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February 28, 2004 Generals get past aggressive Augusta Generals 4 Lynx 2 BY KEITH TOLBERT Special to the News & Record GREENSBORO - With playoff time fast approaching, the Greensboro Generals are trying to improve their playoff seed, but the team also has to deal with opponents fighting for their playoff lives. When that kind of team comes to the Greensboro Coliseum, there are usually some fireworks. That is exactly what happened Friday night, as the Generals got a hard-fought 4-2 win over the Augusta Lynx in front of an announced crowd of 5,057. The Lynx Were aggressive from the beginning, sometimes overly so. But the Generals kept their cool. "It's coming down to crunch time and we know every game is going to be like this," said Generals captain Mark Turner. "We knew we were going to have a great crowd and we just wanted to give 100 percent for them." After losing to first-place Columbia on Tuesday night, the Generals were supposed to play Charlotte on Thursday, but the game was postponed because of the snowstorm. Turner said it was tough to refocus, but it was necessary. "It was a long day (Thursday)," Turner said. "But we had a great practice this morning." Turner got the Generals off to a good start with a shorthanded goal in the first period. After the puck was sent into the Lynx zone, their goalie, Greg Naumenko, came out to clear it, but Turner knocked it down and charged the goal, shooting before Naumenko could get set. "Anytime you get a shorthanded goal it sets the tone for the rest of the game," said Generals coach Rick Adduono. "Other than their goaltender making some great stops, we should have had three or four more goals." The Generals gave up the tying goal just a few minutes later on a fluky rebound. Adduono didn't fault his defense for the goal and thought that the difference in the game was the Generals' defensive effort. "Everyone really made a commitment to good defense tonight," Adduono said. "We paid attention to defensive detail as a unit." The Generals took control in the second period on goals within five minutes of each other and cruised from there. Adduono said he traded defenseman Tom Reimann's rights to Bakersfield for the rights to defender Randy Perry, currently playing for Manchester in the AHL. Generals Report General - 4 Lynx - 2 INSIDER Site: Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro Why the Generals won: The Generals built a 3-1 lead on two goals in the second period and let goalie Jamie Hodson and the defense take control for the rest of the game to get a tough win. Stars: Greensboro - Matt Elich one goal, one assist, Mike Bayrack two assists, Jamie Hodson 38 saves. The play: Kevin Grimes put the game out of reach when he deflected a shot from Elich to give the Generals a 4-1 lead with 4:43 to play. What they said: "There's no doubt (we can still finish first in the division). This team wants it and we won't stop playing until the last game." - Mark Turner, Generals captain Records: Greensboro 33-22-1. Augusta 23-26-6. GENERALS TONIGHT What: Charlotte Checkers at Greensboro Generals When: 7:30 p.m. today Admission: $5-$15, available at the coliseum Information: 373-7400 or www.greensborogenerals.com Highlights: Capacity crowd expected with additional upper-level seats available, Prizes to be given away include: 2000 Cheverolet Cavalier, tickets to women's and men's ACC Tournament games, passes to Richard Petty Driving Experience, 3,000 Chick-fl-a coupons available. |