Snakes too slippery for Twins

February 5, 2005 - SPHL (SPHL)
Winston-Salem Polar Twins News Release


[WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.] – The Columbus Cottonmouths tallied five goals in the second period to snap a five-game losing streak, taking a 9-2 victory over the Winston-Salem Polar Twins Saturday night at Joel Coliseum Annex.

Winston-Salem came out strong in the opening minutes of the game, out shooting the Cottonmouths 5-1 in the first five minutes of the period. Steve Lajoie put the Twins on the board only 1:48 into the first period with his third goal in two games. With Brent Toews in the penalty box for high sticking, Trevor Jobe drilled a shot from the point that was deflected over a sprawling Terry Friesen to give the Polar Twins the 1-0 lead.

Columbus tied it up just under five minutes later on Tyler Keller tallied his 13th goal of the season. Only seven seconds into the Cottonmouths' first power play of the contest, Keller capitalized on a screen in front of Rick Nichol to draw the game even at 1-1.

The Cottonmouths pulled ahead at the 7:58 mark of the opening period on a fluke goal by Orrin Hergott. Nichol made the initial save with his glove but the puck bounced free in front of the net and into a sliding Hergott who knocked it into the net for his 16th goal of the season and a 2-1 game.

Columbus extended that lead to two goals only 19 seconds into the second period. With ten seconds remaining on the power play, Tom McMonagle poked the puck loose from under Nichol's glove for his fourth goal against the Polar Twins and 22nd goal overall this season.

The Cottonmouths took the momentum from McMonagle's goal and rolled with it, scoring three more goals in the next 4:09 to put Columbus firmly in control with a 6-1 lead. Ryan Rutz, Tim Green, and Hergott all had even strength goals in that span for the five goal advantage.

Rutz increased that lead to 7-1 later in the period with his second goal of the game, a one-timer from the slot that beat Nichol, giving Rutz 14 goals on the season.

Trevor Jobe made it 7-2 at the 10:54 mark of the third period. Friesen tried to clear the zone but Jobe intercepted the puck in the high slot and teed up a slapshot for his third goal in five games.

McMonagle's second goal of the game made it 8-2 Cottonmouths before Lorne Misita wrapped up the scoring with his 20th goal of the season for the 9-2 final.

The Polar Twins head out on the road for a two-game swing next weekend. On Friday the Twins will stop in Columbus to finish up the season series with the Cottonmouths. Then on Saturday it is off to Jacksonville for the first part of a home-and-home series with the Barracudas. Winston-Salem returns home for the second half of the series with Jacksonville on Friday, February 18 at 7:30 p.m.



SPHL Stories from February 5, 2005


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