Renegades strike back

Type_webhead_here Renegades pick up needed win at home

In a game the Richmond Renegades all but had to win to remain in playoff contention, the local club came up big yesterday.

Richmond never trailed but couldn't put away pesky Twin City until the third period of a 6-3 victory before 3,022 at the Coliseum.

Snapping a three-game losing streak, the Renegades (29-26-2) moved to one point behind fourth-place Fayetteville (28-23-5) in the Southern Professsional Hockey League standings.

The top four teams qualify for the playoffs, and Richmond has three regular-season games remaining to join the postseason group.

"This is desperation time," said defenseman Dan Vandermeer, who had a goal and two assists. "We lose another game now, and we know we're done. This was a big two points for the boys."

Trevor Karasiewicz and Bill Zalba also contributed a goal and two assists as the Renegades handed the Cyclones (24-27-6) their fifth straight loss and eliminated them from the playoffs.

"I told the players at the pregame skate that they're a dangerous team," said Richmond coach Brian Goudie. "They have nothing to play for. They were just playing for stats. Going out there loosey-goosey."

Leading 3-2 going into the final period, the Renegades took a two-goal advantage when Geoff Rollins, stationed on the doorstep, one-timed a pass from Beau McLaughlin past goalie Kevin Druce with 4:16 to go.

Less than 30 seconds later, the Cyclones closed to 4-3. But Zalba faked Druce out of the crease on a two-on-one rush and poked the puck into an open net 3:10 from the end.

With Twin City's net empty during a power play, Vandermeer found the open goal from almost the length of the ice with 1:31 left.

"We're in a must-win mode every game now," Zalba said. "The guys came out tonight and responded. It's just one game though. We can think about this for 10 minutes and then move on to Thursday."

On deck: The Renegades are idle until Thursday when they open a stretch of three games in three nights at Huntsville. Richmond is at Twin City on Friday and returns to Coliseum ice for the final regular-season game against Knoxville on Saturday at 7:35 p.m.

Twin City ------------------------- 1 1 1 -- 3
Richmond ------------------------- 1 2 3 -- 6

First period -- 1, Richmond, Karasiewicz 17 (Vandermeer, Busby), 10:54 (pp). 2, Twin City, Melnyk 26 (Moore), 17:49. Penalties -- Rollins, Rich (hooking), :12; Hustead, TC (slashing), 8:42; Wagner, TC (delay of game), 10:01; Melnyk, TC (hooking), 11:54; Wagner, TC (holding), 18:32; Weibel, Rich (interference), 20:00.

Second period -- 3, Weibel 2 (Karasiewicz, Zalba), 11:44. 4, Twin City, Moore 6 (Siganuk, Hustead), 15:54. 5, Richmond, Oke 3 (Vandermeer, Zalba), 18:17 (pp). Penalties -- McLaughlin, Rich (tripping), 8:11; Welch, TC (hooking), 16:26.

Third period -- 6, Richmond, Rollins 19 (McLaughlin, Pernula), 15:44. 7, Twin City, Jensen 5 (Hustead, Melnyk), 16:19. 8, Richmond, Zalba 8 (Karasiewicz, Cole), 16:50. 9, Richmond, Vandermeer 14, 18:29 (sh-en). Penalties -- Swartzentruber, TC (hooking), 3:29; Manny, TC (hooking), 4:47; Zalba, Rich (hooking), 12:22; Lyke, Rich (cross-checking), 17:11; Oke, Rich, major (fighting), 19:35; Manny, TC, major-misconduct (fighting), 19:35.

Shots on goal -- Twin City 8-11-8--27; Richmond 11-12-14--37. Power-play opportunities -- Twin City 0 of 5, Richmond 2 of 7. Goalies -- Twin City: Druce 14-10-4 (36 shots-31 saves); Richmond: Scott: 14-12-2 (27-24). Referee: Ryan Hersey. A: 3,022.