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Snakes enjoy perfect week

February 23, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Columbus Cottonmouths News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Columbus Cottonmouths had three wins on the week, with one of the wins Friday night against the Central Division-leading Louisiana IceGators in the Snake Pit. The Cottonmouths are just one standing point behind the third-place Gwinnett Gladiators, but Gwinnett has two games in hand on the Snakes. Columbus is also two points ahead of fifth-place Pensacola, but the Ice Pilots have four games in hand on the Snakes as well. The last week of the season may shake out to be the deciding one in the division as the Snakes face divisional foes in six out of the final seven games, including two games against Pensacola and a home-and-home series against second-place Mississippi. CURRENT RECORDS AND STATS

Last Week: 3-0-0
Record: 30-21-4 (4th place, Central Division) 166 GF, 148 GA
14.6% PP (22nd, ECHL); 87.9% PK (2nd, ECHL)

LAST WEEK'S TRANSACTIONS

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UPCOMING GAMES

Friday and Saturday, February 27 and 28 – Columbus at Florida, 7:30 PM EST (both games)

The Snakes hit the road to Estero, Fla. this week for a pair of games against the Florida Everblades. The Everblades are in second place in the Southern Division but only by virtue of standing points as third-place Greensboro has four games in hand on the ‘Blades and fourth-place South Carolina has played seven fewer games than Florida. The Snakes won their only meeting against the Everblades this season, a 2-0 shutout win on December 14 as Olivier Michaud capped a perfect week off with a shutout, earning him ECHL Saver of the Week honors.

COTTONMOUTHS WEEK IN REVIEW

Friday, February 20 – Louisiana 1 at Columbus 2

After a scoreless two periods, the Cottonmouths and IceGators provided the Snake Pit crowd with plenty of third period excitement. A shorthanded goal put Louisiana ahead in the middle of the period, but Columbus logged the final two goals for a thrilling comeback victory. The line of Colin Pepperall, Marc-Andre Thinel, and Tomas Micka all ended the game with two points, as Micka and Thinel logged the goals. Jason Tapp stopped 29 of 30 for the Snakes, while Derek Gustafson stopped 33 of 35 for the IceGators. Louisiana and Columbus were both scoreless on the power play, with the IceGators having three chances compared to six for Columbus.

Saturday, February 21 – South Carolina 1 at Columbus 3

For the second straight night, the Snakes fell behind 1-0 but scored three unanswered goals to defeat the South Carolina Stingrays at home for the first time in two seasons. Marc-Andre Thinel, Christian Larrivee, and Rumun Ndur all scored for the Snakes, and Jason Tapp had his second straight one-goal allowed performance in net, stopping 28 of 29. Former Cottonmouth David Brumby turned away 41 of 44 shots for South Carolina in the losing effort. Both teams were scoreless on the power play as South Carolina had two opportunites and Columbus three.

Sunday, February 22 – Columbus 5 at Greenville 2

The Cottonmouths never trailed in Sunday's contest at the BI-LO Center in Greenville, S.C. in a 5-2 Snakes win, their 30th victory of the season. Colin Pepperall, who helped the Grrrowl win the Kelly Cup championship in 2002, provided offense for Columbus with two goals, including a short handed goal and a power play game-winning goal. Joel Martin earned the victory in his first-ever start for the Cottonmouths, stopping 23 of 25 Greenville shots on goal. Greenville's Michel Robinson allowed the first four goals on 22 shots and Daniel Boisclair stopped six of seven in relief of Robinson in the third period. Both teams scored a power play goal as the Cottonmouths had two chances on the man advantage and the Grrrowl had five.

THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1. Colin Pepperall, F – Pepperall had a five-point week, with two assists on Friday, an assist on Saturday, and lighting the lamp twice on Sunday.

2. Jason Tapp, G – Tapp played well in both home contests, allowing only one goal in each game and stopping 57 of 59 shots in all on the week.

3. Marc-Andre Thinel, F – Thinel had a four-point week with a pair of goals and pair of assists in the three games this past week.

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