COLUMBUS, GA – The Columbus Cottonmouths and Pensacola Ice Flyers have staged some epic battles over the years, especially during the President’s Cup playoffs. On Sunday, January 18th, the Columbus Civic Center was the site for a playoff-like struggle between the two clubs that ended with the host Cottonmouths coming away with a 1-0 victory.
Pensacola’s Max Strang and Columbus’ Andrew Loewen were locked in between the pipes for their respective teams from the opening faceoff. With only one penalty called, there was plenty of full strength action and the shots boards showed it. The visiting Ice Flyers put 15 shots on Loewen in the first frame while the Cottonmouths launched ten at Strang but none of the 25 attempts found the back of the net.
Things picked up on the scoresheet in the second period but none of it was on the scoreboard. The teams combined for nine minor penalties with only two being matching calls so special teams were very important. Just as they had been in the opening stanza, Strang and Loewen were perfect in net, stopping everything thrown their way. Pensacola added 14 shots to its total while Columbus picked up 13 but the score was still tied at 0-0.
The host Cottonmouths broke the scoreless tie just past the five minute mark in the third. Max Cook and Craig Simchuk combined to get the puck to Will Aide who beat Strang for what would be the game-winning goal. Four minutes later, Louis Belisle was awarded a penalty shot but Strang stopped the attempt to keep the Ice Flyers within one.
The Aide score was all Loewen needed. Playing in the middle of an incredible hot streak, Loewen continued to fend off anything and everything Pensacola threw at him. The Cottonmouths defense chipped in by limiting the Ice Flyers to just seven shots in the period, allowing Loewen to pick up his twelfth consecutive victory and second shutout of the season.
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