Columbus, GA – The Columbus River Dragons extended their win streak to nine games after defeating the Baton Rouge Zydeco in regulation Friday night, 8-5.
Tyler Roy was put in the cage to start for the River Dragons, while Edward Coffey manned the pipes for the Zydeco.
To start the contest, Tyler Barrow went to the box for two minutes following a Pre-Game Warm-Up Violation.
Nonetheless, Barrow scored the night’s first goal at 9:02.
At 11:52, Kyle Moore buried a second goal for the River Dragons, making the play off of Chiwetin Blacksmith and Alexander Jmaeff.
With Columbus ahead 2-0, Baton Rouge fired back in a hurry.
Blake Keller put one past Tyler Roy at 13:29, followed quickly by Tyler Larwood at 15:09.
The first period ended with the Columbus River Dragons and Baton Rouge Zydeco tied, 2-2.
77 seconds into the second frame, Cody Wickline was slapped with a two-minute minor for High Sticking, putting Columbus on the penalty kill.
Fresh out of the box at 3:30, Wickline took a pass from Kirk Underwood and lured Zydeco goaltender Edward Coffey out of position, then found Tyler Barrow waiting at the corner of the net, ready to chip it in.
Seven minutes later, Blake Keller answered for the Zydeco, evening the score again to 3-3 at 10:34.
Not long after, Ryan Hunter put the River Dragons ahead of Baton Rouge, scoring a PPG at 14:46 to close the second frame with Columbus in front, 4-3.
5:41 into the third period, Nick Ketola shattered the River Dragons’ lead, tying it again at 4-4.
Seventeen seconds later, Ryan Hunter buried the River Dragons’ fifth goal of the night, then hit the hat trick goal at 6:37, pushing Columbus to a 6-4 lead over Baton Rouge.
Broadie Thornton tallied a seventh goal for Columbus at 10:23 before Jake Cox put one in the cage for Baton Rouge at 14:20.
To finish things out, Kyle Moore found Alexander Jmaeff at 19:00, who went on to score the empty-net goal.
The game concluded in regulation with the River Dragons ahead, 8-5.
The night’s Three Stars of the Game included the River Dragons’ Ryan Hunter (with three goals) and Tyler Barrow (with two goals), and Blake Keller, producing two goals for the Zydeco.
Tyler Roy achieved an 81.48 SV% for Columbus, managing to keep the River Dragons ahead of the Zydeco, locking in the win.
Both squads will remain in Columbus on Saturday night to finish their weekend series on Valentine’s Day.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 pm.
Photos by Toni Rae Hill
