Lynx: Additions get new chance

Regan Darby called last year's run to the Kelly Cup "the best experience I ever had."

The defenseman played for the Idaho Steelheads, who won the ECHL championship in their first season after moving from the West Coast Hockey League to the ECHL. This year, however, has not been as kind to Darby.

In the off-season, the 24-year-old signed with the Las Vegas Wranglers, who lost to Idaho in last season's division semifinals. There's little hope of the Wranglers repeating a playoff appearance this year.

So when Darby found out Wednesday morning that he and teammate Doug Wright had been traded to the Augusta Lynx for forward Matt Schmidt and future considerations, he looked at the situation as a fresh start.

"It was real frustrating, especially near the end (in Las Vegas)," Darby said. "It just started to wear on you in practice and in games. When you know you're out of it, you just kind of need some new life."

At 20-24-5, Las Vegas has just as many points as the Lynx (19-24-7, 45 points). But the Wranglers haven't won in February and are 19 points out of the playoffs in the National Conference, while the Lynx are just nine points out in the American Conference.

Darby and Wright learned they were moving to a playoff hopeful Wednesday morning. They were about to board the bus for an eight-game road trip when they got the news they'd be boarding a plane that afternoon instead.

Wright said he didn't get to bed until 3:30 Thursday morning, and he and Darby were back up at

8:30 to get ready for their first Lynx practice.

At practice, Wright took all-star forward Ken Magowan's place on a line with Eric Johansson and Todd Bennett, though Bennett left practice early after he "pulled something," coach Stan Drulia said. Magowan is still on a call up with the AHL's Albany River Rats.

Darby joined the Lynx's banged-up defense, which on Thursday included Louis Goulet, Sean Connolly, Joe Markusen, Phil Cole and John Cronin, who is trying to play for the first time since injuring a knee more than a month ago.

Treavor Peterson missed practice with an illness, and Lawne Snyder is still listed as day-to-day with a shoulder injury, while Steve Munn (shoulder) and Rod Sarich (wrist) are still on injured reserve.

Despite the injuries, the Lynx go into this three-game weekend riding a season-high three-game winning streak. They've picked up 12 of a possible 16 points in February and nine of the past possible 10.

"It's amazing what winning does to a team," Drulia said. "They've got a swagger right now."

Darby and Wright know that swagger.

"It's a little bit of a light at the end of the tunnel," Wright said, "something more to play for."

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