Lynx Blank Snakes, 4-0

April 1, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Augusta Lynx News Release


Augusta finished off an intense, season-long rivalry against the Columbus Cottonmouths with a 4-0 blanking of the Snakes in front of 4,715 fans at the Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center on Thursday night.

Each team had their opportunities to score in the first period of play, but goaltending was the story, especially in the case of Jason Saal for the Lynx. Saal made several key saves to keep the game scoreless in the opening frame, with 11 overall in the period. Joel Martin turned aside 10 Lynx attempts to open the game. Each team was thwarted in their lone power play opportunity in the period.

In the second, Augusta would explode for three goals and a couple of milestones. At 4:38 Jarrett Thompson flipped a puck past a surprised-looking Martin for a 1-0 lead with help from Greg Jacina and Jonathan Gagnon. Then at 12:02, Martin Lapointe's goal from Louis Goulet and Terry Marchant gave the Lynx a 2-0 lead. For Lapointe (39) and Goulet (80), the points tied career marks in a season for both players. Then it was a new milestone as rookie forward Jonathan Goodwin scored his first goal as a pro at 14:45 from Goulet and Jacina, helping Goulet set a new career high for points and giving Goodwin a puck for the trophy case. That third goal also spelled the end of the night for Joel Martin, who stopped 14 of 17 Lynx shots over 34:45 of game play before being removed in favor of Jason Tapp, who would finish the period by making one save in 5:15 of game play.

Martin returned to the Cottonmouths net for the final frame, and was victimized by his own defense after making a brilliant stop on Rob Pascale in front of the net. Mitch Fritz attempted to clear the puck and instead put it past his own goaltender to give Pascale his first professional goal from Marchant and Goulet on the power play for a 4-0 final. Jason Saal was tested in all three periods but ended the night with 30 saves to earn his league lead-tying fifth shutout of the year, and 17th of his career. He also earned his 20th win of the year.

Augusta will finish off the year on the road against the Florida Everblades on Friday and Saturday night, with both games coming at 7:30 pm. All the action can be heard live on your home for Lynx Hockey, EAGLE 102, with the pre-game show starting one-half hour before puck drop.



ECHL Stories from April 1, 2004


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