Snakes Slither Past Surge To Break Losing Streak, Clinch Playoff Spot

March 11, 2013 - SPHL (SPHL)
Columbus Cottonmouths News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Columbus Cottonmouths saw their losing streak go to a season-high six games last week with losses at Huntsville on Thursday night and home against the Mississippi RiverKings on Friday night. The streak was finally broken on Saturday night with a home win against the Mississippi Surge. The Cottonmouths also clinched a playoff spot Sunday by virtue of an Augusta loss against Knoxville. Columbus has five regular season games remaining with the next three on the road before closing the season at home March 22 and 23. This week has only one game on the docket as the Snakes visit Knoxville in a possible first-round playoff preview. All games are broadcast on America One 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.

CURRENT RECORDS AND STATS

Last Week: 1-2-0

Record: 25-22-4, 54 pts (5th, SPHL)

136 GF, 127 GA

13.4% PP (7th, SPHL); 88.1% PK (2nd, SPHL)

LAST WEEK'S TRANSACTIONS

3/4 - D Marcel Alvarez returned on loan from Gwinnett (ECHL)

3/4 - D Marcel Alvarez waived

3/5 - D Chad Bazin waived

3/6 - F John Sullivan activated from injured reserve

3/9 - F Daniel Amesbury returned on loan from Tulsa (CHL)

3/9 - F Brett Hammond waived

SPHL STANDINGS

TEAM GP W L OTL PTS WPCT GF GA PIM HOME ROAD L-TEN STREAK

xLouisiana 51 33 13 5 71 .696 162 142 1028 21-5-2 12-8-3 6-3-1 1-0-0

xFayetteville 50 31 16 3 65 .650 172 140 710 17-4-3 14-12-0 7-3-0 1-0-0

xPensacola 49 29 15 5 63 .643 149 131 971 13-6-4 16-9-1 5-4-1 0-0-1

xKnoxville 50 29 18 3 61 .610 160 144 955 14-10-1 15-8-2 7-3-0 1-0-0

xColumbus 51 25 22 4 54 .529 136 127 1033 15-7-4 10-15-0 2-7-1 1-0-0

xMississippi Surge 52 23 22 7 53 .510 141 148 1137 12-8-5 11-14-2 5-3-2 0-2-1

Mississippi R'Kings 52 21 23 8 50 .481 153 175 915 13-9-4 8-14-4 5-3-2 3-0-0

Huntsville 50 19 25 6 44 .440 121 157 1289 15-9-2 4-16-4 4-6-0 0-2-0

Augusta 49 17 28 4 38 .388 127 157 1049 7-13-4 10-15-0 4-5-1 0-1-0

x - clinched playoff berth

UPCOMING GAMES AND PROMOTIONS

Saturday, March 16 - Columbus at Knoxville, 7:35 PM EDT (Season Series vs. KNX: 4-3-1)

The Snakes head to Tennessee on Saturday night to face the Knoxville Ice Bears in what is becoming more likely to be a first round playoff matchup. If the season ended today, the Cottonmouths and Knoxville would face each other in the first round with the Ice Bears holding home ice in the best-of-three series. The Snakes still have a mathematical chance to catch the Ice Bears for fourth but they are seven points behind and have played one more game than Knoxville. The playoff matchups are far from being concrete, but Saturday's game could set the tone for a possible Knoxville-Columbus playoff series, the first time the two teams will have faced each other in the playoffs since 2008.

COTTONMOUTHS WEEK IN REVIEW

Thursday, March 7 - Columbus 0 at Huntsville 1 (Attendance: 1,963)

Huntsville goaltender Dan McWhinney was the star of Thursday night's game between the Cottonmouths and Havoc, stymieing the Snakes' highest shot output all season as he turned away 50 Columbus shots, including 22 in the third period and a penalty shot in the game's final two seconds, as the Havoc took a 1-0 win. It was the first regulation win for Huntsville against the Snakes in over two years, dating back to January 28, 2011. Andrew Loewen deserved a better fate in net for the Cottonmouths as he stopped 38 of 39 shots on goal for Columbus. Neither team scored on the power play with Columbus going 0 for 7 with the man advantage and Huntsville 0 for 3 on the power play.

Friday, March 8 - Mississippi RiverKings 5 at Columbus 1 (Attendance: 5,082)

The Cottonmouths suffered their sixth consecutive loss Friday night with a 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Mississippi RiverKings. Matt Gingera scored his team-leading 24th goal as the Cottonmouths drew first blood with the first goal of the game for the fourth time in the current six-game skid. Ian Vigier's professional career win total still stands at 99 as he took the loss in net for the Snakes with 27 saves on 32 shots on goal. Matthew Krahn stopped 24 of 25 shots on goal as the winning netminder for the `Kings. Mississippi made good on both its power play chances and held Columbus scoreless in their two power play opportunities.

Saturday, March 9 - Mississippi Surge 1 at Columbus 4 (Attendance: 4,119)

The Snakes broke their six-game skid in a huge way on Saturday night with a 4-1 victory over the Mississippi Surge, atoning themselves for the loss they suffered against the Surge in Biloxi one week earlier. Matt Gingera scored a pair of goals with Jordan Braid and Kevin Kessler also scoring once each. John Sullivan culminated his first week back from an extended stint on the IR in a big way, leading all scorers with three assists. Andrew Loewen turned aside 22 of 23 shots on goal in net for Columbus, while Kiefer Smiley had 26 saves on 30 shots in the loss between the pipes for the Surge. The Snakes were 1 for 7 with the man advantage while holding Mississippi scoreless in their five chances on the PP.

THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1. F Matt Gingera - Gingera scored the Snakes' only goal Friday night and lit the lamp twice on Saturday night.

2. F John Sullivan - Sullivan had a four-point week with an assist Friday and three helpers on Saturday.

3. G Andrew Loewen - Loewen went 1-1-0 but deserved a better fate on Thursday night as he stopped all but one of 39 shots on goal in Huntsville. In all, he finished the weekend with 61 saves on 63 shots. Loewen has allowed one goal or fewer in nine of his last 13 appearances in net for the Snakes.



SPHL Stories from March 11, 2013


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