Checkers vs. Inferno: 01/11/07

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CHECKERS PRESS RELEASE (http://www.gocheckers.com/fullstory.php?id=558)

CHECKERS SNAP 3-GAME LOSING STREAK
WITH 5-2 WIN OVER COLUMBIA

CHARLOTTE, NC - The Charlotte Checkers defeated the Columbia Inferno 5-2 Thursday night at St. Lawrence Homes Home Ice at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Defenseman, Adam Nightingale, led the Checkers in scoring with one goal and one assist for the evening.

Columbia took the early lead with a power play goal from, right wing, Chris Thompson with help from both Anthony Battaglia and Jeff Miles at 13:30 in the first period. The Checkers then returned score at 14:45 with a goal from Nathan Gillies on the power play giving him his ninth goal of the season. Gillies’ goal was assisted by both Bryan Rodney and Kenton Smith. The Checkers went into intermission with the score tied at one.

Columbia struck first in the second period at 0:12 with an even-strength goal from Luke Fulghum who had help from both Miles and Battaglia. The Checkers scored late in the second to tie the game at 2 with a goal from Dan Murphy giving him his sixth goal of the season. Murphy’s goal was assisted by both Nightingale and Rodney at 17:52.

The Checkers scored 3 goals in the third period to finalize the score at 5-2. The first goal of the period was from Bellefeuille and the assists were from both Daymen Rycroft and Gillies. Nightingale had the second goal of the period with help from Lee Falardeau at 6:02 making the score 4-2. The final goal of the evening was from Hugh Jessiman giving him his fourth goal of the season. Jessiman’s goal was assisted by both Mike Ouellette and Smith.

Goaltender, Alex Westlund was credited with the win, stopping 14 of 16 shots on goal, and Columbia’s Robert Gherson took the loss with 33 saves.

BOX SCORE (http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1313)

Post-Game Video (http://www.prosportsmedia.com/admin/../checkers/mm/video/clip/JanJan-11-07.wmv)

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CHARLOTTE OBSERVER (http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/sports/hockey/echl/charlotte_checkers/16442111.htm)

CHECKERS DOWN TO BASICS -- GOALS

Rebound goals break tie, end winless streak

CLIFF MEHRTENS

CHARLOTTE, NC - Ugly hockey goals count just as much as flashy ones.

The Charlotte Checkers scored three goals on rebounds in a 5-2 ECHL victory against the Columbia Inferno at Bobcats Arena on Thursday. Charlotte (18-14-3) stopped a three-game winless streak.

Checkers Blake Bellefeuille and Adam Nightingale flicked in rebound goals three minutes apart early in the third period to break a tie at 2.

They weren't "wow" moments, but they were vital.

"Any good team needs to score goals like that," said Bellefeuille, who has a team-high 30 points. "Especially as you get nearer the playoffs, there aren't many pretty goals. Crash the net and get rebound goals. Hopefully it will have a snowball effect on us."

Charlotte's 38-16 shot advantage kept Columbia on its heels. The Checkers created good first shots, and were willing to take punishment to get to prime areas for rebounds.

"The last couple weeks we're taking big steps forward in attacking the other team's blueline," coach Derek Wilkinson said. "We scored rebound goals, but if you don't have the mindset that you're going to beat a guy to the puck, you don't get those."

Nathan Gillies (power play) found plenty of space over sprawled Columbia goalie Robert Gherson for a first-period power-play goal, and Dan Murphy tied it at 2 late in the second on a rebound goal.

Bellefeuille, sweeping through the slot unimpeded, pumped in a rebound of Daymen Rycroft's shot in the third period. Nightingale's goal, his first in 13 games, made it 4-2.

"It's just mindset," Wilkinson said. "Guys were hungry and wanted it a little bit more and were rewarded for it. That's the type of team we are. They didn't try the cute pass, or to feather one in."

NOTES

Defenseman Jake Taylor, a New York Rangers prospect, debuted after being out with an injury. ... Bruce Graham will replace Mark Lee in the ECHL All-Star Game on Wednesday. Both are with Hartford, the Rangers' American Hockey League affiliate.

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COLUMBIA INFERNO PRESS RELEASE (http://www.columbiainferno.com/newsstats/?article_id=96)

INFERNO DROP TO CHECKERS, 5-2

CHARLOTTE, NC - The Charlotte Checkers scored three unanswered goals in the third period to take the 5-2 win over the Columbia Inferno Thursday night in front of 4,212 fans.

Chris Thompson nets his sixth goal of the season on the power play at 13:30 as the Inferno lead 1-0. Anthony Battaglia and Jeff Miles had the assists. Charlotte tied the game just over a minute later, also on the power play, at 14:45 to end the first period in a 1-1 tie.

Just recently reassigned from the Toronto Marlies, Luke Fulghum scored only 12 seconds into the second period with help from Miles and Battaglia to give the Inferno their last lead of the night. Charlotte tied the game at two when Murphy scored at 17:52.

Charlotte scored three goals in the third period and stopped the Inferno as Columbia only had two shots on goal, both coming in the last few minutes of the game. The Checkers out shot the Inferno 38-16 and they scored two power play goals against Columbia . Charlotte is 2-0-0-0 against the Inferno this season.

The Inferno hosts the Gwinnett Gladiators on Friday, January 12 at 7:05pm and look for a rematch on Saturday, January 13 as the Checkers are visiting the Carolina Coliseum. Tickets are available by calling 251-2222, online at www.capitoltickets.com (http://www.capitoltickets.com) or visiting the Carolina Coliseum Box Office.

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THE STATE (http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/sports/16441167.htm)

CHECKERS RALLY PAST INFERNO IN THIRD

CHARLOTTE, NC - The Charlotte Checkers scored three unanswered goals in the third period to claim a 5-2 win over the Columbia Inferno Thursday night in front of 4,212 fans.

Columbia’s goals were scored by Chris Thompson and Luke Fulghum, recently reassigned from the Toronto Marlies.

Charlotte’s three-goal third period stopped the Inferno as Columbia had two shots on goal in the period. The Checkers out shot the Inferno 38-16.