Auffrey goal wins OT thriller

AUGUSTA, GA – When athletes are given the letter “A” to wear on their uniform, it is a sign of respect that the coaches and other players know the individual is a leader. When they get the letter “C”, they know that they are expected to be the who leads the team and steps up when the time is right.
Augusta RiverHawks captain Matt Auffrey showed Wednesday why he deserved the letter “C”.
Auffrey scored two goals, including the game winner 14:55 into the first overtime as the top-seeded RiverHawks edged the eighth-seeded Huntsville havoc 4-3 in game one of their best-of-three SPHL President’s Cup playoff series at the James Brown Arena. Augusta can move on to the next round with a win Friday night at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville.
The game-winning sequence started with a RiverHawks defensive pinch in along the far boards. The puck was then picked up by Neil Graham who fed defenseman Chris Wiggin just inside the blue line. Wiggin drove a slap shot that was blocked but Auffrey pounced on the rebound and sent it into the back of the net behind Huntsville goalie Mark Sibbald, setting off a celebration on the ice and in the stands.
The game would not have gotten to that point without the heroics of Graham, who scored two goals of his own. Graham tied the game with 12 seconds left in regulation and Augusta goalie Peter Skoggard pulled for an extra attacker.
Showing no fear of the potent Augusta offense, Huntsville went toe-to-toe with the RiverHawks in the first period. The visitors threw everything they had at their hosts, recording eight of the games first nine shots. The eighth was a shot by Sam Cannata that Skoggard blocked but Dennis Sicard beat everyone to the rebound and poked it home at the seven minute mark to give Huntsville the early lead.
A little over a minute later, Augusta answered with a goal of its own. Rookie defenseman Ken Trentowski got the puck down low to Auffrey. Auffrey somehow found a way to put it into the net past Sibbald to tie the score.
Seconds after the goal, Auffrey let his emotions get the best of him and took an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and it cost him. On the ensuing power play, Havoc forward Rick Schrank worked himself free coming down the slot and whipped a wrister past Skoggard to once again put Huntsville ahead. The lead lasted all of two and a half minutes before Graham took a feed from Trentowski and found the back of the net to knot the score for a second time.
The middle period was a highlight reel for the goalies, especially Sibbald. Thanks to two power play opportunities, the RiverHawks pounded the Havoc net with 14 shots. Sibbald, who had struggled after rejoining the team for the stretch run, put on a show, stopping every shot he faced with some acrobatics thrown in for good measure. Although he wasn’t as busy, Skoggard was rock solid down at the other end, making saves when called upon.
Augusta started the third stanza with a man advantage and had yet another chance before the period hit the midpoint but failed to dent Sibbald’s armor. The Havoc caught a break with 8:24 left in regulation when a shot by Justin Fox took a bounce off of teammate Colin Reddin and went in to give Huntsville its final lead of the night.
All seemed lost for the RiverHawks as the Havoc built a defensive shell around their net. With 56 seconds left in regulation, Augusta coach Brad Ralph pulled Skoggard in favor of the sixth skater. It helped his team keep the pressure on Huntsville just long enough for Graham to play the hero with his second goal of the night.
Even after losing the lead late, the Havoc could sense that one break in the extra period could allow them to steal the game. They came out with guns blazing, taking the action to the RiverHawks. Augusta’s Branden Kosolofsky took a boarding penalty at the 9:24 mark, giving Huntsville a golden opportunity to win it on the power play but Skoggard stood his ground, making three stops including back-to-backers on Huntsville’s Scott Duncan and Fox to save the game. The Havoc out-shot Augusta 11-5 in the overtime but it was the fifth and final one by Auffrey that killed them.
Game Notes: For the game, Huntsville out-shot Augusta 34-33…Skoggard made 31 saves to record the win while Sibbald stopped 29 in suffering the loss…The Havoc finished the game 1-for-2 with the man advantage while was blanked, going 0-for-4…Augusta’s Auffrey and Graham both finished the game with plus-4 ratings…If a game three is needed in the series, it will be played in Augusta Saturday night.