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Trax reaching for playoffs

March 2, 2004 - SPHL (SPHL)
Macon Trax News Release


RECORD TO DATE: 20-18-6 (46 points) 5th place in WHA2

THIS WEEK:

THU Mar. 4 TRAX @ Orlando 7:05 p.m. TD Waterhouse Centre

The Trax hope to continue their trend at the TD Waterhouse Centre. The Trax have yet to lose in regulation in Orlando. The last two trips the Trax have claimed one goal victories over the Seals. The Trax overall are 3-0-1 when visiting the Seals.

Season Series: Macon leads 4-3-1 (Most recent: 2-1 WIN, Feb. 28 @ ORL)

FRI Mar. 5 TRAX @ Miami 7:05 p.m. Miami Arena

The Trax have only visited the Miami Arena twice this year. They have not enjoyed either visit against the Manatees. The Trax and Manatees have shown their offenses in the meetings down in South Florida. The Trax managed to steal a point away in their last visit, but hope to carry two points home with them after Friday's game.

Season Series: Tied 2-2-1 (Most recent: 7-2 WIN, Jan. 30 @ MAC)

SUN Mar. 7 TRAX @ Lakeland 4:05 p.m. Lakeland Center

Macon returns to a building they have had much success in. The Trax have yet to lose in regulation when visiting the Loggerheads. Every time Macon visits Lakeland, the Loggerheads put up a great battle. The last two trips to the Lakeland Center saw the Loggerheads win in overtime and lose in a shootout.

Season Series: Macon Leads 7-0-1 (Most recent: 7-6 SO WIN, Mar. 1 @ LAK)

MON Mar. 8 TRAX @ Miami 7:35 p.m. Miami Arena

For the second time in two nights the Trax and Manatees lock up. Miami heads into the week in second place in the WHA2 while the Trax are chasing down a playoff spot, currently three points out.

Season Series: Tied 2-2-1 (Most recent: 7-2 WIN, Jan. 30 @ MAC)

LAST WEEK:

THU Feb. 26 TRAX @ Jacksonville (3-0 loss) 7:05 p.m. Veterans Memorial Arena

Macon battled hard trying to hold on to their two game winning streak, but fell to Jacksonville 3-0. Jacksonville Goalie Randy Hevey got his first career shutout with a 25 save performance.

Lyle Steenbergen opened up the scoring at 14:38 in the first period with his 18th goal of the season. The goal was set up when Kory Baker faked the shot on the power play and slid it across to Steenbergen who buried it.

Late in the first period, Matt Brown got taken down from behind by Gilles Richard while attempting a goal. Brown was awarded a penalty shot, but was unable to find the net when Hevey made a great save with his left leg pad. Hevey's stop appeared to give the 'Cudas the momentum they needed in the game.

Jacksonville's John McCabe scored their second goal of the evening 14:08 in the middle frame. For good measure Mark Phenow added the final insurance goal early in the third period.

The Trax did not go away quietly into the night. Ryan Rivard found himself tangoing with Steenbergen shortly after Jacksonville's second goal. Then as the second period was ending Brown all but made Cuda's Captain Baker, beg for mercy with a flurry of rights to Baker's head.

SAT Feb. 28 TRAX @ Orlando (2-1 WIN) 7:35 p.m. TD Waterhouse Centre

Andy Kollar had a big night with 39 saves to help the Trax beat the Seals 2-1. Kollar especially stood tall in the third period with 19 saves.

Matt Brown opened up the scoring at the 9:21 mark of the first period. This is Brown's second goal of the season and his first as a member of the Trax. John Gurskis and Kelvin Solari were awarded the assists on Brown's goal. Solari acquired his first point since joining the Macon Roster.

Orlando tied up the game at the 17:14 of the first with B.J. Stephens scoring his 28th goal of the season. This would be the only time the Seals would be able to get past Kollar on the night.

The Trax took the lead for good when Darwin Murray found a streaking Craig Miller. Miller skated into the Orlando zone untouched and roofed his 18th goal of the season past Seals goaltender Sean Varriale.

Orlando had their chances in the final two periods but were not able to find the back of the net. The Seals best chance of the night came late in the second period when Jason Elders found Chris LiPuma on the door step, but LiPuma was denied by the post.

The third period found Kollar putting on his best game face making 19 of his 39 saves.

The Trax won the game despite not having a power play for the first time in franchise history. Macon's penalty kill continued to shine as they shut down Orlando's three power plays.

SUN Feb. 29 Alabama @ TRAX (3-2 SO loss) 4:05 p.m. Macon Centreplex

The Trax usually win when leading after two periods of play, but tonight was different. Alabama escaped Macon with a 3-2 shootout victory.

Alabama scored early in the first period after Trax goalie Andy Kollar lost his footing in the crease. Mike Craigen dumped the puck into the empty net for his ninth goal of the season.

The Trax fought back to tie the score before the end of the opening period. John Gurskis had the goal of the night as he carried the puck into the Alabama zone untouched. Slammers goalie Jamie Ronayne left a tiny opening above his shoulder on the short side; Gurskis found it and put the puck through the tiny opening.

The middle frame showed only one goal, scored by the Trax. David Deeves picked up his 23rd goal when he lit the lamp at the 6:46 mark. Kelvin Solari and Craig Miller were awarded the assists.

Alabama finally tied up the game very late in the third period when Justin Schabes found the net at the 17:34 mark. Kollar made the initial save but the puck rolled up his shoulder, down to the ice and into the net.

