Columbus, GA – The underlying dislike between these two teams has caused the rivalry to grow to heights not seen very often. Every time these teams are on the same ice at the same time, there is bound to be some increased physicality. It has grown to even having both of the coaches tossed out of the game. Once they were ejected from the game they stepped on the ice and took off their blazers to fight each other.
This rematch from last weekend proved to be another physical game. The scoreboard was lacking and numbers until Wickline snuck one past the thunderbirds at 8:44 in the first period. This is the first lead that the dragons have had during the last three match ups. It didn’t take the thunderbirds very long to respond as Ford put one past Colgan at 12:58 in the first. 13:37 into the first, Croop was called for slashing putting the thunderbirds on a power play. They took advantage of that power play by punching one into the net ten seconds after the power play started. The thunderbirds weren’t done with their first period yet as they pushed in another goal at 18:38 in the first.
The dragons weren’t going to go down like last weekend. Wickline was able to get his second goal at 4:11 into the second period. The dragons continued to put pressure and were able to tie up the game with Greco punching on past at 8:49 in the second. Thunderbirds regained the lead with another goal at 14:33 into the second period.
The score would remain the same through the rest of the second period. Pushing through the third, it remained scoreless as the thunderbirds were able to outlast the dragons. The thunderbirds were able to block 41 of 44 shots on goal versus the 15 of 19 shots that the dragons were able to stop.
Credit for the goals for the thunderbirds are Rowe, Buttitta, Ford, and Peavey. While the dragons can credit Wickline for two goals and Greco for the third.
Photo credit – Toni.Hill@prohockeynews.com
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