Snakes Sweep Weekend, 3-0

March 6, 2014 - SPHL (SPHL)
Columbus Cottonmouths News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Columbus Cottonmouths won all three games they played last week, defeating the Mississippi Surge in Biloxi on Thursday night before defeating them again in the back end of the home-and-home on Friday and then shutting out the Mississippi RiverKings on Saturday night. The Snakes will play three games in three nights again this week, but all games will be inside the friendly confines of the Columbus Civic Center. The Fayetteville FireAntz visit the Snake Pit for a game on Thursday night before a weekend pair of games against the Bloomington Thunder on Friday and Saturday. 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: 3-0-0

Record: 22-22-3, 47 pts (T-7th, SPHL)

154 GF, 147 GA

19.4% PP (3rd, SPHL); 83.8% PK (4th, SPHL)

LAST WEEK'S TRANSACTIONS

2/26 - D Chris Bailer placed on 30-day injured reserve; G Andrew Loewen returned from Gwinnett (ECHL); G Barney Slayton removed as emergency backup; F Seth Ronsberg activated from injured reserve

3/1 - F Steve Mele returned from Utah (ECHL); F Tory Allan placed on 30-day injured reserve

SPHL STANDINGS

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

xPensacola          49    31    13      5    67   .684   180    131    907    15-7-4    16-6-1    8-0-2   4-0-0    

xLouisiana          48    30    15      3    63   .656   166    150    880    17-8-0    13-7-3    8-2-0   1-0-0    

Huntsville          47    27    17      3    57   .606   161    136    893    18-6-0    9-11-3    5-4-1   4-0-0    

Peoria              46    24    16      6    54   .587   126    127    744    15-6-3    9-10-3    5-3-2   0-0-1    

Mississippi R'Kings 47    25    19      3    53   .564   143    125    875    12-7-3    13-12-0   4-6-0   0-2-0    

Knoxville           45    21    18      6    48   .533   125    125    920    12-10-2   9-8-4     6-2-2   2-0-0    

Columbus            47    22    22      3    47   .500   154    147    1140   11-10-1   11-12-2   6-4-0   3-0-0    

Mississippi Surge   48    21    22      5    47   .490   127    160    789    10-12-2   11-10-3   3-3-4   0-2-2    

Fayetteville        46    17    24      5    39   .424   117    142    870    10-12-0   7-12-5    3-5-2   0-3-1    

Bloomington         47    17    28      2    36   .383   112    168    1207   9-13-0    8-15-2    3-7-0   0-2-0    

x - clinched playoff berth

UPCOMING GAMES AND PROMOTIONS

Thursday, March 6 - Fayetteville at Columbus, 7:30 PM EST (Season Series vs. FAY: 6-3-0)

The Snakes face the Fayetteville FireAntz for the tenth and final time in the regular season at the Columbus Civic Center on Thursday night. The two teams faced each other three straight times two weeks ago, with the Snakes taking two of the three games and outscoring Fayetteville 12-5 in the process. The FireAntz are fighting for their playoff lives as they are eight points behind the Snakes and Mississippi Surge for the final playoff spots in the SPHL. The schedule is somewhat favorable for the FireAntz as they play their final five games of the regular season at home but against Louisiana (2), Knoxville, and Peoria (2).

Friday/Saturday, March 7/8 - Bloomington at Columbus, 7:30 PM EST (both nights) (Season Series vs. BLM: 3-0-1)

The Cottonmouths play the Bloomington Thunder on Friday and Saturday nights in the Snake Pit. The Thunder are the only team in the league the Snakes have not lost to in regulation as Columbus is 3-0-1 against Bloomington so far this season. Like the FireAntz, the Thunder are also on the outside looking in on the SPHL playoff race as they currently sit 11 points behind the Surge and Snakes with nine games left to play. After this weekend, however, the Thunder don't have to leave the state of Illinois again in the regular season as they have five of six at home (a three-in-three weekend against Huntsville then a back-to-back against Pensacola) and the only road game a March 18 trip to Peoria.

COTTONMOUTHS WEEK IN REVIEW

Thursday, February 27 - Columbus 5 at Mississippi Surge 3 (Attendance: 1,053)

The Snakes defeated the Mississippi Surge in Biloxi Thursday night 5-3, coming back from a 2-0 first period deficit. The game had an identical final score as the only other game between Columbus and the Surge at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, a 5-3 Snakes win back on December 20. Sam Bowles notched a pair of goals, including the game-winner and an insurance marker late in the third period to break a 3-3 tie. Nielsson Arcibal, Jordan Draper, and Preston Shupe scored once each for Columbus. Andrew Loewen picked up the win between the pipes for the Cottonmouths, stopping 20 of 23 shots on goal. The Surge's Dan Clarke made 38 saves on 43 shots in goal for Mississippi. The Snakes excelled on the power play as they were 3 for 6 with the man advantage while the Surge were 1 of 3 on the power play.

Friday, February 28 - Mississippi Surge 5 at Columbus 6 (OT) (Attendance: 2,379)

Forward Matt Gingera tied an SPHL record with a five-goal game Friday night as the Snakes defeated the Mississippi Surge 6-5 in overtime. Seth Ronsberg scored his first goal of the season to start off the scoring for Columbus. Curtis Martinu picked up his first professional win between the pipes for the Cottonmouths, stopping 24 of the 29 shots he faced. Mathieu Dugas took the loss in net for Mississippi, stopping 38 of 44. Both teams scored a pair of power play goals as the Surge were 2 for 5 with the man advantage and the Snakes were 2 of 4 on the power play.

Saturday, March 1 - Mississippi RiverKings 0 at Columbus 3 (Attendance: 3,239)

Goaltender Andrew Loewen set an SPHL franchise record and tied a Columbus hockey record with his fourth shutout of the season on Saturday night as the Snakes defeated the RiverKings 3-0. It was the first win of the season for Columbus against the "˜Kings. Steve Mele scored a goal for the Snakes in his first game back from an extended stay in the ECHL while Preston Shupe and Will Aide also scored once apiece. Loewen stopped all 25 RiverKings shots on goal for the win while Mississippi's Matthew Krahn made 25 saves on 28 shots. The Snakes were 2 for 3 on the power play while holding the RiverKings scoreless in their seven chances with the man advantage.

THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1. F Matt Gingera - Gingera's five-goal output singlehandedly gave the Snakes the overtime win over the Surge on Friday night. He also logged an assist each on Thursday and Saturday.

2. F Jordan Draper - Draper scored a goal and two assists Thursday night in Biloxi and had a pair of assists in Friday's home win over the Surge. 

3. G Andrew Loewen - Loewen stopped a total of 45 of 48 shots on goal in two appearances on the week, picking up his fourth shutout of the season on Saturday night.



SPHL Stories from March 6, 2014


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