Mike Miron stopped 40 shots as the Columbus Landsharks cruised to victory over the New Jersey Storm, 12-9, Friday night at Nationwide Arena.

The win moves 6-3 Columbus into a virtual tie for second place, alongside 5-2 Rochester, in the tight Central Division. They will meet tomorrow night at the Blue Cross Arena.

Columbus ran the table in the first quarter, scoring all five goals. The 'Sharks began with a Travis Gillespie strike in the third minute, got a three-goal outburst at mid-quarter (two from Jon Harasym in a span of eighteen seconds), and closed with a power play marker from Gewas Schindler with just eight seconds to go.

Pat Maddalena made it 6-0 early in the second quarter, on a dish from Kasey Beirnes.

Finally, after twenty-one long minutes of his team's futility on offense, Mike Ladouceur put New Jersey on the board, scoring with Columbus' Peter Lough off for holding. Scott Stewart added a goal a few minutes later, but Beirnes had an answer and it was 7-2 at the half.

After trading goals (Lough and Bobby Horsey) early in the third quarter, the teams held each other scoreless for nine minutes. That was not quite enough for the Storm, which allowed Schindler to make it 9-3 with a minute to play in the period.

The sides quickly swapped goals again to open the fourth, but this time, there was no defensive standoff. New Jersey ran off five straight goals, including three in 42 seconds, bringing the game back to life at 10-9.

However, Daniel Dawson made it a two-goal game with just 35 seconds remaining, and Maddalena put home a shorthander twelve seconds later.

Schindler led all scorers with four points, on two goals and two assists. Stewart, with three points (all on goals), topped the stat sheet for the Storm.

BOX SUMMARY
                                      1  2  3  4     TOT
New Jersey Storm (2-7)                0  2  1  6  --   9
Columbus Landsharks (6-3)             5  2  2  3  --  12

NEW JERSEY STORM              COLUMBUS LANDSHARKS
               G - A   PTS                   G - A   PTS
Stewart        3 - 0     3    Schindler      2 - 2     4
B Miller       2 - 0     2    Maddalena      2 - 1     3
Colsey         1 - 1     2    Beirnes        2 - 1     3
Horsey         1 - 1     2    Greer          0 - 3     3
Sombrotto      1 - 1     2    Harasym        2 - 0     2
M Ladouceur    1 - 0     1    Gillespie      1 - 1     2
Nadelen        0 - 1     1    Dawson         1 - 0     1
                              Lough          1 - 0     1
                              Taylor         1 - 0     1

Shots on goal           54    Shots on goal           52
Saves made by (GA)      40    Saves made by (GA)      45
   General (12)      40          Miron (8)         40
                                 K Montour (1)      5
Penalties                3    Penalties                4
Penalty Minutes          6    Penalty Minutes          8
Power Play Chances       4    Power Play Chances       3
Power Play Goals         2    Power Play Goals         2
   M Ladouceur        1          Beirnes            1
   Stewart            1          Schinder           1
Shorthanded Goals        0    Shorthanded Goals        1
   (None)                        Maddalena          1
Loose Balls             75    Loose Balls             92
   B Miller          10          Greer             13
   Sombrotto          9          Gillespie         11
   Lefeuvre           6          Lough             11
   Nadelen            6          
   Purdie             6          
Faceoffs Won            15    Faceoffs Won            10
   Purdie       (15-10)          Tapp         (10-15)

*** STATS OFFICIAL BY VERIFY WITH COLUMBUS LANDSHARKS ***