Matt Gingera lifted the Columbus Cottonmouths to a 5-2 victory with a hat trick against the Huntsville Havoc.

Huntsville's power play was ineffective against Columbus' penalty kill, which allowed one goal while shorthanded.

The Cottonmouths racked up the penalties in the contest, and ended with seven minors and one major for 39 minutes in penalty time. Columbus had been averaging 27.0 minutes in penalties per game. The Cottonmouths surpassed their usual scoring output this season. Columbus has scored at the pace of 2.9 goals per game during the current campaign. The Cottonmouths relied on a core group of players for most of their offense, as Jordan Draper, Gingera and Steve Mele took 16 of the team's 25 shots. Team could not crack the Havoc's penalty kill and was held to two power play goals while having nine opportunities to play with the man advantage.

Columbus additionally got points from Mele, who also registered one goal and three assists. Will Aide also scored for Columbus. Other players who recorded assists for Columbus were Dan Bremner, who had four and Tom Maldonado and Jason Gray, who each chipped in one.

The Huntsville penalty box was a popular destination as the team totaled 10 minors and one major for 45 minutes in penalty time. The total exceeded the 22.0 minutes per game the Havoc had been spending in the box. Huntsville put 38 shots on net during the contest, more than the 29.7 it averages per game.

The Havoc were led by Josh Harris, who had one goal and one assist. Harris scored on the power play 7:42 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Huntsville. Huntsville earned a power play opportunity when Levi Lind was put in the box for boarding. Leland Fidler assisted on the tally. Huntsville also got a goal from Justin Fox as well. More assists for Huntsville came via Brian Elser, who had one.

Andrew Loewen recorded 36 saves for Columbus. The Cottonmouths ran into serious disciplinary problems during the contest, and Lind was ejected from the game. Jesse Kallechy made 20 saves for the Havoc on 24 shots. For Huntsville, Harris was ejected from the game.