Knoxville Ice Bears

Ice Bears Charm Cottonmouths in a Shoot Out Win

date: 02/03/2011

Ice Bears Charm Cottonmouths in a Shoot Out Win
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Knoxville, TN – The Knoxville Ice Bears hit the ice to take on the Columbus Cottonmouths tonight at the Civic Coliseum. It was the fourth time the teams had met this season and Columbus had taken all three previous wins. Knoxville ended the streak stealing the win in an overtime shootout and sending them back to the snake pit with a 4-3 loss.

Knoxville’s David Segal ignited the night with a fight just 41 seconds into the first period against Columbus’s David Cianfrini.

Columbus drew first blood on a goal scored by Jordan Braid 5:18 minutes into the first period. Twelve minutes later the Ice Bears made it a tied game when Mike Tuomi fed the puck to Dan Buccella. Buccella maneuvered the puck past Cottonmouth’s goalie Ian Vigier to end the period locked at one.

SPHL leading defensive scorer Mark Van Vliet earned his 12^th goal of the season on a power play with help from Frank Furdero and Emery Olauson. The Ice Bears took the lead at 2-1. With 4 minutes left in the period, Columbus’s Brett Hammond was at the back post and slipped the puck in behind Knoxville goalie Andrew Gallant. The second period ended with the teams tied at two.

The teams moved into a crucial third period. Columbus pulled ahead early with an unassisted goal by Tom Maldonado 3:21 minutes in. With less than 4 minutes left in the period, Buccella scored his second goal of the game and matched the Cottonmouths at 3. Olauson and Furdero were credited with the assist.

The third period ended with teams remaining at 3 and the game moved into overtime. Both teams saw a scoreless 5-minute overtime, and the win came down to a shoot-out.

Chris Bratina shot second for the Ice Bears and hit the net for the first score of the shoot-out. Columbus failed to answer and as the fourth shooter, Van Vliet solidified the win for the Ice Bears. The Cottonmouths skated off with their first loss to the Ice Bears this season, 4-3.

The Ice Bears will be back on home ice Saturday, Feb. 5, at 7:30 p.m., for Star Wars Night.

Mercedes-Benz 3 Stars of the Game:
1^st Star: Mark Van Vliet
2^nd Star: Dan Buccella
3^rd Star: Frank Furdero

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