Checkers at Royals: 01/26/07

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CHECKERS PRESS RELEASE (http://www.gocheckers.com/fullstory.php?id=568)

CHECKERS FIVE-GAME WINNING STREAK SNAPPED FRIDAY NIGHT IN 6-3 LOSS AT READING

READING, PA - The Charlotte Checkers saw their five-game winning streak and seven-game unbeaten mark come to a close Friday night in a 6-3 loss to the Reading Royals at the Sovereign Center in Reading, PA. Jon Francisco scored a hat trick for Reading and John Snowden had four assists in leading the Royals (19-18-5 for43 points) to the triumph. Reading goalie Jeff Pietrasiak had 35 saves in beating the Checkers for the second time in three meetings this season.

Charlotte goalie Alex Westlund had his personal three-game winning streak snapped, suffering the loss with 31 saves. The Checkers (22-15-3 for 47 points) got single tallies from Daymen Rycroft, Bruce Graham and Lee Falardeau. Charlotte finished its three-game season series against Reading with a record of 1-2.

The Checkers fell behind five minutes into the game as Francisco fired a 30 foot shot that somehow eluded Westlund for a 1-0 Reading advantage. Charlotte tied the game at 7 minutes, 3 seconds of the first as Rycroft cleaned up a rebound of a Bryan Rodney shot from the point that hit the crossbar. There was no further scoring in the period as each team had 16 shots on goal.

The Royals opened up a three-goal lead early in the second period with two goals in a 1:51 span, and three goals in 4:30. The siege began a minute and a half into the period on Shawn Collymore's tally. Two minutes later Francisco scored his second goal of the night on a breakaway, steering the puck into the net from his stomach after falling down for a 3-1 Royals advantage. At 6:02 of the stanza, James Hiebert scored to give Reading a stunning 4-1 lead. Sloppy play by the Checkers defense greatly contributed to the three-goal blitz by the Royals.

Midway through the second period the Checkers got a goal from Graham, his team-leading 23rd of the season. The lamplighter pulled Charlotte to within two goals of the Royals at 4-2, giving it hope for a third period comeback.

In the final period Reading increased its lead to 5-2, as Snowden set up Joe Zappala just 23 seconds in. A minute later and with Charlotte's Corey Potter in the penalty box, Falardeau single-handedly made it a two-goal game again. He bounced the puck off the boards, raced into the Reading zone, charged toward the net, and with two Royals' players hanging on him rammed the puck by Pietrasiak to slice the lead to 5-3.

The Checkers, however, could get no closer. With a minute and a half to go in the game, Charlotte coach Derek Wilkinson pulled Westlund for a sixth attacker. The Royals were able to seal the win as Francisco scored into the empty net with 49 seconds left to earn his hat trick, and seal the 6-3 victory for Reading.

Charlotte will conclude its three-game road trip Tuesday night when it travels to Columbia to meet the Inferno at 7:00 p.m. The Checkers next home game is Friday, February 2 when they'll host the Florida Everblades at Charlotte Bobcats Arena at 7:30 p.m. The first 2,000 fans entering the arena on February 2 will receive a free Checkers T-Shirt compliments of Corporate Xposure.

CHECKERS SATURDAY NIGHT SCRATCHES: Dusty Jamieson, John Donnelly, Rick Kozak, and Nathan Gillies.

FOR BOX SCORE CLICK HERE (http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1391)

Tickets for all Checkers home games can be purchased on the official team web site at www.gocheckers.com (http://www.gocheckers.com), on the telephone by using a credit card and calling 1-800-495-2295, or by visiting the Charlotte Bobcats Arena box office.

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CHARLOTTE OBSERVER (http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/sports/hockey/echl/charlotte_checkers/16558621.htm)

CHARLOTTE BURNED IN 2ND PERIOD
Royals score 3 times in 5 minutes, take control

OBSERVER NEWS SERVICES

READING, PA - Jon Francisco had a hat trick on Friday, leading the Reading Royals to a 6-3 ECHL victory against the Charlotte Checkers.

Reading (19-18-0-5) scored three goals in the first five minutes of the second period, breaking open a 1-1 game.

Francisco's second goal came on a breakaway against Checkers goalie Alex Westlund. Francisco fell down, but while on his stomach, redirected the puck past Westlund.

Lee Falardeau's short-handed goal early in the third period made it 5-3, but the Checkers (22-15-1-2) could get no closer.

Falardeau fetched the puck off the boards and stormed the Reading net with two Royals defending.

Entering the game, Charlotte had won five straight and was unbeaten in its past seven (5-0-2). The loss also ended Westlund's personal three-game win streak. Charlotte remains fourth in the South Division, two points behind Florida.

