Lynx earn timely win in shootout

A week and a half ago, Augusta Lynx coach Bob Ferguson and the players talked about the significance of their upcoming five-game homestand.

Not only would it present two weekends worth of opportunities to move up in the South Division, it would mark the starting point of the second half of their season.

So far, the Lynx have taken advantage of both.

The Lynx defeated division foe South Carolina 3-2 in a shootout Friday night at Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center, giving them six points in their past four games and sending them into the second half on a winning note.

Augusta (16-18-3), which has won four of its past six, closes the homestand tonight against Greenville.

"This was huge for sure," said Lynx defenseman Martin Lapointe, who led Augusta with two assists. "We knew how important this stand would be, and we wanted to start the second half of the season off on the right foot. I think we did that."

With the victory, Augusta gained one point on the fifth-place Stingrays and now trail South Carolina by one.

"The points are huge, especially against the team right above us," Ferguson said. "We've been pretty optimistic for quite a while now that we would get things going. We're getting solid goaltending and the defense has tightened up. That's been the biggest difference."

South Carolina (13-13-10) picked up one point and fell to 0-9 this season in games that reach overtime or a shootout.

Sam Ftorek recorded the game-winner with the second goal in a shootout the Lynx won 3-1. Brian Passmore and Joe Pereira each scored regulation goals for the Lynx.

Augusta goaltender Jason Wolfe was strong again , stopping 30 of 32 South Carolina shots and saving all but one Stingrays attempt in the shootout.

Passmore got the Lynx on the board first when he rebounded a Lapointe shot with 4:48 remaining in the opening stanza. B.J. Gaustad received an assist on the deflection.

The Lynx weren't as aggressive in the second period.

Though they didn't give up five goals in the middle 20 minutes, as they did to the Stingrays last weekend, Augusta allowed South Carolina to tie the game when Ty Morris flicked home a loose puck in front of Wolfe to tie the game, 1-1, heading into the final period.

The Lynx were without two of their better young players, as all-star forward Nicolas Corbeil and rookie goaltender Mike Wall each were called up to the American Hockey League earlier in the week.

Reach Steve Sanders at (706) 823-3216 or steven.l.sanders@augustachronicle.com.