A historic weekend for all the wrong reasons finally came to an end for the Augusta Lynx on Sunday evening, but not before the Dayton Bombers left with a 2-1 win to issue the Lynx their third loss in three consecutive nights.
Coming off Saturday night's franchise-worst 12-0 loss to the Florida Everblades, the Lynx extended their losing streak to six when Dayton overcame a 1-0 first-period deficit with a pair of second-period goals to pick up the win.
The score was an improvement from the previous night, but the Lynx didn't take much pride in a one-goal loss.
"You can lose 2-1 or 12-0, either way, it's still the same," Lynx forward Matt Auffrey said. "To get no points in three home games this weekend, that's unacceptable."
The Lynx took an early lead in Sunday's game on a power-play goal by defenseman Kevin Quick. Forward Patrick Bordeleau used his 6-foot-6, 225-pound frame to create enough traffic in front of the net to block the view of Dayton goaltender Tyler Plante, and Quick's shot squeezed through for a lead that held through the end of the first period.
"We had a meeting this morning about how to play hockey," Lynx head coach John Marks said. "I told them, 'I want you to do it my way. I know what I'm talking about, and my way works.'
"They did it my way for about 16 of the first 20 minutes, and we had a one-goal lead and outshot them. The second period, they did it their way and got off task and lost focus."
The Lynx outshot the visiting Bombers 17-5 after 20 minutes of play, but more scoring opportunities came from the visiting team in the second and third periods, when Dayton held a 17-12 edge on shots.
The Bombers evened the score midway through the second period with a goal from Justin Bowers. Dayton took advantage of a power-play opportunity late in the second period, when Joe Van Culin took a centering pass from teammate Dan Riedel and beat Lynx goaltender Mike Brodeur for what proved to be the game-winning goal.
Brodeur stopped 20 of 22 shots, while Plante turned away 28 of 29 Lynx shots.
Reach Billy Byler at (706) 823-3216 or billy.byler@augustachronicle.com.
GAME REPORT
Bombers 2, Lynx 1
STAR OF THE GAME: Dayton's Joe Van Culin converted what proved to be the game-winning goal on a power-play opportunity late in the second period. It was the defenseman's second goal of the season.
PLAY OF THE GAME: Both teams traded power-play goals, but the difference came with an even-strength score at the 11:20 mark of the second period. Dayton trailed 1-0 at the time, until Mike McLean slid a pass to Justin Bowers in front of the net for the goal.
NEXT: The Lynx will travel to Gwinnett for a 7:05 game Thanksgiving night.
Comments
Really coach, you want to make those remarks? Coming from a coach that has lost 1,000 games. Sounds like a man thats trying to protect his job but blaming the players. A good coach wouldnt point fingers at anyone but himself no matter what. Thanks for a great weekend of hockey! At this rate you will be the last coach of this franchise too. Dan fire this man before you lose what little support you have or you will be folding this team in April.
Hey Marks! I fell for your criticism of players early on.....but not now! I supported you early on...but not now. You are suppposed to be a "winning coach", a "mentor", a "motivator"........you clearly are not. If Billy got your quote accurate in this article, DUDE, you got real issues. HEY DAN. HELLO....DAN!!!! You need to do something quick, because Augusta is on the brink of losing a hockey team (specifically for the reasons SlapShot2 says), thereby by negating the opportunities for many young hockey players to play a great sport and earn their way to the next levels.
And one other thing....FOR THE SAKE OF ALL THINGS HOLY ON EARTH, ....FIRE immediately.......NOW.....TODAY......the "Voice of the Lynx".......good grief! Has anyone in management TRIED to listen to this guy on the radio?????!!!!!!
Welp, looks like ol'Chimpo was right about 4 months ago when they hired this joker. I said that if we didn't hire Troy Mann we would be in big trouble. Marks has brought his losing ways from Pensacola. Dan needs to fire this guy, TODAY! I personally feel bad for the ticket holders and corporate partners of this sorry franchise. Even Bubba Diggs could coach this team better than Marks!
Mark this down.... November 22nd 2008 is that date that the Lynx became history. They are DONE! This isn't professional hockey anymore, it is a joke! A bush league coach that blames his players? wow, that guy needs to get fired before what little support you already have turns on you. Your fans deserve better Dan... It is the begining of the end for this troubled franchise. Stick a fork in them!
This was going to be the last season anyway regardless of how it turned out. Don't be fooled. GOAL can't continue to bleed financially the way they have the past few years. What we are witnessing is pretty much the same scenario every minor pro hockey team goes through on the way to folding. This should not be much of a surprise to anyone. Our Lynx have never been better than middle of the pack and for many years have been much worse. This is just another year in the 12 years of poor play.
It's not the coaches fault. It starts with the GM. Anyone who knows anything about hockey knows that the system completely collapsed on Saturday. The players assembled are not capable of winning consistently even if they followed the coaches system to a T. The top line of Stewart, Bordeleau, and Lawerence plays more like a top team's third line (energy/checking line) than they do a scoring line. The other two lines don't have the skill to compete. Auffrey, who along with Watson and Fuller, were supposed to be scorers. Well, maybe they would be if they had some top talent around them. They don't and are not capable of carrying this team by themselves. The GM put together a team on a shoestring. Anyone who has gone to the games since day 1 can see that. The Lynx as they are now would not be a top team in the SPHL. Marks is a good coach and calling the TEAM out for not following his system is more than appropriate because it's the truth. Which individual player did he throw under the bus? None. He even defended Helenius as he should. I know ex and current players who respect Marks, his style and system. They also know this team lacks talent. Talent costs money and the GM ain't payin'.
That may be true SJGraci, then Troutman needs to throw in the towel. It's not fair to the people of Augusta to subject them to terrible hockey. Come on Dan, no one is going to be upset with you if you cut your losses and fold the team. Like Obama said, its time for CHANGE!
They can't fold in the middle of the season without sustaining some pretty hefty financial losses. They are better of riding it out then ceasing operations at the end of the year.
Once again the Chronicle proves its worthlesness,
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/breaking/story/378298.html
I heard from a friend in Charlotte that the Lynx are disbanding. Yea, great local reporting Chronicle...
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