Snakes Close Out February With Two Big Wins

Published on March 1, 2010 under SPHL (SPHL)
Columbus Cottonmouths News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Columbus Cottonmouths picked up five of a possible eight standing points over the last week of games. After falling 4-1 at Pensacola on Tuesday and dropping a 3-2 overtime decision to Huntsville on Friday, the Snakes rebounded with a huge 3-2 win at Knoxville on Saturday night and then exacted revenge on the Havoc at home Sunday with a 5-2 victory. The two wins on the last two days of February gave Columbus a 6-5-1 record for the month. Before the Cottonmouths close the season with three straight weeks of three games in three nights, they enjoy a relatively light schedule this week with a home game against Knoxville on Thursday and a game at Louisiana on Saturday. 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: 2-1-1

Record: 19-20-6, 44 pts (6th Place, SPHL)

135 GF, 156 GA

17.9% PP (5th, SPHL); 83.3% PK (3rd, SPHL)

LAST WEEK'S TRANSACTIONS

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UPCOMING GAMES AND PROMOTIONS

Thursday, March 4 - Knoxville at Columbus, 7:30 PM EST (Season Series vs. KNX: 4-2-2)

The Knoxville Ice Bears visit the Snake Pit on Thursday night for the first time since December 12. Since then, the Cottonmouths have visited Knoxville four times, going 1-2-1 in those four contests. The Ice Bears should have the services of goaltender Andrew Gallant available after on Thursday after he had a stint on the 30-day injured reserve. His injury was actually sustained in a fight with Louisiana goaltender A.J. Bucchino in a January 29 game in Knoxville. The Ice Bears and Cottonmouths will tangle once more in the regular season in a March 18 game at the Snake Pit. PROMOTIONS: First 1000 fans will receive a replica jersey, courtesy of the Columbus Civic Center.

Saturday, March 6 - Columbus at Louisiana, 8:05 PM EST (Season Series vs. LOU: 2-2-0)

The Cottonmouths travel to Lafayette, La. this weekend for a Saturday night game against the Louisiana IceGators at Blackham Coliseum. The Snakes doubled up the 'Gators 4-2 in the last meeting between the two teams on February 19 in Louisiana. The IceGators are currently last in the SPHL standings, eight points behind Columbus with the Cottonmouths having a game in hand. For Louisiana to realize their slim playoff hopes, this game and a home-and-home series against Columbus on March 19 at the Snake Pit and March 20 in Lafayette is pivotal; conversely, the Snakes can use these three games to cement their playoff positioning for the postseason.

COTTONMOUTHS WEEK IN REVIEW

Tuesday, February 23 - Columbus 1 at Pensacola 4 (Attendance: 2,390)

The Snakes fell Tuesday night by a 4-1 margin at Pensacola. The teams were tied 1-1 heading into the final period when Chris Rebernik scored his second and third goals of the night for Pensacola to ice the win. Jesse Cole was the lone goal scorer for Columbus. Chad Rycroft took the loss in net for the Cottonmouths with 31 saves on 35 shots while Jamie Gilbert stopped 30 of 31 for the win between the pipes for the Ice Flyers. Both teams finished the night 1 for 6 on the power play.

Friday, February 26 - Huntsville 3 at Columbus 2 (OT) (Attendance: 5,772)

The Huntsville Havoc clawed back from a 2-1 deficit with a third period goal and picked up the extra standing point with a power play marker in overtime to take a 3-2 win on Friday night. Ryan McCarthy scored a goal for Columbus with Jesse Cole scoring on a penalty shot for the other tally for the Snakes. Huntsville was 1 for 4 on the power play while Columbus only had two power play chances in the game, scoring on neither. Ian Vigier picked up the regulation tie with 42 saves on 45 shots for Columbus; Mark Sibbald, playing in his first game in net for the Havoc since being sent back from Mississippi of the CHL, had 35 saves on 37 shots on goal in the win.

Saturday, February 27 - Columbus 3 at Knoxville 2 (Attendance: 4,597)

The Snakes won their fifth road game of the season and picked up their first victory in Knoxville this season on Saturday night with a 3-2 win over the Ice Bears. The Cottonmouths trailed 2-0 before a third period scoring outburst that saw Jesse Cole score once to extend his goal-scoring streak to four games and Sam Bowles tie the game with a power play marker then score the game-winner less than two minutes later. Ian Vigier picked up the win in a solid goaltending performance for Columbus, turning away 36 of the 38 shots on goal he faced. Chad Collins was in net for Knoxville and had 30 saves on 33 shots in the losing effort. Both teams scored one power play goal with Columbus having three chances with the man advantage and the Ice Bears five.

Sunday, February 28 - Huntsville 2 at Columbus 5 (Attendance: 2,365)

The Cottonmouths picked up their first regulation win of the season over Huntsville on Sunday afternoon with a 5-2 victory over the Havoc. Five different Snakes lit the lamp with Sam Bowles, Brent Clarke, Jesse Cole, Tim Green, and Tom McMonagle each finding the back of the net once each. Chad Rycroft also had a sparkling game between the pipes for Columbus with a 47-save effort on 49 shots on goal. Dan McWhinney started in net for Huntsville and stopped 10 of 12 shots before yielding to Mark Sibbald, who had 22 saves on 25 shots and took the loss as he allowed the game-winning tally. Columbus was 1 for 4 on the power play while Huntsville was 1 for 6.

THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1. F Jesse Cole - Cole scored once in each of the week's four games and added an assist Sunday.

2. F Sam Bowles - Bowles scored the game-tying and game-winning goals Saturday night in Knoxville and added a goal and assist in Sunday's win over the Havoc.

3. F Ryan McCarthy - McCarthy scored a goal on Friday night and had an assist each in Saturday and Sunday's games.

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