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Augusta Lynx Weekly

April 14, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Augusta Lynx News Release


Augusta, GA - The Augusta Lynx took a 2-0 lead in their best of five South Division Quarterfinal series with the South Carolina Stingrays by winning the first two games at home this past Thursday and Saturday. In the opening game of the series on Thursday, the Lynx rode the hot goaltending of #30 Bobby Goepfert, who kept the Lynx in the game early on. After an opening goal by the Stingrays, the Lynx answered with three straight goals, two from #17 Anthony Battaglia and one from #20 Matt Auffrey. The ‘Rays closed the gap to within 3-2, but the Lynx scored twice more from #25 Adrian Veideman on the power play and #19 Aaron Slattengren to make the final 5-2. Goepfert finished with 28 saves. Saturday saw a much more determined Stingrays team again bombard the Lynx early, but again thanks to Goepfert the Lynx were able to weather the storm and stay in the game. After the opening goal from the Stingrays, the Lynx would answer with a power play goal from #7 Travis Fuller. However, after two straight goals from the Stingrays made it 3-1 early in the 3rd period, things were looking bleak for the Lynx. #24 Jamie McKinven scored his first goal in a Lynx uniform to make it 3-1 with 7 minutes to go. With the Goepfert pulled late in the game, the Lynx got an extra-attacker goal with :49 seconds remaining from #19 Aaron Slattengren to send the game to overtime. In the extra session a nice play by defenseman #14 Tim Branham to keep the puck in the offensive zone led to the game-winner, which was a one-timer from #21 Bobby Bolt from the high slot. Goepfert made 42 saves to put the Lynx up 2-0 in the series.

South Division Quarterfinal Series (Lynx lead series, 2-0) #7 Augusta Lynx vs. #2 South Carolina Stingrays Game #1: South Carolina Stingrays 2 @ Augusta Lynx 5 Game #2: South Carolina Stingrays 3 @ Augusta Lynx 4 (OT) Game #3: Monday, April 14 @ South Carolina, 7:05pm Game #4: Tuesday, April 15 @ South Carolina, 7:05pm* Game #5: Wednesday, April 16 @ South Carolina, 7:05pm* *if necessary

LYNX HEAD TO CHARLESTON LOOKING FOR SWEEP: Thanks to two wins at home in Games 1 and 2, the Augusta Lynx now head to Charleston, South Carolina for Game 3 looking for the series sweep over the Stingrays. In order to win the best of five series, the Lynx need one more win. The Lynx only managed to win three games out of 10 during the regular season against the Stingrays, but have put two together in the playoffs. Games 4 and/or 5 would be on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively at the North Charleston Coliseum in Charleston.

TWO PLAYOFF WINS MOST SINCE 2000: With wins in Games 1 and 2 of the South Division Quarterfinal series against the South Carolina Stingrays, the Augusta Lynx have won more than one playoff game for the second time in the team's history. The only other time the Lynx won more than one playoff game in a season was during the 2000 Kelly Cup Playoffs, when the Lynx defeated the New Orleans Brass during the Southern Conference Wild Card round 2 games to 0. Then the Lynx defeated the Florida Everblades 3 games to 2 in the Southern Conference Quarterfinals. The Lynx finally fell during the 2000 Kelly Cup Playoffs to the Greenville Grrrowl in the Southern Conference Semi-Finals, 3 games to 1.

LYNX FANS GOING TO CHARLESTON FOR GAMES 3-5: Augusta Lynx fans that will be making the trip to Charleston, South Carolina for Games 3-5 can get tickets by calling the Stingrays office at 843-744-2248. The games will be played at the North Charleston Coliseum and will begin at 7:05pm.

2008-09 SEASON TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE: Season tickets for the 2008-09 Lynx regular season are on sale now. Catch all the exciting action of the 11th season of Augusta Lynx Hockey by signing up today and taking advantage of the early bird specials. Lynx fans have until April 18th to qualify for the early bird special, unless they have purchased a playoff package this season. The Lynx are pleased to announce that season ticket prices will remain the same as the 2007-08 season. With Lynx season tickets, you get the same great seat for all 36 games that YOU chose. You also get to take advantage of the ‘Never waste a ticket plan,' where you get to exchange your unused season tickets for selected future games. Early bird season ticket prices are as follows for all 36 home games next season: Mezzanine-$324; Lower-$432; Preferred-$468.

