saturday.

2. D Tyler Johnson - Johnson had two goals, including the overtime game-winner, on Tuesday night, and picked up an assist on Saturday

3. F Levi Lind - Lind notched a goal and four assists over the week of games.

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