PHN’s Best Shots of the Game; Columbus prevails 7-5 over Huntsville

COLUMBUS, GA – Huntsville’s third-period comeback fell short in a 7-5 loss to the Columbus Cottonmouths Saturday.

Columbus kicked off the scoring for just the second time this season against Huntsville; scoring just 45 seconds into the opening frame. The Cottonmouths grabbed their second of the frame at 4:18.

But Huntsville was not backing down and saw a bounce go their way halfway through the first. Christian Powers transported a pass up the left-wing side for John Clewlow. The Brampton, Ont. went to deposit the puck into the offensive zone and head off on a change. But, the puck hit awkwardly off a stanchion and rolled to the back of the net behind the Cottonmouth netminder.

As the second period began, the Havoc remained in a one-goal lead until the Cottonmouths registered their third of the night at 1:21 of the middle frame. Six minutes later, Columbus recorded their second of the period to notch their first three-goal lead of the night. But the Havoc continued to show their poise and test the defense of the Cottonmouths. While on the power play, Rob Simpson, who was at the far-point, sent a pass to the near-side for Tyler French. The Kelowna, B.C. native then walked towards the face-off circle to rip a wrist shot into the back of the net at 12:22 of the middle frame.

Later in the period tempers boiled over as French dumped his man to the ice after the horn sounded to end the second.

In the third, Columbus, for the third straight period, registered the opening goal of the frame; this time 66 seconds in. But that’s when Huntsville began their climb back. The first came 14:22 into the third when Patrick Harrison flung a shot from the far point that had eyes for the back of the net. Sixty-nine seconds later, with the Havoc on another Audi of Huntsville power play opportunity, French fed a pass to Rob Simpson at the point to whip a shot into the back of the net at 15:31.

The one-goal deficit was short lived though as Columbus, on a five-on-three man-advantage opportunity, recorded their sixth goal of the evening at 17:37.

In the final minute, with the Havoc net empty and an extra attacker on the ice, Lou Educate scooped up a loose puck in the slot for his 13th goal on the road at 19:36. The new life for the Havoc dimmed as Columbus would score an empty netter with one second left on the clock for the 7-5 win over the Havoc.