Don't look for return of Lynx captain

Judging from the talks he's had with the staff of the AHL's Portland Pirates, Augusta Lynx coach Stan Drulia thinks Chris Hajt's return to Augusta is unlikely.

Hajt, who has NHL experience and had never played below the AHL before this year, was called up by Portland right before Thanksgiving.

Drulia said the Pirates initially just wanted Hajt for the week, but that was about a month ago. Hajt was the Lynx's captain to start the season because Drulia thought the veteran would be with the team all season.

"It is a surprise as to the talks I had with Chris in the summer and the talks I had with Portland in the summer," Drulia said. "He was not in their plans. I would not have signed Chris Hajt if Portland had said he was in their plans."

Hajt had one goal, four assists and a plus-5 rating in 13 games for the Lynx.

Drulia said he is trying to get Portland to send him a player as compensation for Hajt, but that he can't get in touch with anyone in the Pirates' organization.

ALL THEY NEED IS REST: Drulia is hoping four days off the ice entirely and seven days without a game will reenergize the Lynx.

He said that lately the Lynx have been playing with six injured players per night, including captain Louis Goulet, and he hopes the time off allows the injured to heal.

Augusta has lost its past seven games and starts the post-Christmas season with four games in six days beginning Dec. 26.

"We have to come out of the gates here hard," Drulia said.

The Lynx (7-15-2, 16 points) are in last place in the ECHL's East Division and tied for last with Texas (5-14-6) in the American Conference.

CHRISTMAS WISH: If the players and coaches get what they want for Christmas, they'll replace the seven-game losing streak they're currently on with a winning streak.

"A lot of wins in the second half" is what leading scorer Jamie Johnson wants for Christmas. He and forward Matt Dzieduszycki wanted to give Drulia an early Christmas present last weekend, but the team instead dropped a pair of games to Florida.

The losses will keep the players from getting any gifts from Drulia.

"I just want them to get me two points," Drulia said. "I'll give them a day off if they start winning."

TEST YOUR SKILLS: The Lynx will play host to a team all-star skills competition for sponsors, Kool Kat Kids Klub members and season ticket holders at 7:30 Thursday night at the Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center. For more information, call (706) 724-4423.

Reach Kristy Shonka at (706) 823-3216 or kristy.shonka@augustachronicle.com.