Checkers vs. Wildcatters: 11/05/06

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CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

CHECKERS 4, WILDCATTERS 3, OT

Checkers get by -- with help (http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/sports/15940069.htm)

Last-minute penalty sets up overtime winner

CLIFF MEHRTENS

cmehrtens@charlotteobserver.com (cmehrtens@charlotteobserver.com)

<!-- begin body-content -->A frantic 63 seconds in overtime made up for an ugly five minutes to end regulation.

Kenton Smith's goal early in overtime gave the Charlotte Checkers a 4-3 victory against the Texas Wildcatters in an ECHL game Sunday at Charlotte Bobcats Arena.

Charlotte (5-2) rallied after two hooking penalties led to two Texas power-play goals in the third period, the last tying the score with 53 seconds left.

If the Checkers' late penalties were careless, Texas' was reckless. Keith McWilliams was called for interference with 25 seconds left in regulation, which spilled into overtime.

Charlotte gained control, and the puck stayed in the Texas zone. Smith, a defenseman, flipped in a rebound of Mark Lee's shot for the winner.

"Fortunately it bounced right to me," Smith said.

Charlotte looked strong in the first two periods. Winger Nathan Gillies had two goals. The first was a deflection. The second was spectacular.

He skated into Texas' zone, slipped the puck between a defenseman's skates, faked a forehand shot and flipped in a high backhander.

Gillies broke a six-game scoreless streak, which was a rarity. He had 33 points in 46 games with Charlotte last season.

"I am kind of a slow starter every year," Gillies said. "I had a good camp and was ready. Those things happen. We were winning, so I filled a role on the third-line checking line. You do what you can to help the team."

Gillies can play both wings, on special teams and fight. The versatility pays off, coach Derek Wilkinson said.

"He'd like to score more, and nobody works harder at it," he said. "The good thing is we're this many games in and haven't needed his scoring. Tonight we did."

The Checkers blew a two-goal lead a second straight game. This time, it ended better than Friday's 4-3 loss to Gwinnett.


<TABLE class=story-table border=0><TBODY><TR class=story-table-even-row><TD>Texas</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>--</TD><TD>3</TD></TR><TR class=story-table-odd-row><TD>Charlotte</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>--</TD><TD>4</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

First period-1, Charlotte, Bellefeuille 3 (Lee), 4:12. 2, Texas, Baker 8 (Bayrack, Madill) 11:02 (pp). 3, Charlotte, Gillies 1 (Potter, Constant), 14:09 (pp). Penalties-Cote, T (holding), :46; Baker, T (high-sticking), 7:03; Gillies, C (slashing), 9:48; David, T (hooking), 13:49; DeWaele, C (boarding), 15:42; David, T (tripping), 18:31.

Second period-4, Charlotte, Gillies 2 (Constant). Penalties-K.Smith, C (holding), 1:43; Baker, T (high-sticking), 2:21; Cote, T (holding), 6:48; Rooneem, T (interference), 9:29; Bahensky, C (slashing), 14:18; K.Smith, C (hooking), 18:45.

Third period-5, Texas, Bayrack 3 (Baker, Madill), 15:17 (pp). 6, Texas, Baker 9 (Albers), 19:07. Penalties-Baker, T (slashing), 5:30; Smith, C (hooking), 10:32; Vodrazka, C (hooking), 15:00; K. Smith, C (hooking), 15:50; McWilliams, T (interference), 19:35.

Overtime-7, Charlotte, Kenton Smith 2 (Lee, Graham), 1:03.

Shots: Texas 8-8-16-0-32; Charlotte 12-14-4-3-33. Goalies: Texas, Yeats (3-2-1) 33 shots, 29 saves; Charlotte, Holt (3-1-0), 32-29; Att.-4,313.

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<TABLE class=article width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=news_date>CHECKERS PRESS RELEASE
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=news_title>CHECKERS DEFEAT WILDCATTERS 4-3 IN OVERTIME</TD></TR><TR class=trow2><TD height=1></TD></TR><TR><TD class=news_text>

http://www.prosportsmedia.com/checkers/news_images/gillies.jpg
11/5/06

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Charlotte </CITY></PLACE>Checkers defeated the Texas Wildcatters 4-3 in overtime on Sunday, November 5 at St. Lawrence Homes Home Ice at Charlotte Bobcats Arena in front of 4,313 people. Nathan Gillies led scoring with two goals for the evening.

The Checkers got the scoring started early at 4:12 in the first period with an even-strength goal from Blake Bellefeuille who was assisted by Mark Lee, giving Bellefeuille his third goal of the season. Half way through the first period, at 11:02, Texas </PLACE></STATE>returned score with a power play goal from Kevin Baker, and the assists were given to former Checker, Mike Bayrack and Mike Madhill. Three minutes later, Nathan Gillies scored his first goal, a power play goal, with help from Ryan Constant and Corey Potter. Gillies’ goal put the Checkers up 2-1 going into intermission.

Gillies scored his second goal of the evening at 38 seconds into the period with an assist from Constant cushioning the Checkers lead at 3-1. Late in the second period, at 15:17 Bayrack scored a power play goal with help from both Baker and Madhill putting Texas </PLACE></STATE>within one goal. With 53 seconds left in regulation, Baker scored the third goal to tie the game at 3. With the game tied and regulation over, the Checkers headed into a 5 minute over-time period.

The Checkers iced the game 4-3 at 1:03 in overtime with a power play goal from Kenton Smith who had help from Lee and Bruce Graham.

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<TABLE class=article width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=news_date>From www.wildcattershockey.com (http://www.wildcattershockey.com)

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=news_title>Wildcatters Rally Late, but lose in overtime to Charlotte (http://www.wildcattershockey.com/news/fullstory.php?id=287)</TD></TR><TR class=trow2><TD height=1></TD></TR><TR><TD class=news_text>
http://www.prosportsmedia.com/wildcatters/news_images/pickw.jpg
Charlotte, NC (November 5, 2006)-The Texas Wildcatters in front of a crowd of 4,313 at Charlotte Bobcats Arena were defeated in overtime by the Charlotte Checkers 4 to 3. Kevin Baker tied the game late in the third period with his second goal of the game, but Kenton Smith netted the game winner on the power play in over time as the Checkers win the first meeting of the season between the two teams. In the over time loss, the Wildcatters earned a point and their record goes to 4-2-1-0.

Mike Bayrack who played for Charlotte</PLACE></CITY> last season scored the second goal of the game in the loss for the ‘Catters. Matt Yeats got the start and made 29 saves in the loss. The Wildcatters conclude their road trip with a record of 1-1-1

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