Lynx to tackle Grrrowl in weekend pair

March 10, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Augusta Lynx News Release


For just the second time this season the Augusta Lynx will travel to Greenville, SC to battle the Grrrowl in a key weekend series that starts tonight at 7:05 pm and ends with a matinee effort on Saturday afternoon at 2:05 pm.

The Lynx were on the short end of a 2-1 score way back on November 29 the last time they visited Greenville. Martin Lapointe contributed a late power play goal in the loss for Augusta, but it wasn't enough to overcome two earlier markers and a staunch Grrrowl defense.

In the three games since that meeting, Greenville's magic number for goals has been four. The Grrrowl book ended a 6-4 loss to the Lynx with a pair of 4-1 wins at the Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center, but the most recent of those games came back on the 14th of January.

Both teams have had success on the power play against each other, with Greenville 7-for-25 (28%) and Augusta 6-for-25 (24%). But the real story may be in net, where the Grrrowl have been juggling for some time.

Former Lynx Cam Ellsworth settled in with the Grrrowl, and has four shutouts in 23 games with Greenville. Since coming to the organization to replace the injured Mike Brodeur and Jeff Deslauriers, Ellsworth has posted a 15-6-1 record, 2.46 GAA and .908 save percentage. A big key for the netminder has been the play of Greenville's defense.

"I really feel the road out of our division is going to head through Greenville," said Lynx head coach Bob Ferguson. "They play such a tough defensive style, and they don't allow traffic in front of their net very easily. Getting shots through isn't easy against this club."

Indeed, Augusta has been held to just a single goal in three of five meetings this year, scoring twice in their first meeting and then a six-goal outburst that led to the Lynx' only win of the season against the Grrrowl back on December 9.

The Lynx do get a boost with the addition of forward Sean Stefanski from the Florida Everblades, plus the return of defenseman Lee Jacobson from the AHL's Lowell Lock Monsters.

"We've been dealing with a short bench for a long time now," said Ferguson. "It will be nice to have more than 14 skaters dressed."

The Lynx will take on the Grrrowl twice before heading home to round out their weekend with a Sunday afternoon bout with the Pensacola Ice Pilots, slated for a 4:05 pm puck drop. Tickets are $11, $14, and $15, with discounts available for Comcast Cable subscribers, students, military personnel, and seniors. Call (706) 724-4ICE to order your seats today, or check out www.TicketMaster.com or any TicketMaster location. All games are broadcast on your Home for Lynx Hockey, NEWSTALKSPORTS 1630 with the Classic Stucco and Stone Pre-Game Show kicking off one half-hour before game time.



ECHL Stories from March 10, 2006


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