I realize in this technological age, game film doesn't exist any more. Instead, DVDs capture all of the highlights.

Let's just say that IF there was a tape of the Snakes-Surge game I just watched, Jerome would be dousing it with gasoline and setting it on fire.

What a disaster.

Ya'all know me...the proverbial "glass half-full" girl. Well, the only good thing I can say about this game is that Jordan Braid avoided the shutout. That's about it.

I believe the boys got caught looking ahead to Friday night's showdown at home against Augusta. It's the first visit to the Pit for the Hawks and only the third time this season the Cottonmouths have squared off against them. First-place team coming into your barn...that's enough to get the heart pumping, right?

Well, the two points the Snakes failed to gain were just as important as the ones they'll go after tomorrow night. Just as important as the two they blew against Louisiana in that 2-1 loss. As I told Sammy when we sat down last week, when you get to this time of year, I always wonder which of these losses will come back to haunt them. I believe the Snakes are a top tier team and will finish in the top three entering the playoffs.

I can always tell when Andrew's going to have a tough night. Like any goalie, it's all about the rebounds. When in doubt, smother the puck. Don't let the rebounds pop or dribble out. Not a great night for Andrew, but not a great night for anybody that I could see. Andrew ended up making some really good saves, but the guys were down 3 or 4 goals by then.

Speaking of Sammy...he wasn't there. I knew something was up when the lines were messed up and John Sullivan and Brett Hammond skated with...Mitch Wall? Uh, oh. Jordan and Pete MacDougall were on the line with Daniel Amesbury. No 24 to be seen. The hottest line of Greg Beller-Orrin Hergott-Derek Pallardy remained intact.

Hard to know where to start. The normally reliable penalty kill allowed the first goal of the game, only 5:54 in. To make matters worse, it was only 30 seconds into the PP. The thought crossed my mind...they don't look ready. When the best, most consistent part of your game is roughed up for a quick goal, it kind of sets the tone. But it was still early. No reason to panic.

Second bad omen...former Snakes Nicholas Kuqali and Matt Kinnunen assist on the second goal. Bad thoughts are creeping in my mind about now. Still...2-0 is not a big deal when you have the firepower, albeit without Sam, that the Snakes have.

Third red flag: shots on goal right after Daniel's first fight: 17-5. Ouch.

The absolute final nail in the coffin of a dreadful period was yet another last-minute goal. I HATE those...UGH. Only 57 seconds left in the period. Another rebound gone astray.

Being down 3-0 is a tad less than ideal, but have the Cottonmouths overcome this type of deficit before? Definitely. They're out there battling, definitely, with guys like Derek, who is not the largest guy on the team, putting folks into and through the boards.

I admit, when the Surge went up 4-0, I had little hope left. Mainly because the Snakes just didn't have it. They were out-Snaked by the Surge. The Surge came out with the passion, drive and physical play that the Cottonmouths usually do. They got beaten at their own game.

The last straw was the third period. Other than Jordan's goal, which made it 4-1, the Snakes put a measly FOUR shots on net for the whole period. They played for minutes (not seconds) at a time in their own zone. I remember one power play in which the puck wasn't cleared until about 20 seconds remained. That's a lot of pressure on your goalie.

In the old days, the coach would've said: We'll burn that tape. Hmmmm. Don't know what the 21st-century alternative is. Maybe throw the DVD out on the highway?

The good news is that the guys will come out flying Friday night. Already looking forward to it!

Stay tuned.