Gades prevail in shootout

When Trevor Karasiewicz, one of the coolest heads in the SPHL, exploded midway through the second period and slammed his stick into the boards, it was clear the Richmond Renegades were skating uphill last night.

And the scoreboard inside the Coliseum reflected their frustration, too. The cellar-dwelling Columbus Cottonmouths were outhustling the Renegades as they parlayed 30 shots on goal into a 3-1 lead.

The Renegades tried bullying their way back in it by initiating every skirmish in an effort to shift momentum. Even their best efforts were denied by Columbus goalie Ian Vigier, whose three glove saves late in the second period punctuated a spectacular night in net.

But with 3:33 remaining in regulation, Vigier turned his back to glimpse at the action behind the net. Richmond's Justin Joy hammered in a rebound to tie the game 3-3 to force overtime, then Renegades goalie Adam Dekker turned back four Columbus shots in a shootout to ice a 4-3 come-from-behind victory.

Dekker had been overshadowed by Vigier for much of the night. But he saved the Renegades in overtime as he turned back Columbus forward Lorne Misita on a penalty shot with 3 seconds to go after Joy was whistled for a delay-of-game penalty after hitting the puck out of play while in the defensive zone.

Then, Dekker slammed the door on Columbus in the shootout. He saved four shots, and John Halverson scored the game-winner as the Renegades pushed their winning streak to five games.

The Cottonmouths led 2-1 after the first period, then extended their advantage to 3-1 at 8:40 of the second period when Misita netted his second goal. But Columbus dropped its gloves in the final minute of the period, allowing Richmond to trim its deficit to 3-2.

Karasiewicz, his composure restored, flipped a pass to Geoff Rollins, who punched the puck by Vigier with 10 seconds left in the second.

Even more damaging for the Cottonmouths, they lost one of their top defenders, Tyler Johnson, who was issued a minor and a misconduct for abuse of officials, allowing Richmond to began the third period with a power-play opportunity.

Energy shortage: The Renegades -- with their top goalie, Ryan Senft (knee injury), and defender, Arthur Kiyaga, watching from the balcony -- lacked the intensity they possessed in beating the Cottonmouths 4-2 on Friday night.

The crowd, too, was restless and seemingly uninterested as Columbus overwhelmed Richmond in the opening period. The Cottonmouths fell behind 1-0 but held an 18-9 edge in shots and led 2-1 at the first intermission.

Beau McLaughlin slapped in his sixth goal of the season just 55 seconds into the game as Richmond scored first in consecutive games for the first time this season.

The last-place Cottonmouths countered with an unassisted short-handed goal by Misita. Even with two Renegades fronting goalie Dekker, who was making only his fourth career SPHL start, Misita squeezed the puck inside the right post for a 1-1 tie.

Ryan McCarthy put Columbus ahead as he blasted the puck by a stumbling Dekker at 15:17 of the first period. It was the first time in five games that Richmond trailed after the first 20 minutes.

Columbus ------------------------- 2 1 0 0 0-- 3
Richmond ------------------------- 1 1 1 0 1-- 4
(Renegades win shootout 2-0)

First Period -- 1, Richmond, McLaughlin 6 (Rollins, Karasiewicz), :55. 2. Columbus, Misita 4, 12:09 (sh). 3, Columbus, McCarthy 6 (Stahl, George), 15:17. Penalties -- Coyle, Rich (hooking), 5:13; Green, Col (slashing), 8:10; Leslie, Col (high sticking), 11:22; Leslie, Col (tripping), 18:18; Rollins, Rich (hooking), 19:13.

Second Period -- 4, Columbus, Misita 5 (Green, Lundale), 8:40 (pp). 5, Richmond, Rollins 6 (Karasiewicz, McLaughlin), 19:50. Penalties Stahl, Col (high sticking), 5:27; Johnson, Col (slashing), 5:32; Marakhovski, Col (roughing), 9:19; Larke, Rich (high-sticking), 11:16; Leslie, Col (high sticking), 17:46; George, Col (slashing), 19:03; Johnson, Col minor-misconduct (abuse of officials), 19:50.

Third Period -- 6, Richmond, Joy 3 (Coyle, Larke), 16:27. Penalties Price, Rich (holding), 1:30; Price, Rich (high-sticking), 6:32; Stahl, Col (hooking), 19:30.

Overtime --Joy, Rich (delay of game), 4:57.

Shootout -- Richmond: Halverson, Rollins.

Shots on goal -- Columbus 18-12-10-2--42. Richmond 9-20-10-3--42. Power-play opportunities -- Columbus 1 of 7; Richmond 1 of 9. Goalies -- Columbus, (42 shots-39 saves). Richmond, Dekker (42-39 saves). Referee -- Justin Greene. A 3,577.