Snakes play deciding game three Tuesday

Published on March 28, 2006 under SPHL (SPHL)
Columbus Cottonmouths News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Columbus Cottonmouths suffered their first playoff loss in SPHL history at home on Friday night, falling 4-1 to the Huntsville Havoc. Facing elimination in Huntsville on Saturday night, Columbus responded in a double-overtime affair, the longest game in SPHL history, that was not ended until a Ryan Haggarty goal scored at 1 AM EST on Sunday morning. The Snakes again face elimination on Tuesday night as they host Huntsville in a winner-take-all Game 3 at the Snake Pit. The winner of Tuesday night's game will face the winner of the other SPHL playoff game on Tuesday between the Fayetteville FireAntz and Florida Seals. The two winners will face each other in a best-of-three semifinals with dates to be announced later this week. If Columbus emerges victorious, they will host either the Seals or FireAntz in Game 1 of the series on Friday night at the Snake Pit. All playoff games will be broadcast live on the Internet via Live365 as well as on WCJM 100.9 FM. Follow the broadcast link on the Snakes' homepage at www.cottonmouths.com.

SPHL PLAYOFF OUTLOOK

(3) Florida vs. (4) Fayetteville - Series Tied 1-1

Tue, 7:35 PM in FLA

The Florida Seals allowed Fayetteville the first goal of the series on Friday night in Kissimmee before mounting a third-period comeback with a pair of goals. John Gurskis and SPHL Rookie of the Year Rob Sich scored in the final frame to give the Seals a 2-1 victory and a short-lived 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. Florida won the game despite not having a single power play compared to three for Fayetteville. The two teams traveled to Fayetteville, N.C. on Saturday night with far different results, as the FireAntz finished the night with a snowman on the scoreboard in a series-tying 8-1 win. George Nistas exploded for half of the FireAntz' goal production with four tallies on the night. The Fayetteville power play also sunk the Seals as they were a stout 4 for 6 on the night with the man advantage. The two teams look to battle it out in a winner-take-all Game 3 in Florida on Tuesday night, with the winner advancing to play the Columbus-Huntsville winner in a best-of-three semifinals to begin later this week. If the Cottonmouths are the opponent, then Columbus will have the home-ice advantage and two potential games in the Snake Pit; a Huntsville win will give either the Seals or FireAntz the home-ice advantage in the series.

(1) Knoxville vs. (6) Pee Dee -Series Tied 1-1

Fri, 7:30 PM in KNX; Sat, 7:30 PM in KNX; Tue, 4/4 (if needed), 7:30 PM in KNX

While the Seals and FireAntz might secretly be rooting on Huntsville in order to secure home ice for the semifinals, one thing all four teams in the quarterfinals can agree on is rooting for the Pee Dee Cyclones to knock off the first-place Knoxville Ice Bears and sweeten the pot for the one of the four quarterfinalists who will make the SPHL championship series. The Cyclones made good in Game 1, shocking the Ice Bears with a 5-4 overtime victory in Florence, S.C. despite being outshot by Knoxville 66-30. Kelly Shields showed the form in net for Pee Dee that was evident in last season's SPHL playoffs as a member of the Jacksonville Barracudas as he turned away 62 of the 66 shots he faced. Former Macon Trax player Edan Welch provided the honors on Friday night with the game-winner for Pee Dee in OT. However,

SPHL PLAYOFF OUTLOOK (cont'd)

(1) Knoxville vs. (6) Pee Dee -Series Tied 1-1 (cont'd)

Knoxville responded in Game 2, erupting for four goals in the first period en route to a 7-1 victory, knotting the best-of-five series at a game apiece. The usual suspects dotted the scoresheet on Saturday night for Knoxville as Kevin Swider scored twice and added an assist while K.J. Voorhees notched a goal and assist as well. Shields was chased out of net after the first period while Mark Cairns finished the game between the pipes for Pee Dee. Saturday night marked the final game to be played in Florence in the series as the scene shifts to Knoxville for games 3-5. The Cyclones have the tall order of defeating the Ice Bears in Knoxville - a place where Pee Dee has yet to win - twice in three games to preserve the Cinderella slipper and make it to the league championship.

COTTONMOUTHS WEEK IN REVIEW

Friday, March 24 - Huntsville 4 at Columbus 1 (Attendance: 3,255)

Tim Green scored the first goal of the game for the Snakes on the power play, giving Columbus a brief 1-0 lead late in the first period. Don Patrick answered with a goal for Huntsville just 67 seconds later, with a Mark Cole goal with 13 seconds remaining in the second period standing as the game-winner for the Havoc. Huntsville added two empty net goals in the game's final seconds to provide for the final score. Both teams had 33 shots on goal on the night with Matt Carmichael turning away 32 shots for the Havoc in goal and Chad Rycroft stopping 29 of 31 for Columbus. The Snakes were 1 for 5 on the power play while the Havoc were 0 for 4.

Saturday, March 25 - Columbus 4 at Huntsville 3 (2OT) (Attendance: 3,672)

Lorne Misita and Tom McMonagle again gave Columbus the initial lead in Saturday night's contest in Huntsville, but the Havoc roared back later in the game, bolstered by two power play goals and an even-strength goal early in the third period to briefly take the lead in the contest. Mat Ponto would knot the scors midway through the third period with a heavy slapshot past Matt Carmichael. The game remained scoreless for the remainder of the third period and into the first overtime before a Ryan Haggarty tip off a Christian Gagnon shot from the point found the back of the net and ended the game four and a half hours and 87:32 of playing time after its beginning. The game-winner was scored on the 60th shot on goal in the game for Columbus as they outshot Huntsville 60-41. Matt Carmichael had 56 saves in the game for Huntsville while Chad Rycroft turned away 38 of 41 for the Cottonmouths. The Havoc were 2 for 9 on the power play while the Snakes were scoreless in their six chances.

THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1. F Ryan Haggarty - Haggarty ended the longest game in SPHL history on Saturday night in Huntsville with a goal 7:32 into the second overtime session.

2. G Chad Rycroft - Rycroft gave the Cottonmouths a chance to win both nights with his steady play between the pipes. He stopped 67 of the 72 shots he faced over the two games and his 2.03 goals-against average and .931 save percentage are both third among all playoff goaltenders. In his two-year career in Columbus, Rycroft has played every minute of every playoff game for the Snakes and has not allowed more than three goals in any of those games.

3. F Lorne Misita - Misita scored the first goal of the night for the Snakes on Saturday and assisted on Mat Ponto's game-tying goal in the third period of the game in Huntsville.

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