ECHL\'S GREENVILLE GRRROWL CAN CLINCH A PLAYOFF SPOT SUNDAY

Published on March 23, 2002 under ECHL (ECHL)
Greenville Grrrowl News Release


5-4 win over Augusta coupled with Florida loss reduces magic number to one point

GREENVILLE – The East Coast Hockey League's Greenville Grrrowl beat the Augusta Lynx 5-4 Saturday for their 16th win in their last 17 home games. The Grrrowl moved to within one point of a playoff spot with the win.

Reunited for the first time in two weeks, the line of Colin Pepperall, Martin Masa and Steve Rymsha led the way with three goals and nine points. Pepperall, who was activated of the injured reserve prior to the game, and Rymsha each had a goal and two assists while Masa had three assists.

Chad Nelson gave the Grrrowl a 1-0 lead with his first goal of the season 4:24 into the game on assists from Masa and Rymsha. The Grrrowl doubled to their lead to 2-0 when Pepperall set up Roger Trudeau for his team-leading 32nd goal of the year at 14:11, but Augusta pulled to within 2-1 3:12 later when Josh St. Louis scored a power-play goal, his seventh goal of the season, on assists from Wes Swinson and Tyson Holly.

Augusta tied the game at 2-2 4:24 into the second period with another power-play goal, their second in as many opportunities, as Scott Morrow notched his team-leading 26th goal of the season on assists from Swinson and Wes Mason, but the Grrrowl scored twice in a 1:49 span late in the middle frame to regain the two-goal lead.

Pepperall made it 3-2 with his 20th goal of the season at 11:23 on assists from Rymsha and Masa, and Zdenek Blatny upped the score to 4-2 with his second goal of the year, a power-play tally, at 13:12 on assists from Trudeau and Sean Venedam who improved his scoring streak to seven games with the helper.

Augusta cut the lead to 4-3 2:42 into the third period on Bryce Classen's sixth goal of the season on assists from Holly and David Wilkie, but the Grrrowl again regained the two-goal edge at 5-3 when Rymsha redirected a Masa shot on the power play for his 27th goal of the year with Pepperall picking up the other assist. The goal was the second in as many consecutive power play opportunities for the Grrrowl.

Augusta closed the gap to 5-4 on Martin LaPointe's 14th goal of the season at 15:12 on assists from St. Louis and Lance Galbraith. The Lynx then pulled goaltender Zac Bierk in favor of an extra attacker with 1:03 left to play but were unable to tie the game.

The teams mirrored one another's special teams efforts as the Grrrowl were 0 for 2, 1 for 2 and 1 for 1 on the power play in order through the three periods while Augusta was 1 for 1, 1 for 2 and 0 for 2. The Grrrowl also posted their tenth straight shots on goal advantage, 39-24, as well as their 12th in the last 13 games.

With the win, and a 4-2 loss by the Florida Everblades to the Louisiana IceGators, the Grrrowl moved to within one point of clinching a spot in the ECHL's Kelly Cup Playoffs. They can do so with anything other than a loss in regulation to the Charlotte Checkers on the road Sunday.

The Grrrowl also moved to within six points of clinching the Southeast Division Championship which would be the first title of any kind in franchise history. Any combination of six standings points gained by the Grrrowl or lost by the Columbia Inferno would give the Grrrowl the division crown.

The Grrrowl will visit Charlotte Sunday at 6 p.m. and will host the Pee Dee Pride Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.

All games, and "The Grrrowl Hour" live from Dougal Maguire's Mondays at 7 p.m., are broadcast live on Newsradio 1330 & 950 WORD-AM and at grrrowl.com.

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