In all likelihood, the Richmond Renegades will play Fayetteville in the first round of the Southern Professional Hockey League playoffs, starting next week.

The two teams met last night, and the Renegades hope they sent a message to the FireAntz in securing a 3-2 victory before an announced crowd of 2,483 at the Coliseum.

"The way we approached it was like a playoff game," said defenseman R.C. Lyke, whose short-handed score capped a three-goal outburst midway through the second period that held up the rest of the way.

"We want home ice for the playoffs, and we want Fayetteville to understand that when they come in here, they're going to have to pay the price in this building. I thought we took over the game in the second and third periods."

After a sluggish start, Richmond (27-20-3) cranked up the intensity and physical play -- delivering a number of big hits -- in moving three points ahead of Fayetteville (23-19-8) with two games left in the regular season.

The Renegades can clinch third place -- and home ice -- for the best-of-three series against the fourth-place FireAntz with one point in the next two games. Richmond goes to Fayetteville tomorrow.

"Now it's in our hands," Richmond coach Brian Goudie said. "One more point is all we need."

This was only the Renegades' fifth win in 11 meetings with Fayetteville, the defending SPHL champion, and they had to kill six penalties while receiving no power plays themselves from referee Tim Mayer.

"In all my 15 years of playing, I never seen anything like that," Goudie said. "How a team can go a whole game without a penalty is hard to believe. It's pretty sad when you have to beat the other team and the ref, too."

COMING TO LIFE: After falling behind 2-zip a little more than four minutes into the second period, the Renegades awoke from their slumber and scored three times in less than six minutes.

Vandermeer cut Fayetteville's lead in half with a slap shot from the high slot after gathering a nice feed from Drew Madeiros.

Little more than two minutes later, Vandermeer sent Donald Melynk in alone and he beat goaltender Chad Collins high at 8:09 to tie it.

Richmond took the lead during a 3-on-2 breakout when Lyke fired a blast from the slot that ricocheted off Collins' pad and slid just inside the post with 8:14 left in the period.

Goaltender Ryan Senft did the rest, finishing with 25 saves to earn his 18th win.

SEASON-ENDING AWARDS: The Renegades booster club handed out its end-ofthe-year honors at a banquet on Sunday. They were Melnyk (favorite offensive player), Vandermeer (favorite defensive player) and Dennis Sicard (favorite rookie).

As voted on by the players, Justin Joy was most improved offensive player, Bret Norris (most improved defensive player), Andre Gill (best offensive player), Vandermeer (best defensive player) and MVP (Vandermeer).

OFFICIAL CORRECTION: Referee Stephen Meyers was an hour late on Friday because he was stuck in traffic because of a flat tire in the Washington, D.C. area, but linesman William Lyons arrived on time for the game with Knoxville.

Friday's game story incorrectly said Lyons also was late.

ON DECK: These teams meet again tomorrow night (7:30) in Fayetteville, N.C. Richmond returns home on Saturday (7:35) for its final regular-season game against Twin City

Fayetteville ------------------------- 1 1 0 -- 2
Richmond ------------------------- 0 3 0 -- 3

First period -- 1, Fayetteville, Norrington 18 (Stephens, Moreland), 11:16. Penalties -- Karasiewicz, Rich (cross-checking), 13:45; Vandermeer, Rich (hooking), 18:39.

Second period -- 2, Fayetteville, Robertson 7 (Haacke, Pszenyczny), 4:14. 3, Richmond, Vandermeer 13 (Madeiros, Lewis), 6:00. 4, Richmond, Melnyk 22 (Vandermeer), 8:09. 5, Richmond, Lyke 3 (Melnyk, Vandermeer), 11:46 (sh). Penalties -- Lewis, Rich (high-sticking), 1:34; Gill, Rich (goalie interference), 10:29; Lewis, Rich (hooking), 17:52.

Third period -- None. Penalties -- Karasiewicz, Rich (boarding), 12:43.

Shots on goal -- Fayetteville 8-10-9--27; Richmond 4-12-8--24. Power-play opportunities -- Fayetteville 0 of 6, Richmond 0 of 0. Goalies -- Fayetteville: Collins 14-11-5 (24 shots-21 saves); Richmond: Senft 18-12-1 (27-25). Referee: Tim Mayer. A -- 2,483.