PENSACOLA, FL. – Friday the 13th was an unlucky one for the Pensacola Ice Flyers with a 5-2 loss against the Columbus Cottonmouths at the Pensacola Bay Center in front of the 3,544 in attendance.
The lone first-period goal came from Brett Lutes 7:23 into the opening period with assists to Shaun Arvai and Zach Josepher giving the Ice Flyers the early 1-0 lead. Pensacola came out strong with 15 shots on net compared to Columbus’ 5.
Mike Switzer evened the game up for the Cottonmouths 6:58 into the second. Nearing the end of the period, Matt Gingera capitalized on a rebound to put Columbus in control up 2-1. A few minutes after it would be a two-goal game as Ben OQuinn found the back of the net to end the period with a 3-1 lead.
Thirty-five seconds into the third, the Cottonmouth’s fourth unanswered goal came from Shawn Bates making it 4-1. A power-play goal nearing the midway point of the period from Lutes for his second of the game gave the Ice Flyers a chance to get back in the game. However, a late goal just under three minutes left from Bates was the nail in the coffin and Columbus would win with a final score of 5-2.
Pensacola’s Max Strang turned away 18 of 23 shots and Columbus’ Andrew Loewen denied 35 of 37.
With the loss, Pensacola now holds a record of 26-17-6 for 58 points and find themselves in fourth place two points behind the RiverKings who defeated Fayetteville tonight and four points behind the Cottonmouths.
Text provided by Pensacola Ice Flyers media release
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