PLAYOFFS GAME RECAPS 4/23/25



PLAYOFF EDITION


CAROLINA THUNDERBIRDS at COLUMBUS RIVER DRAGONS


RIVER DRAGONS TAKE CRITICAL GAME ONE 4-1

Key Power Play Goal Breaks Late Deadlock


by Tom Callahan


Columbus, GA - The Columbus River Dragons power play continues to score timely goals, with Cody Wickline breaking a 1-1 tie at 6:33 of the third period to propel his team to a 4-1 win over the Carolina Thunderbirds in Game One of the Continental Division Final on Wednesday night.


After Zach White gave the Thunderbirds the lead in the first period, Austin Daae’s first goal of the playoffs tied the game after 40 minutes, setting the stage for a dramatic third period finish.


It was then Wickline picked up a loose puck in the high slot and fired a backhand shot through the goalmouth chaos around the Carolina crease, finding room in the top part of the net and giving Columbus a lead it would not relinquish.


Carolina immediately picked up its pace, trying to push for the tying goal. After pulling goaltender Mario Cavaliere (24 saves) for the extra attacker Columbus scored not once but twice, the first from Alex Storjohann and the second from Alexander Jmaeff to cement the 4-1 win.


Trevor Babin made 22 saves to collect his third win of the playoffs.


Notes:

  • Storjohann’s goal was his fifth of the playoffs to lead all scorers, and his first not scored on the power play.
  • Cody Wickline recorded his fourth goal of the post-season to rank second on the team in that category.
  • Austin Daae recorded a three-point night with a goal and two assists.
  • Columbus is now 6-for-16, good for a 37.5% conversion rate on the power play in four playoff games.
  • The River Dragons have now out-scored opponents in home playoff games 11-5 this season.


Columbus has a chance to wrap things up in Game Two on Friday night in Winston-Salem, with puck drop slated for 7:35 pm ET. Full coverage can be seen on the River Dragons YouTube page @ColumbusRiverDragons.


Thunderbirds Fall in Game One to Columbus, 4-1

River Dragons score four unanswered goals to win at home


by Brendan Reilly


Columbus, GA - The Carolina Thunderbirds dropped Game One of a best-of-three series in the Continental Division Finals, 4-1, on Wednesday evening at the Columbus Civic Center.

 

Carolina struck first for the only goal across the first 20 minutes. Zach White beat Columbus netminder, Trevor Babin, on the backhand 8:59 into the 1st period to put the Thunderbirds ahead, 1-0. Mario Cavaliere stopped all nine shots he saw from the River Dragons in the 1st period keeping Carolina ahead, 1-0, after 20 minutes. 

 

In the 2nd period, on a quick breakout, Columbus tied the game. Alex Storjohann rifled a cross-ice pass to Austin Daae who tied the at one 8:55 into the 2nd. Carolina responded with opportunities across the final 11 minutes but could not regain the lead and the two were tied at one heading to the final 20 minutes. 

 

After two calls against Carolina put them on the penalty kill for nearly three-and-a-half minutes, Cody Wickline backhanded home the eventual game-winning goal 6:33 into the 3rd. The River Dragons tacked on two more on empty-net goals in the final two minutes taking Game One over Carolina, 4-1. 

 

The Continental Division Finals now shift to Winston-Salem, North Carolina for Game Two on Friday evening, with Columbus leading the best-of-three series, 1-0.  Puck drop is set for 7:35 p.m. from the Fairgrounds Arena on Friday night.