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Snakes take three of four points with Texas

March 15, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Columbus Cottonmouths News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Columbus Cottonmouths went 1-0-1 in a weekend series at the Snake Pit against the visiting Texas Wildcatters, the last-place team in the Central Division. Columbus lost a heartbreaker in a shootout 4-3 on Friday night, but refocused and scored early and often in a 5-1 rout of the Wildcatters on Saturday night, throwing a season-high 56 shots at the Texas net. This weekend features a rescheduled game on the road against the first-place Louisiana IceGators then two home games this Friday and Saturday against the two bottom teams in the Southern Division: Friday against Greenville and Saturday versus Florence. The Snakes find themselves still in fifth place, two points behind fourth-place Gwinnett and three points behind third-place Pensacola. Gwinnett still has two games in hand on the Snakes, while Pensacola has played an equal number of games with 62.

CURRENT RECORDS AND STATS

Last Week: 1-0-1
Record: 34-23-5 (5th place, Central Division) 189 GF, 166 GA
14.1% PP (25th, ECHL); 88.2% PK (2nd, ECHL)

LAST WEEK'S TRANSACTIONS

3/12 – D Mathieu Roy assigned from Toronto (AHL)
3/12 – D Peter Hogan recalled to Toronto (AHL)
3/12 – F Marc-Andre Thinel recalled to Hamilton (AHL)
3/12 – F Tomas Micka activated from 7-day IR

UPCOMING GAMES

Wednesday, March 17 – Columbus at Louisiana, 8:05 PM EST

The Cottonmouths face the Louisiana IceGators for the final time in the regular season at the Cajundome in Lafayette, La. on Wednesday, the first Wednesday game this season for Columbus. The game is a rescheduled matchup from January 4, postponed due to LSU's national championship game being played at the Sugar Bowl in nearby New Orleans that night. On the season, the Snakes are 3-4-0 against Louisiana but have won the last three straight, all contests in Columbus. The Snakes defeated Louisiana 2-1 in a dramatic third-period comeback in their last meeting February 20.

Friday, March 19 – Greenville at Columbus, 7:30 PM EST

The Cottonmouths entertain the Greenville Grrrowl in their final matchup this season in the Snake Pit on Friday night. Columbus is 5-0-0 against Greenville this season, outscoring them by a combined 23-7 score over those five games. After trailing 2-0 in the second period, the Snakes scored three unanswered goals to claim a 3-2 victory in their last game against the Grrrowl in the BI-LO Center in Greenville on March 2.

Friday, March 20 – Florence at Columbus, 7:30 PM EST

Florence visits the Columbus Civic Center for the final time in the regular season on Saturday night. The Snakes have had their success against the Pride this season as well, going 5-1-0 against them. Columbus defeated the Pride 5-4 in the last meeting between the two teams on March 4 in Florence. The last time Florence visited the Snake Pit on February 14, the Cottonmouths drubbed the Pride 10-0, setting ECHL season highs for both goals scored in a game and margin of victory. The Valentine's Day whitewash atoned the Snakes from an 8-5 loss to the Pride in their last game against Florence in Columbus on February 10.

COTTONMOUTHS WEEK IN REVIEW

Friday, March 12 – Texas 4 at Columbus 3 (SO)

For the second straight Cottonmouths game, the opposing goaltender was the story. In the Snakes' last game on March 6, Augusta's Jason Saal shut the door on Columbus late to preserve a Lynx victory; this time, Texas's Mark Scally earned his first win as a Wildcatter by turning away 43 of 46 Columbus shots on goal and stopping all but Ryan Risidore in the shootout in a 4-3 shootout victory on Friday night. Dan Tudin, Colin Pepperall, and Carlyle Lewis all scored for the Cottonmouths in regulation, and Jason Tapp stopped 15 of 18 shots to earn the point in the standings for Columbus. Both teams finished 1 for 6 on the power play.

Saturday, March 13 – Texas 1 at Columbus 5

The Cottonmouths readjusted their focus and came out with a flurry of shots on Saturday night against Texas, taking an early lead and never looking back in a 5-1 victory. Dan Tessier scored twice for the Snakes, and J.F. Plourde, Colin Pepperall, and Tomas Micka added a goal each. A late Texas goal with a little over five minutes remaining prevented Jason Tapp from earning what would have been a league-best fifth shutout of the season, but he was stellar in net nevertheless, making 20 saves on 21 shots. Davis Parley acquitted himself well in net for the Wildcatters despite the loss, stopping 51 of 56 shots on goal. The 56 shots marked a season-high for Columbus, who also finished 1 for 4 on the power play. Texas was held scoreless in their six power play chances and was also turned away by Tapp on an Adam Stefishen penalty shot in the second period.

THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1. Colin Pepperall, F – The only Cottonmouth to score in both games, the new Cottonmouths captain scored a goal on Friday and a goal and assist on Saturday.

2. J.F. Plourde, F – Plourde had a three-point weekend as well, finishing with a +4 in both games.

3. Dan Tessier, F – Tessier notched an assist on Friday and scored two in Saturday's contest.

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