Tired, defeated and humiliated.
That's how the Augusta Lynx players looked as they left the ice after Tuesday's shutout loss to Louisiana.
"It was awful," coach Stan Drulia said Thursday after practice.
He wasn't quite finished.
"It was awful. It was awful and it won't be awful ever again, or some of these guys will not be here."
Pretty harsh words - but Drulia was furious with his team's lack of effort Tuesday, and he made the players pay by calling them back to the ice after the game for several series of sprints.
The post-game humiliation made for a somber dressing room.
"We were all pretty quiet, just taking it all in, what actually just happened," rookie defenseman Lawne Snyder said Wednesday. "There was a little bit of talking going on. We pretty much decided right then that we've got to turn the season around right now.
"Hopefully that was the start of it."
The true start - if there is one - will need to come tonight when the Lynx (7-11-2, 16 points) face off against the Pee Dee Pride (12-6-2, 26) at 7:35 at Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center. The Charlotte Checkers (12-5-2, 26), who are tied with Pee Dee for first in the ECHL's American Conference East Division, travel to last-place Augusta on Saturday for the Lynx's last home game until after Christmas.
This critical point in the Lynx's season isn't lost on anyone, including their newest acquisition, forward Brian Passmore.
"We had a talk with each other, just talking about what we need to do to turn this around right now, before it gets out of hand," Passmore said. "We've got four games before Christmas and we just want to win three out of the four of those and go into the break looking pretty good."
This weekend won't be an easy one, though. Augusta is a combined 0-3-1 against Pee Dee and Charlotte this season, and even worse, the Lynx are 2-5-2 on home ice.
"As professionals, we've got to bounce back and come back with a little vinegar ... on Friday and Saturday and get two wins, for sure," defenseman Treavor Peterson said.
If the Lynx do pick up four points this weekend, it would be the first time they've won back-to-back home games all year. Only the Texas Wildcatters (5-10-5 overall, 1-6-1 at home) have fewer home wins than the Lynx.
It took six tries for Augusta to earn its first home victory - a 3-2 shootout against Pensacola.
"I think we're just thinking too much here at home and we've just got to go out and play," said goaltender Jason Saal, who has started eight of the nine home games and is 2-4-2 at home.
Drulia said the Lynx head into tonight's game "a slight bit" healthier than they were Tuesday, when, he said, four of the forwards who played probably shouldn't have dressed for the game because of injuries.
Captain and leading scorer Louis Goulet was one of those four, and after playing limited minutes in the game, he sat out of practice Wednesday and Thursday.
Drulia was quiet as to Goulet's status for tonight, the same as he was about the rest of the lineup. The only definite scratch is Jarrett Thompson, who is on injured reserve after suffering a concussion Saturday.
Drulia understands the injuries have hampered the team's play, but doesn't think they should hinder the effort the players put forth on the ice. That said, Drulia still remains pretty positive about his team. That could change Sunday morning.
"This team - I'm still going to say it - is a very good hockey team," Drulia said. "But if they don't respond this weekend, there's going to have to be some drastic moves come Sunday, Monday.
Reach Kristy Shonka at (706) 823-3216 or kristy.shonka@augustachronicle.com.
Lynx Gamenight
When: 7:35 tonight, Pride vs. Lynx; 7:35 p.m. Saturday, Checkers vs. Lynx
Where: Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center
Radio: WRDW-AM 1630
Webcast: www.augustalynx.com.
Tickets: Available at the door, by calling (706) 724-4423 or going online at www.ticketmaster.com.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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