COLUMBUS, GA – The visiting Fayetteville Fire Antz blasted the Columbus Cottonmouths 7-3 in game two of their five game opening round playoff series. Fayetteville evened the series at one game apiece with the win. The Cottonmouths had applied a blasting of their own with a stunning 9 -3 win last Thursday in the opening game of the series also played in Columbus. The 2,860 fans in the building who were rooting for Columbus watched the Cottonmouths concede the first period momentum to the Fire Antz as the Fayetteville icemen scored the last two goals of the period to break a 2-2 tie and go ahead by a score of 4-2.
These two late first period goals coupled with the Fire Antz scoring the first two goals in the second period gave the Fire Antz an insurmountable 6-3 lead after two periods. Columbus managed one goal in period two and was held scoreless the balance of the night while the Fire Antz added an insurance goal in late in the final period.
The Snakes momentum was also stymied as they had two goals disallowed. One goal was disallowed n the first period when the officiating crew ruled that net had been dislodged before the puck entered the net. Another goal was waived off in the second period when the Referee lost sight of the puck and stopped play just before the puck went into the net. Penalties also hurt Columbus as even though the Fire Antz were able to score only one power play goal in ten chances, Fayetteville outshot the home team 42 to 30 while forcing Columbus into multiple penalty kills. Columbus scored on one power play in their four opportunities.
Rob Colangelo and Dan Buccella paced the FireAntz with two goals each while the Columbus goals came from three different players. Guy St. Vincent was in goal for Fayetteville and Ian Vigier took the loss and was pulled in favor of backup goalie Chad Rycroft after the sixth Fayetteville tally.
Game three is scheduled for 5 PM on the Fire Antz home ice this afternoon. Game four will also be played in Fayetteville Monday and game five if required will be played in Columbus next
Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.