Snakes Sweep Week, Clinch Playoff Berth

Published on February 21, 2012 under SPHL (SPHL)
Columbus Cottonmouths News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Columbus Cottonmouths won both their games over the past week with another thrilling game in the Battle of Georgia against the Augusta RiverHawks going to a shootout and a Columbus victory on Friday night and a Sunday afternoon home win against the Fayetteville FireAntz to secure their spot in the SPHL postseason. Even though the Cottonmouths have clinched a playoff berth, the regular season is far from over with home-ice advantage and playoff positioning still to play for the remainder of the season. This week, the Snakes hit the road for two games with a Fat Tuesday visit to Huntsville and a Friday night game at Pensacola. All games will be 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. In addition, road games are now broadcast locally in the Columbus area on 107.7 FM.

CURRENT RECORDS AND STATS

Last Week: 2-0-0

Record: 25-13-5, 55 pts (3rd, SPHL)

139 GF, 120 GA

19.2% PP (2nd, SPHL); 89.2% PK (1st, SPHL)

LAST WEEK'S TRANSACTIONS

2/15 - D Andrew Krelove loaned to South Carolina (ECHL)

2/19 - F Ryan Pearson signed to three-game tryout

SPHL STANDINGS

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

xAugusta 44 30 9 5 65 .739 172 126 1024 18-2-3 12-7-2 7-1-2 2-0-0

xKnoxville 42 26 12 4 56 .667 164 133 778 17-4-1 9-8-3 4-4-2 0-1-0

xColumbus 43 25 13 5 55 .640 139 120 933 15-7-2 10-6-3 6-4-0 2-0-0

Pensacola 42 22 17 3 47 .560 136 138 707 12-7-0 10-10-3 5-4-1 2-0-0

Louisiana 45 21 20 4 46 .511 148 156 747 11-7-2 10-13-2 5-4-1 0-3-1

Mississippi Surge 43 21 19 3 45 .523 127 130 789 11-8-2 10-11-1 6-4-0 0-2-0

Huntsville 43 18 21 4 40 .465 127 150 960 10-8-2 8-13-2 5-4-1 0-3-0

Mississippi R'Kings 41 18 20 3 39 .476 123 128 661 12-10-1 6-10-2 6-4-0 2-0-0

Fayetteville 45 13 27 5 31 .344 139 194 870 6-14-2 7-13-3 2-6-2 0-2-0

x - clinched playoff berth

UPCOMING GAMES AND PROMOTIONS

Tuesday, February 21 - Columbus at Huntsville, 8:35 PM EST (Season Series vs. HSV: 5-0-0)

Columbus goes for the season sweep of the Huntsville Havoc Tuesday night at Propst Arena at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville. The Havoc will come into Tuesday's game with a three-game losing skid and in a fight in the standings for home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Huntsville is currently seven points behind fourth-place Pensacola for the final home-ice spot but is also in seventh place with Louisiana and the Mississippi Surge between them and the Ice Flyers in the standings. The Havoc activated goaltender Mark Sibbald from league suspension earlier last week, and the 2011 SPHL Goaltender of the Year played in both games over the weekend in narrow losses at Fayetteville and Knoxville.

Friday, February 24 - Columbus at Pensacola, 8:05 PM EST (Season Series vs. PEN: 2-4-0)

The Snakes head to the Florida Panhandle on Friday night to face the Pensacola Ice Flyers. In stark contrast to their success against Huntsville, the Ice Flyers have had the Cottonmouths' number this season as Columbus is just 2-4-0 against Pensacola on the season to date. If the season were to end today, Pensacola would have the fourth and final spot for home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs, but four teams are within eight points of them in the standings. Looking in the opposite direction in the standings, Columbus has a comfortable eight-point lead over Pensacola in third place. The Ice Flyers will have the advantage of playing at home down the stretch as nine of their final 12 games in the regular season will take place at "The Hangar," the nickname for their home Pensacola Civic Center.

COTTONMOUTHS WEEK IN REVIEW

Friday, February 17 - Columbus 5 at Augusta 4 (SO) (Attendance: 1,603)

Jordan Braid's shootout tally proved to be the game-winner on Friday night as the Snakes took the extra standing point and a 5-4 win on the road over the intrastate rival Augusta RiverHawks. Orrin Hergott scored a pair of goals for Columbus in regulation with Braid also scoring a regulation marker and Greg Beller scoring once as well. Braid was tied with Tom Maldonado for the high point man of the night as Braid also had an assist on top of his two goals and Maldonado chipped in with three assists. Andrew Loewen took the win in net for Columbus with 21 saves on 25 shots, while Augusta's Peter Skoggard had 25 saves on 29 shots on goal for the regulation tie and shootout loss. Columbus was 2 for 9 on the power play while the RiverHawks were 1 for 6 with the man advantage.

Sunday, February 19 - Fayetteville 4 at Columbus 6 (Attendance: 2,691)

The Cottonmouths punched their ticket to the postseason Sunday with a 6-4 win over the last-place Fayetteville FireAntz at the Snake Pit. Six different Columbus players scored a goal with Jordan Braid, Orrin Hergott, Kevin Kessler, Peter MacDougall, John Sullivan, and Mitch Wall lighting the lamp once apiece. The Snakes outshot Fayetteville 51-19 in the contest. Erik Hudson started the game in net for the `Antz and had 23 saves on 27 shots; he was pulled after the Snakes' fourth goal in favor of Mike Brown, who went on to turn away 22 of 24 shots on goal. Brown took the loss, however, as he allowed the game-winning fifth goal off the stick of Hergott. Ian Vigier picked up the win in net for the Cottonmouths in a light day of work with 15 saves on 19 shots. Fayetteville was 1 for 5 on the power play while Columbus was 0 for 4 with the man advantage.

THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1. F Jordan Braid - Braid scored a goal in regulation, was credited for a second goal with the shootout game-winner, and added an assist on Friday at Augusta. He also notched a goal and assist in Sunday's win over Fayetteville. Braid also finished the week with a +5 rating including a +4 performance on Sunday.

2. F Orrin Hergott - Hergott also scored twice on Friday night at Augusta and scored once on Sunday.

3. F John Sullivan - Sullivan had a goal and two assists in Sunday's home victory over Fayetteville.

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