Lynx offense cold in Alaska

Augusta's offense went arctic over the weekend in Anchorage, Alaska, and the Lynx dropped the first two games of their northwestern road trip by a combined 13-1 score to the Alaska Aces.

While temperatures outside fell to as low as minus 10 degrees, the Aces continued their hot play at home, posting a 7-0 victory over Augusta on Friday and a 6-1 win Sunday.

The Lynx (17-22-3), losers of four of their past five, are in danger of losing their hold on the sixth and final playoff spot in the American Conference South Division.

Pensacola has moved within one point of Augusta.

Alaska (32-6-3), now 19-2 at Sullivan Arena, moved into first place in the National Conference West Division with the victories.

On Friday, the Aces scored five goals in the first period to cruise to the seven-goal shutout win. Alaska's Joe Talbot netted a hat trick in the game, while Augusta was stonewalled by goaltender Matt Underhill.

The Lynx, having struggled with a man advantage all year, went 0-for-8 on the power play Friday, while Alaska was 2-for-6. Augusta ranks 24th out of the 25 ECHL teams on the power play.

In Sunday's game, Brian Passmore scored Augusta's only goal in the 6-1 loss.

Alaska scored three third-period power-play goals and was led by Ryan Gaucher's five-point night (four assists).

Jason Wolfe took the losses in goal for the Lynx.

ON CALL: The Lynx remained short-handed over the weekend, as they made the trip without four players called up to the American Hockey League over the past two weeks.

The team was hoping to have at least one of the four players - Nicolas Corbeil, Joel Stepp, Eric Lundberg and Mike Wall - rejoin the team during the trip, but that has yet to happen.

Corbeil has four goals and an assist in 11 games with the Lowell (Mass.) Lock Monsters.

Stepp has totaled two goals and an assist in 17 games with the Portland Pirates, and Wall is 5-5 with a 3.38 goals against average, also with Portland.

Lundberg has appeared in eight games with the Albany River Rats.

Corbeil, Stepp and Lundberg have accounted for 73 points for the Lynx this season, and Wall is 5-6 in goal with Augusta.

NEXT UP: Augusta closes its five-game swing with three contests at the Victoria (British Columbia) Salmon Kings, starting Wednesday night.

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