Carolina Bounces Back, Take Down Mississippi, 4-2

Winston-Salem, NC – Following a 6-5 shootout loss last night, the Carolina Thunderbirds responded with a 4-2 victory over the Mississippi Sea Wolves Saturday night at the Annex. 

Carolina (21-6-1) opened the scoring in the first period on a deflection from Jiri Pestuka on a shot from Josh Koepplinger giving the home side the 1-0 lead after the first 20 minutes. 

In the second, Carolina continued to roll. At the 9:44 mark on the power play, Jon Buttitta tipped a shot from Joe Kennedy past Mississippi netminder Anthony D’Aloisio doubling the advantage, 2-0. Less than four minutes later Zac Horn, who was signed to the roster on Friday, notched his first goal of the year giving the Thunderbirds a 3-0 lead. Buttitta recorded an assist on the goal marking his 250^th career FPHL point. Mississippi got on the board late in the third on the power play on a goal from Yianni Liarakos making it a two-goal game, 3-1, going to the 3^rd. 

In the third, Carolina built the lead back to three on Jacob Schnapp’s 11^th goal of the season just 44 seconds into the period on the power play, making it 4-1. Despite a goal from Kyle Russell, Carolina controlled the 3^rd period on the way to a 4-2 victory over the Sea Wolves. 

Carolina picked up the three points on the weekend with Petr Panacek being named the 3^rd star with two assists, Jiri Pestuka the 2^nd star with a goal and an assist, and Buttitta earned the 1^st star with the goal and the assist recording his 250^th career FPHL point. 

The Thunderbirds and Sea Wolves meet again starting on Thursday in Mississippi. Puck drop is set for 8:05 p.m. EST from the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.