Pick Scores a Pair; Moccasins Take Down Thunderbirds

MONROE, LA - Austin Pick scored a pair of goals as the Monroe Moccasins defeated the Twin City Thunderbirds 7-4. Marcus Ortiz, Corson Green, Andrew Bellant, Jared Christy, and Paul Fregeau also scored the goals for Garrett Johnson making 15 saves in the win. Zach White scored a pair along with Jack Johansen and Dominic Dumas for Twin City.

Monroe came into the night with hopes of ending a five game losing streak. Twin City looked to keep their undefeated record intact.

Greg Hussey started in net for Twin City while Garrett Johnson was between the pipes for Monroe.

The first period saw Monroe jump into the scoring fray immediately. Marcus Ortiz, who did not play hockey last year, opened the scoring after a give and go play from Colten Gerken and Paul Fregeau at 3:36 of the first. Near the midway mark of the first, Monroe was at it again. Corson Green whistled a wrist shot by Hussey at 9:24 to put the Moccasins up 2-0. The Moccasins outshot Twin City 16-2. The two shots allowed by Monroe was a franchise record for fewest allowed in a period.

Twin City got on the board in the second period when Zach White tallied a power play goal 30 seconds in. The Moccasins however, quickly countered. A two-on-one rush with Jared Christy set up Austin Pick, who ended a four-game goal drought at 2:21 to restore Monroe's two-goal advantage. A five on three power play opened the door for the Moccasins to end their losing streak. Andrew Bellant lit the lamp with a power play tally to extend the lead to 4-1 at 5:18. Twin City replaced Greg Hussey with Ayvin Eidsness in goal after the Bellant tally. With Monroe still on the power play, Jared Christy was left alone by the Twin City defense. Christy’s tally 27 seconds after Bellant’s goal made it a 5-1 game. Jack Johansen scored a power play goal at 16:52 to trim the deficit to three. Monroe outshot Twin City nine to six.

In the third period, Twin City mounted a rally. Dominic Dumas scored Twin City’s third power play goal of the night at 7:10, to make it a 5-3 game. Zach White brought the Thunderbirds within one at 15:12, weaving around Monroe's Jordan Lalor before slipping the puck past Johnson. Moments later, a chance from White went off the crossbar keeping the margin at one. In the closing seconds, Andrew Bellant and Austin Pick raced on a breakaway. Pick buried his second goal of the night at 18:09 to seal the victory. Paul Fregeau added an empty net goal with two seconds left in the game.

Garrett Johnson earned his second FPHL win making 15 saves on the night. The goaltending tandem of Gregory Hussey and Ayvin Eidsness made 36 saves in the loss.

The victory snaps Monroe’s five game losing streak while Twin City is dealt their first loss of the season.

Twin City returns home on the back end of a back to back with the Blue Ridge Bobcats. The Moccasins welcome the Columbus River Dragons next week in a rematch of their first round playoff encounter.