Renegades notes RENEGADES NOTES

Short memory needed after loss to FireAntz

Less than 24 hours after what was perhaps the most devastating loss of the season, the Richmond Renegades were back on the ice, practicing at SkateNation and trying to put the 5-4 setback to Fayetteville on Tuesday night behind them.

But it wasn't easy, realizing they had blown a 4-3 lead -- and the two points that go with a victory -- with less than five minutes to go.

"It was tough to sleep on that one," said coach Brian Goudie, whose club fell into a tie for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Southern Professional Hockey League, with five games remaining in the season.

"There's not much you can say about it . . . especially with the impact of the game. We were going to be up [on Fayetteville] by three [points]. Now we're down by one [point]."

A win would have lifted the Renegades (28-25-2) into sole possession of second place, which carries a first-round, home-ice playoff advantage with it. Instead, Richmond is tied with Huntsville (26-22-6) for the last playoff berth.

"We stuck to our game plan," Goudie said. "Everything was going our way. One simple breakdown cost us [the tying goal] and then the last one was from the blue line. The guy [Rob Sich] was just dumping it in. [Goaltender Ryan Scott] Scotty is going to make that save nine out of 10 times. It was a tough pill to swallow.

"But we've got to forget about it. Come out Friday and get two points. Our backs are against the wall. We need to win in regulation. That would wash that game right out and put us back up by one [point] over them."

The Renegades play Fayetteville (27-23-5) for the third straight game tomorrow night (7:35) at the Coliseum, their first home game in a month after eight in a row on the road.

Pernula returns to club

Not all the news was bad for the Renegades. Forward Nick Pernula, who was an offensive sparkplug for four games earlier this season before leaving for Bakersfield (East Coast League) and then Finland, has returned to the team and practiced yesterday. Pernula had two goals and six assists in his brief stay in late November.

Pernula needs to play in one more game to become eligible for the playoffs.

Forward Justin Joy (21 goals) didn't make the trip to Fayetteville because of "personal stuff he had to take care of," according to Goudie. Joy will be back in the lineup tomorrow night, Goudie said.

In a couple of roster moves, Goudie released forward Joe Curry and put forward Matt Withers on waivers. Curry was on a three-game tryout contract and scored one goal. Withers, who had also played defense, had four goals and four assists in 49 games. With Dennis Sicard gone, Withers was the chief enforcer and had 103 penalty minutes.

"This time of year, it's hard to find somebody to go out there and change the momentum of the game," Goudie said. "Right now, you have to score more goals or hold on defensively. That's the bottom line. Every game means so much."

--John Packett