IceGators Fall in Overtime to Cottonmouths
January 28, 2012 - SPHL (SPHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release
Columbus, Georgia--The Columbus Cottonmouths came back from an early 3-2 deficit to deliver a heartbreaking 5-4 overtime loss to the Louisiana IceGators. Jordan Braid scored the game-winner following a nail-biter of a third period in which the IceGators tied the game with less than a minute remaining in regulation.
"I thought we played a very solid 60 minutes," said IceGators head coach Kevin Kaminski. "We came out of the gates flying. That was our best 60 minutes in a while."
Indeed, the IceGators came out of the gates flying--holding the lead or a tie for the 50 minutes of play. Josh Boyd opened the scoring at the 4:45 mark to give Louisiana a 1-0 lead. Columbus responded nearly two minutes later when Derek Pallardy tied the game. Louisiana regained the lead just over a minute later when Morgan James scored his first goal as an IceGator. In the second period, the teams traded goals. Orrin Hergott tied the game on a powerplay before Josh Duplantis gave the IceGators a 3-2 lead midway through the period. Columbus fought back in the third period. Greg Beller tied the game just under four minutes into the frame. Six minutes later, Baird scored the go-ahead goal to give the Cottonmouths a 4-3 lead. Late in regulation, it seemed that Columbus would escape with a one-goal victory. However, the IceGators would not be denied. Jason Hill scored a powerplay goal with an extra attacker on the ice to tie the game with 57 seconds left in regulation. However, the Cottonmouths would have the last laugh, as Baird scored the winning goal at 1:59 in overtime.
Despite the loss, Kaminski is proud of his team's effort. "We skated, hit, fought, and played with emotion and heart," he said. "Our care factor and compete level were at another level. I believe (Columbus) is the best team in the SPHL right now, and we gave them everything we could handle. That was a huge character point to get." Kaminski also criticized the errors that he felt cost his squad a second point in the standings. "We have to have strong puck decisions and puck management and not put our teammates in jeopardy."
The IceGators return to the ice Tuesday night when they host the Pensacola IceFlyers in the Cajundome. Then on February 3rd and 4th, the IceGators will take on two Mississippi teams, the Surge and the Riverkings. At the Friday game the IceGators will have the "Breast Cancer Jersey Auction", sponsored by Scott Hebert Interiors, benefiting the Miles Perret Cancer Center. There will be post game skating available to fans both nights and $10 ticket specials.
SPHL Stories from January 28, 2012
- Winning Streak Snapped at Five - Mississippi RiverKings
- RiverHawks Edged by Havoc in Overtime - Augusta RiverHawks
- IceGators Fall in Overtime to Cottonmouths - Louisiana IceGators
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