Monroe Uses Strong Third Period to Take Down Dragons, 6-3

COLUMBUS, GA - Following a first-round playoff victory over Monroe last season, the Columbus River Dragons looked to carry that success into their first regular-season meeting with their divisional rivals. In a tightly contested matchup through 40 minutes, the Moccasins found another gear in the third period, scoring four unanswered goals while receiving a career-high 47 saves from Garrett Johnson to secure a 6-3 victory.

Columbus came out with plenty of energy in the opening period, generating pressure early and often while Monroe worked to find its footing with several new faces in the lineup. The Dragons tested Johnson, a third-year goaltender making just his fifth start, and created several quality opportunities around the crease. Despite some early rebound opportunities, Columbus was unable to find the back of the net. Instead, it was the Moccasins who struck first. At 8:29, ECHL veteran Zach Yoder capitalized on a defensive breakdown, finishing a feed from Colton Gerken to give Monroe a 1-0 advantage. Both teams had an opportunity on the power play in the opening frame, but neither could convert. Columbus carried much of the pace through 20 minutes, outshooting Monroe 18-9 despite trailing on the scoreboard.

The Dragons responded with a strong second period, needing just 1:58 to pull even. Yaro Yevdokimov made a power move around a Monroe defender before beating Johnson through the five-hole to tie the game at one. The physicality increased as the period progressed, bringing with it a noticeable rise in penalties and six combined power-play opportunities. At 11:32, while shorthanded, Nathan Balkwill delivered a beautifully placed stretch pass to Kyle Moore, who finished the opportunity for Columbus' first shorthanded goal of the season and a 2-1 lead. Monroe answered just 33 seconds later. Playing four-on-four, Jared Christy drove hard to the net and buried his own rebound after Trevor Babin turned aside the initial attempt, evening the score at two. Through 40 minutes, the teams remained deadlocked, with Columbus holding a commanding 33-22 advantage in shots.

Monroe took control in the final period, finding the back of the net four times to pull away. At 4:58, former SPHL MVP Jordan Ernst scored his first goal as a Moccasin to give Monroe a 3-2 lead. Austin Pick extended the advantage at 13:39, breaking in alone and beating Babin to the far side. Ernst struck again just 46 seconds later, wiring a wrist shot from the circle to push the lead to three. Yoder added an empty-net goal at 18:06 to put the game out of reach. Columbus continued to battle until the final horn, with Brodie Thornton finding the scoresheet inside the final minute for his first goal of the season to account for the 6-3 final.

Despite the result, the Dragons generated plenty of offensive opportunities throughout the night, finishing with a 50-34 advantage in shots. Johnson's career-high performance ultimately proved to be the difference as Monroe capitalized on its opportunities in the closing period.

The two divisional rivals will meet again tomorrow night at 8:00 p.m. ET inside the Monroe Civic Center, as Columbus looks to respond and close out its road trip on a positive note.