PHN’s Best Shots of the Game: Ice Flyers chill Cottonmouths

COLUMBUS, GA – On Friday February 13th, the Columbus Cottonmouths were hoping to have some good luck against the visiting Pensacola Ice Flyers. Unfortunately for the home team, Pensacola goalie Max Strang put a hex on them which resulted in a 3-1 win for the Ice Flyers.

Pensacola got on the board first just 51 seconds into the game when Nick Larson beat Columbus netminder Shannon Szabados with a quick shot. Corey Banfield and Nick McParland picked up the assists on the score. It was the lone goal of the period as Strang held the fort, facing and stopping all 18 shots the Cottonmouths put on his net.

Late in the frame, Columbus’ Chris Bailer picked up three minor penalties in one sequence (Pensacola’s Brett Lutes was called for one as well), give the Ice Flyers a power play that carried over into the second. The Ice Flyers took advantage when Adam Pawlick and Banfield combined to set up Lutes for a man advantage tally at the 3;16 mark. Again it was the only shot that either goalie allowed to get past them.

The final period saw plenty of action at both ends as the teams combined for 26 shots on net. Pensacola’s Keegan Flaherty scored 10:39 into the stanza with an assist from Brett Beebe. Columbus was able to solve Strang at the 13:55 mark when Matt Gingera finally beat the Ice Flyers goalie to trim the score to 3-1. Bryce Williamson and Bailer collectd assists on the play. It was not enough however as Strang (37 saves) shut the door the rest of the way.