NEXT BROADCAST: The next broadcast of Augusta Lynx hockey is Monday, April 14th as the Lynx travel to Charleston, South Carolina for Game #3 of the South Division Quarterfinals at the North Charleston Coliseum. Face-off time is 7:05pm with the Stone by Design Pre-Game Show beginning at 6:50pm. The game can be heard live in Augusta on NewsTalkSports 1630AM WRDW, or live over the internet at www.augustalynx.com

The week that was:

Thursday, April 10, Game #1: South Carolina Stingrays 2 @ Augusta Lynx 5

Efficient scoring from your key players, no stupid penalties, good goaltending. All major components to winning a playoff hockey game. On Thursday night in Augusta, the Lynx got all three as they opened up their best of five South Division Quarterfinal series by defeating the South Carolina Stingrays, 5-2. The night did not start out well for the Lynx as the 'Rays opened up the scoring just :50 seconds into the game with a goal from Paul McIlveen, who smashed home a pass from behind the net and scored on the first shot of the game. However, the Lynx would settle down thanks in large part to goaltender #30 Bobby Goepfert, who kept the Lynx in the game the first 10 minutes with some key saves. The Lynx tied the game at 1-1 on their 3rd shot of the night as #17 Anthony Battaglia put home a drive from the top of the circle after a big face-off win by captain #9 Louis Goulet. Minutes later, the Lynx took a 2-1 lead as #20 Matt Auffrey crashed the net and tipped home a shot over Davis Parley thanks to a great pass from #7 Travis Fuller and more help from #11 Matt Christie. With just :34 seconds remaining in the period, Battaglia scored his 2nd goal of the night as he collected a rebound after a shot from the point from #25 Adrian Veideman and slipped one underneath Parley for a 3-1 lead. #19 Aaron Slattengren, who returned from the AHL for the first time since mid-January, also assisted on the play. In the 2nd period, the two teams exchanged goals. First the 'Rays brought the score to within 3-2 as Sean Collins drive from the point beat a screened Bobby Goepfert. The Lynx answered on the power play as Veideman got a pass from Goulet down the left wing and ripped a snap shot past Parley's blocker for a 4-2 lead with another assist to Matt Christie. The Lynx played a very solid defensive 3rd period, allowing the Stingrays only six shots on goal. The Lynx capped their win with a goal from Aaron Slattengren, who worked some magic behind the net before beating Parley on the short side. Anthony Battaglia and Louis Goulet assisted on the play giving both three-point nights. The rest of the way out was all Lynx team defense lead by Goepfert, who stopped 28 Stingrays shots.

Saturday, April 12, Game #2: South Carolina Stingrays 3 @ Augusta Lynx 4 (OT)

The Augusta Lynx came from behind to score the final three goals of Game #2 in Augusta to defeat the South Carolina Stingrays 4-3 and now lead the best of 5 series, 2 games to 0. It wasn't easy for the Lynx, who for the most part were out played by the Stingrays, but fortunately for the Lynx they had the better goaltender for the second straight night in the form of #30 Bobby Goepfert. Goepfert again was bombarded from the start of the game by the 'Rays, who at one point in the 1st period had a 13-1 shots advantage. The 'Rays got on the board first for the second straight game thanks to a great individual effort from Stephen Werner, who worked his way through the Lynx defense on a 2 on 2 and put one underneath Goepfert's glove for a 1-0 lead. The Lynx would answer back in the form of a power play goal from #7 Travis Fuller, who got a pass from #11 Matt Christie and slipped one through the legs of Davis Parley. The 'Rays outshot the Lynx 19-7 in the 1st period, but thanks to Goepfert the Lynx remained tied. The 'Rays opened the 2nd period taking a 2-1 lead on a goal from #9 Marty Guerin who scored over a sprawled Goepfert on South Carolina's 7th power play of the night. Early the 3rd period, the 'Rays made it 3-1 with a nice 2 on 1 goal as Cail MacLean floated a pass on the backdoor to a streaking Travis Morin for his first goal of the playoffs. Down 3-1, the Lynx mounted a comeback for the ages lead by more spectacular saves by Goepfert. That led to a goal from #24 Jamie McKinven, who crashed the net and got a great pass from #17 Anthony Battaglia to slide one past Parley, who was screened on the play. Christie added the second assist. Then down one and with Goepfert pulled for the extra attacker, the Lynx called a timeout to try and get the game tied. The Lynx kept an offensive zone face-off in the zone and #20 Matt Auffrey worked the puck to the point where #9 Louis Goulet got a wrist shot off that was saved by Parley, but the rebound came loose to the right side of the net where #19 Aaron Slattengren scrambled to get off a backhand shot that went right over a sprawled Parley to tie the game at 3-3 with :48 seconds remaining in the 3rd period. The overtime was the only period the Lynx outshot the 'Rays, and thanks to two different efforts by #14 Tim Branham to keep the puck alive along the blueline, the Lynx game-winner came off a one-time slapshot by #21 Bobby Bolt, who hammered a shot from 35 feet away at the top of the slot thanks to a perfect pass from Branham. Bolt's game-winner was a perfect shot that went directly into the top right corner over the glove of Parley, giving the Lynx the amazing 4-3 overtime win.



ECHL Stories from April 14, 2008


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