ECHL names Lynx forward as top player

Augusta Lynx forward Colt King called teammate Jamie Johnson "easily one of the best playmakers in the league" after the duo combined to help blow out the Pee Dee Pride 6-2 on Saturday.

The league agreed with King on Tuesday, naming Johnson the ECHL Player of the Week for his two-goal, four-assist performance in two games this past weekend.

Johnson's two goals and three of his assists came in Saturday's win, with King adding another two goals and two assists. Johnson leads the team with 41 assists and 57 points and is tied with Matt Dzieduszycki for first with 16 goals. He's second in the ECHL in assists and fourth in points.

The second-year player has already equaled his point total from his rookie season with Louisiana.

Johnstown goaltender David Cann won the league's Saver of the Week award after going 4-0-0.

DEFENSIVE HELP: It's been a long time since the Lynx's defense got some good news, but Tuesday's practice featured a little hope for a line decimated by injuries.

Defenseman John Cronin was on the ice with his teammates for the first time since injuring a knee in a game against Pee Dee on Jan. 11.

"I was expecting to be sucking wind a little bit more out there, because it's been so long off it," Cronin said. "It actually felt pretty good."

Cronin participated in the first half of practice at the Augusta Ice Sports Center before leaving the ice for treatment.

The second-year Lynx player injured his knee in a collision that caused one of the doors at the Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center to swing open.

Cronin and Lynx coach Stan Drulia hope No. 4 is back in the lineup Friday night for the Lynx game at Gwinnett.

The good news about Cronin is tempered by Lawne Snyder's absence from the ice Tuesday. Drulia said Snyder is day to day with a shoulder injury that he suffered in the second period Saturday.

MOVING UP: When forward Ken Magowan got called up to the AHL's Albany River Rats, Drulia told his all-star: "You've got to go up there and play to stay. Don't worry about us."

It looks like Magowan took Drulia's advice.

The rookie scored the game-winning goal and recorded an assist in the River Rats' 7-5 win Monday against the Norfolk Admirals.

Drulia said the original plan was for Magowan to rejoin the team Thursday, but after Monday's game, he wasn't sure what would happen.

"If he stays in the American Hockey League, then we did our job," Drulia said. "And if he comes back, he'll help us out tremendously."

Magowan is second on the Lynx with 15 goals and leads the team with a plus-4 rating. As of now, he's one of only three players to have played in all 50 of the Lynx's games this year.

PLAYOFF HUNT: A four-point weekend helped cut the Lynx's deficit in the American Conference playoff race to eight points. Augusta (19-24-7, 45 points) trails Pee Dee (25-23-3, 53 points) for the conference's eighth and final postseason berth.

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