Bruce Graham scored his 23rd goal of the season off an assist from Falardeau, making it 4-2 midway through the second period. Daymen Rycroft scored Charlotte's other goal.

The Checkers next play at 7 p.m. Tuesday on the road against the Columbia Inferno. Charlotte's next home game is Friday, when it faces the Florida Everblades (7:30 p.m. at Bobcats Arena).

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READING ROYALS PRESS RELEASE (http://www.royalshockey.com/news/news.asp?story_id=204)

ROYALS TAKE RUBBER GAME AGAINST CHARLOTTE, 6-3
Reading Extends Unbeaten Streak To Four Games As Jon Francisco Bags Hattrick

READING, PA - The Reading Royals (19 – 18 – 5 = 43; 2nd North Division) exploded for three early second period goals within a span of 4:22 to pull away from the Charlotte Checkers and ultimately win 6-3. Jon Francisco scored the game’s first and last goal—and picked one up in between—to become the fourth player this season to rack up a hattrick for the Royals. John Snowden also picked up four assists, as the Royals extended the team’s unbeaten streak to four games (3 – 0 – 1). Jeff Pietrasiak (11 – 10 – 1; 35/38) stopped 35 shots, a number of them on prime scoring chances for the Checkers, to pick up his eleventh win of the season.

Francisco started the scoring 5:34 into the game when he took a pass in the neutral zone from Rob LaLonde out of mid-air with his right hand. Francisco was able to settle the puck and carry into the offensive end where he fired a 30 foot snap shot that beat Charlotte’s goaltender Alex Westlund (10 – 5 – 1; 30/35; 1 eng) to the stick side. The Checkers answered 1:29 later when Brian Rodney ripped a slap shot from the right point that bounced out of Pietrasiak’s catching glove, onto the top of the cross bar, and fell to the left of the goal mouth where Daymen Rycroft was able to quickly drill the loose puck behind Pietrasiak to tie the game at one.

In the second, the Royals struck 1:38 in when Shawn Collymore carried down the wing and blasted a shot out of the left circle. Westlund made the stop on the original stop and appeared as if he was going to be able to control the rebound. But Collymore crashed, found the loose puck—as Westlund had trouble locating it—and slid it in for his tenth of the season. Reading took a 3-1 lead 1:41 later when Francisco sprang into the offensive zone, slipping behind the Charlotte defense. As Francisco carried towards the goal, a Checkers’ defender dove, reached out and knocked Francisco’s skates out from under him. Somehow, Francisco was able to control the puck and slip it behind Westlund as he slid by the Charlotte goal for his second of the game and his third of the season. 2:33 later Reading went up 4-1, when Snowden gunned a laser out of the left circle that Westlund stopped; but the rebound fell to his feet where James Hiebert retrieved it and drilled it under the bar from in tight for his twelfth of the season. Charlotte cut the lead in half at the 10:02 mark of the second when Bruce Graham put back a rebound of a Lee Falardeau shot for his twenty-third of the season.

The Royals rebuilt the lead to three goals at 5-2 twenty-three seconds into the third when Joe Zappala started a rush out of the defensive zone with a pass to Snowden, who carried deep into the offensive zone on the right wing. Snowden dropped the puck in the slot to the trailing Zappala who fired a snap shot behind Westlund for his twelfth of the season. Charlotte bounced back 52 seconds later with a short-handed goal by Falardeau who blocked a shot at the right point and broke off to the races. As Falardeau crashed the net, Pietrasiak made the original stop but Falardeau was able to force it through with his lower body for his seventh goal of the season. The Royals then turned their attention to playing a smart defensive style, clogging the neutral zone and preventing easy entry into the offensive end for the Checkers. As time was ticking down, Charlotte pulled their goaltender in favor of the sixth attacker, and the Royals’ Malcolm MacMillan and Zappala created a turnover in the offensive zone, which resulted in a loose puck and an opportunity for Francisco to bag his third goal of the night with 49 seconds remaining.

The Royals return to action tomorrow night (7:05 pm) at the Sovereign Center against the Toledo Storm. The first 1500 fans 21 years of age and older will receive a Royals’ pilsner glass courtesy of Pabst Blue Ribbon and All-Star Distributing. Royals’ game night broadcasts can be heard live on ESPN Radio 1240 am (and on the internet through the Royals’ website, www.royalshockey.com (http://www.royalshockey.com)), beginning thirty minutes before the opening face-off. Streaming video is also available for $6.00 per game through the B2 Networks, which can be accessed through the Royals’ website.