Overtime was the usual up and down action in the WHA2. Doug Lawrence was called for a tripping penalty with 21 seconds remaining in overtime. Trax Coach Tommy Stewart elected to pull his goalie for the extra attacker. The Trax not only failed to score but Alabama almost scored on the open end off a clearing attempt as time expired.

Since 65 minutes was not enough the game was decided in a shootout. The first two rounds had the goalies standing tall between the pipes. Schabes opened up the third round carrying the puck into the zone and deked Kollar down and out. The Trax were unable to answer in the bottom of the third and Alabama picked up two points for their effort.

MON Mar. 1 TRAX @ Lakeland (7-6 SO WIN) 7:05 p.m. Lakeland Center

For the second night in a row the Trax were forced to play more than 60 minutes. Loggerheads tough man Curtis Sayler tied the game up with under a minute remaining in regulation.

David Deeves saved the day for the Trax in the shootout. After a feverish pace in overtime, the teams headed for a shootout. The first shooter over the board was Deeves, who already had two goals on the night. He skated into the zone and buried the shot past Lakeland goalie Tyler Murray.

Macon opened the scoring at 1:13 of the first period with a Deeves goal only to see the Loggerheads storm back on the shoulders of team captain Rob Schweyer's two consecutive goals.

Deeves opened the second period with an even strength goal to tie the game at 2-2. Again, Lakeland would strike back with a pair of goals from Mark Loza and Jacek Wilk's the Loggerheads a 4-2 edge. It was Wilk's first professional goal.

The Trax answered with two goals of their own from Ryan Rivard and Steve Zoryk, sending the teams to the dressing rooms after 40 minutes knotted up at four a piece.

Turtle Power flexed its muscle to start the third period when Sayler scored his first of the game and followed it up with a salute to the local fans, which the Trax players did not take kindly.

The Trax decided the salute the Loggerheads in their own way, by scoring a couple of goals. Macon jumped ahead again on two quick goals as Zoryk and Rivard each netted their second of the game giving the Trax a 6-5 lead.

With goalie Tyler Murray pulled for the extra attacker, Sayler snuck one by Faulkner at 19:27 of the third period forcing the overtime session and eventually the 3-man shootout.

The Trax scored on their first two attempts in the shootout (Deeves and John Gurskis) and Lakeland was unable to find the back of net giving Macon the extra point and the victory.

TRAX TIDBITS:

· "CHUGGIN' WITH THE TRAX" is changing to Tuesdays for the month of March. Join Adam Minnick, Tommy Stewart and Trax Players Tuesdays in March at the TOM HILL SR. APPLEBEE'S Grill & Bar Location. The show is live 6-7pm Mar. 2, 9, 16, 13, 30. It will be replayed on www.irn.fm from 9-10 pm the same night.

· Mar. 11—"CITY EMPLOYEE NIGHT"—If you work for any city or county in the Middle Georgia Region bring you ID for $5 tickets.

· Mar. 11—"GUNS ‘N' HOSES NIGHT"—The Trax are honoring all the Firefighters and Police officers with a $5 ticket special. The Trax will also be looking for all the "Guns N Hoses" members to participate in the intermission fun.

· Mar. 11—"THIRSTY THURSDAY"—For the first time the Trax are having a FAMILY THIRSTY THURSDAY. The usual special is 2-for-1 draft beer; ALSO all fountain soda will be 2-for-1 as well.

· FEB. 12—"ARTIC CONSTRUCTION ST. PATRICK'S DAY BASH"—The Trax will be wearing a special St. Patrick's Day jersey that will be auctioned off after the game. All fans can help us celebrate by wearing green to the game.

· GAME DATE AND TIME CHANGES:

Road Games:

Feb. 13 game @ Lakeland will now be on Sunday, Mar. 7 at 4:05 pm.

Feb. 15 game @ Miami has been changed to Saturday, Mar. 8 at 7:35 pm.

HOME GAMES:

Sunday, Feb. 29 has been changed to a 3:05 pm start time against Alabama.

Saturday Mar. 27 has been changed to a 6:05 pm start time against Orlando.

· MAR. 18—The second and final "SEASON TICKET REDEMPTION NIGHT"—Any unused tickets can be exchanged for a ticket to the Mar. 18 game versus Orlando.

· MAR. 18—"LAW NIGHT"—The Trax invite all law professionals to enjoy an exciting Thursday night game. Anyone who works in the law profession can have a $5 ticket.

TEAM APPEARANCES:

Wednesday—Mar. 3, EAGLE 92.3 FM—4 pm Wednesday—Mar. 3, Wesleyan College Bachelor Auction for charity-7 pm.

TEAM NOTES:

The Trax have collected points on 6 of their last 10 games. In head-to-head series, the Trax lead or tie all teams except against Jacksonville. Macon leads the WHA2 with 63 second period goals. Macon continues to shine with a league high 85.99% success rate while shorthanded.

STANDOUTS:

DAVID DEEVES is fifth in the WHA2 scoring with 60 points (25G, 35A). STEVE ZORYK enters Mar., eighth in league scoring with 52 points (26G, 26A). ANDY KOLLAR is third with a 3.15 goals against average while GEOFF FAULKNER is seventh with a 3.70 GAA. JOHN GURSKIS led the Trax in Feb. points with 12 (4G, 8A). CRAIG MILLER had a great month of Feb. scoring five goals, four assists and posted a team high +5 rating.

TRAX PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

· ANDY KOLLAR—In two games Kollar went 1-0-1 against Orlando and Alabama. The Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada native had 1.96 goals against average and a stellar .943 save percentage. This season Kollar is third in the WHA2 in goals against average (3.15) and fifth in the league with a .905 save percentage.

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