Knoxville Ice Bears

Hard Fought Game Tilts in Favor of Columbus 3 -2

date: 11/27/2010

Hard Fought Game Tilts in Favor of Columbus 3 -2
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Knoxville, TN - Two goals by Knoxville's Emery Olauson couldn't lift the Ice Bears to their first win against the Columbus Cottonmouths. After a defeat in Fayetteville last night, the Ice Bears lose their second in a row in an overtime shoot-out, 3-2.

Knoxville's David Segal and Columbus's Matt Kinnunen gave the crowd a flashback to their last face off in Knoxville on Nov. 6, when they dropped their gloves right as the puck fell and fought just three seconds into the first period. The fight riled up the largest home crowd of the season so far with 4,354 people.

The Ice Bears (5-6) again fell behind early on a goal by Columbus's Brett Hammond beat rookie goalie Bryan Hince just 2:43 into the first period.

Two minutes later, Olauson scored his first goal of the night and his eighth goal of the season off a pass from Tyler Fletcher and Frank Furdero to tie the game at 1.

The teams matched each other hit for hit, shot for shot and save for save early in the second period. Knoxville's Mike Bulawka was awarded a penalty shot 3.43 into the period, but was bested by Columbus goalie Ian Vigier.

SPHL defensive scoring leader Mark Van Vliet passed the puck to Olauson, who got one past Vigier for his second goal of the night with 3.52 remaining in the second period. The tally boosted Knoxville into a lead of 2-1.

The game was 7:28 into the third period before Kinnunen tied the game at two. Columbus (5-7) thought to have taken the lead only to find out the whistle was blown prior to the puck crossing the goal line.

Bulawka took a second penalty shot with just 7.5 seconds left in the third period when he block a shot and broke away with a golden opportunity only to be penalized from behind resulting in his second penalty shot of the game. With the second opportunity Bulawka was not able to solve Vigier.

Despite a number of quality of chances by both teams the game was not settled after five minutes of three on three play to set the table for a 5-man shootout. Sam Bowles stepped up first for Columbus and made the puck past Knoxville's Bryan Hince. Chris Bratina tied the shootout with Knoxville's second shot.

It was Columbus's Orrin Hergott that finalized the game for Knoxville when he slid the puck past Hince as the Cottonmouth's third shooter. Despite great effort by the Ice Bears, Columbus left with their second win in Knoxville.

The Knoxville Ice Bears face the Mississippi Surge for the first time this season on Thursday, December 2, at 7:30 p.m. Join us for "Two"riffic Thursday and enjoy $2 drinks, $2 hot dogs and $2 popcorn.

Mercedes Benz 3 Stars of the Game
1st Star: Ian Vigier (Columbus)
2nd Star: Orrin Hergott (Columbus)
3rd Star: Emery Olauson (Knoxville)

 

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