Injuries, losses pile up as Augusta falls again

For the second time this calendar year, the Augusta Lynx's defense has almost as many players out of commission as in the lineup.

Coach Stan Drulia added Rod Sarich's name to the 30-day injured reserve list Saturday, leaving the Lynx with five healthy defensemen and four who are out of action.

To add to Drulia's back-line woes, defenseman Phil Cole turned the puck over Saturday deep in his own end during overtime. Florida Everblades' forward Damian Surma retrieved the puck and slid it between Matus Kostur's legs for a 4-3 overtime win at the Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center.

Sarich, who suffered a wrist injury Friday, will have surgery Tuesday. He joins Steve Munn (shoulder) and John Cronin (knee) on injured reserve, while veteran Chris Hajt is still on a call up with Portland of the American Hockey League. Forward/defenseman Todd Bennett is also on injured reserve with a concussion, but Drulia hopes to have him back next week.

"We're paying the price for injuries right now," Drulia said.

And it's a costly price.

The Lynx (15-24-6, 36 points) get a point for the tie, but still are at least 10 points out of the playoffs.

"We got a point out if it, which I guess is a little consolation prize, but where we're at in the standings, just one point doesn't help us too much anymore, we need two all the time," Lynx captain Louis Goulet said.

Florida jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period for the second night in a row, but Saturday, the Lynx responded, even if it did take a temper tantrum from Drulia at intermission.

"It's maddening to see how good this team is when they want to go," Drulia said. "When they play with passion, when they play with second effort, they throw pucks at the net, they're a good hockey team."

The Lynx outshot the Everblades 38-10 after Drulia's tirade.

Augusta cut the lead to one with 8:14 left in the second period when Matt Dzieduszycki tipped in a shot from Goulet. It didn't stay that way for long, though. Less than a minute later, Brandon Coalter beat Kostur, who had laid out to stop an earlier shot. Florida (24-14-6, 54 points) led 3-1 going into the third.

That's when the Lynx really seemed to come alive. Forward Jamie Johnson scored one goal from the left wing and then set up Colt King's goal from the right wing less than a minute apart to tie the game midway through the third period.

Drulia hopes his team remembers how much success they had in the second and third periods when these two teams face off again Friday.

"We have to build on this," he said.

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

TURNING POINT: A Phil Cole turnover with 1:13 left in overtime led to the game-winning goal.

MINUS: For the second night in a row, turnovers cost the Lynx the game.

NEXT: 7:35 p.m. Friday, Everblades at Lynx