babs<3checkers
03-05-2007, 03:25 PM
CHECKERS PRESS RELEASE
CHECKERS SCORE LATE IN OVERTIME IN 5-4 HOME VICTORY OVER FLORIDA
The Charlotte Checkers wanted to change their fortunes at home as they started a five-game homestand Sunday at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Mission accomplished. Mark Lee’s power-play goal with just twenty five seconds left in the five-minute, sudden-death overtime session gave the Checkers a 5-4 victory in the first game of the homestand.
In a game of lead changes, numerous penalties, nine individual goal scorers from both teams combined, and even several stoppages due to arena ice rink repairs, the Checkers picked up two valuable points in their quest for a playoff berth in the ECHL’s Southern Division. In addition to Lee’s winning tally, Charlotte got single goals from Jan Vodrazka, Daymen Rycroft, Bruce Graham and Dan Murphy. Checkers goalie, Chris Holt, making his twelfth consecutive start, was busy facing 39 shots and making 35 saves to earn his nineteenth victory. The triumph also allowed Charlotte (30-21-1-2 for 63 points) to snap a three-game home losing streak. Newcomer Hannu Pikkarainen, playing his first game in front of the home fans, notched two assists in setting up the goals by Graham and Rycroft.
The Checkers victory Sunday, coupled with South Carolina’s loss to Pensacola, put Charlotte into sole possession of fifth place in their division with 63 points. Augusta’s lead over the Checkers for fourth place in the division shrunk to four points with Sunday’s win, with Charlotte holding four games in hand on the Lynx.
“It was a real weird game, there was no real emotion for either team today,” remarked Charlotte Coach Derek Wilkinson. “Both teams did some good things, both teams did some bad things, and it was peaks and valleys the whole game. We had some really good chances on our power plays, but Kowalski made some good saves and we missed a few too. To get a fluky goal to win the game was tough for them I’m sure, but good for us and good for Mark (Lee).”
The game didn’t start well for Charlotte, as Dustin Johner scored just 25 seconds into the first period for a 1-0 Everblades advantage. With no rhythm early in the contest, the Checkers finally struck late in the first for two goals in a 2 minute, 12 second span. At 17:45 Vodrazka fired home his own rebound by Florida goalie, Craig Kowalski, to tie the game at 1-1. Then Pikkarainen sprung Rycroft into the Everblades zone on a breakaway with a perfect pass, and the Checkers took a 2-1 lead to the locker room after one period.
An early second-period goal by Graham after another superb helper by Pikkarainen put Charlotte up 3-1, and it appeared the Checkers were in control. However, the Everblades (35-17-4-0 for 74 points) struck back with two goals of their own in a 2:15 span to tie the game at 3-3. The Checkers took a 4-3 advantage into the final period, but once again Florida fought back to tie on a two-man advantage power-play goal by Adam Taylor at 8:19 of the third.
Florida’s Johner took a penalty midway through the overtime session that helped set up Charlotte’s winning goal. Lee, who missed several good scoring chances in regulation, tried to send a pass to a teammate just outside the Everblades crease. The puck trickled in by Kowalski and the Checkers skated off with the win.
“It was frustrating to not score in regulation today.” said Lee. Blake (Bellefeuille) and Pikk (Pikkarainen) both set me up and I couldn’t finish. When the game was slow early and things weren’t going our way, Coach Wilkinson kept us focused.”
The Checkers five-game homestand continues Tuesday at Bobcats Arena when Charlotte will host Augusta at 7:00 p.m. in another crucial Southern Division match.
CHECKERS SUNDAY AFTERNOON SCRATCHES: Dusty Jamieson, Rick Kozak, Lee Falardeau, Adam Nightingale and John Donnelly
ON RECALL TO (AHL) HARTFORD: Alex Westlund and Corey Potter
REASSIGNED FROM CHARLOTTE TO (AHL) HARTFORD BY (NHL) NEW YORK: Hugh Jessiman
ON LOAN FROM CHARLOTTE TO (AHL) PROVIDENCE: Ryan Glenn
FOR BOX SCORE CLICK: http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1597
CHECKERS SCORE LATE IN OVERTIME IN 5-4 HOME VICTORY OVER FLORIDA
The Charlotte Checkers wanted to change their fortunes at home as they started a five-game homestand Sunday at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Mission accomplished. Mark Lee’s power-play goal with just twenty five seconds left in the five-minute, sudden-death overtime session gave the Checkers a 5-4 victory in the first game of the homestand.
In a game of lead changes, numerous penalties, nine individual goal scorers from both teams combined, and even several stoppages due to arena ice rink repairs, the Checkers picked up two valuable points in their quest for a playoff berth in the ECHL’s Southern Division. In addition to Lee’s winning tally, Charlotte got single goals from Jan Vodrazka, Daymen Rycroft, Bruce Graham and Dan Murphy. Checkers goalie, Chris Holt, making his twelfth consecutive start, was busy facing 39 shots and making 35 saves to earn his nineteenth victory. The triumph also allowed Charlotte (30-21-1-2 for 63 points) to snap a three-game home losing streak. Newcomer Hannu Pikkarainen, playing his first game in front of the home fans, notched two assists in setting up the goals by Graham and Rycroft.
The Checkers victory Sunday, coupled with South Carolina’s loss to Pensacola, put Charlotte into sole possession of fifth place in their division with 63 points. Augusta’s lead over the Checkers for fourth place in the division shrunk to four points with Sunday’s win, with Charlotte holding four games in hand on the Lynx.
“It was a real weird game, there was no real emotion for either team today,” remarked Charlotte Coach Derek Wilkinson. “Both teams did some good things, both teams did some bad things, and it was peaks and valleys the whole game. We had some really good chances on our power plays, but Kowalski made some good saves and we missed a few too. To get a fluky goal to win the game was tough for them I’m sure, but good for us and good for Mark (Lee).”
The game didn’t start well for Charlotte, as Dustin Johner scored just 25 seconds into the first period for a 1-0 Everblades advantage. With no rhythm early in the contest, the Checkers finally struck late in the first for two goals in a 2 minute, 12 second span. At 17:45 Vodrazka fired home his own rebound by Florida goalie, Craig Kowalski, to tie the game at 1-1. Then Pikkarainen sprung Rycroft into the Everblades zone on a breakaway with a perfect pass, and the Checkers took a 2-1 lead to the locker room after one period.
An early second-period goal by Graham after another superb helper by Pikkarainen put Charlotte up 3-1, and it appeared the Checkers were in control. However, the Everblades (35-17-4-0 for 74 points) struck back with two goals of their own in a 2:15 span to tie the game at 3-3. The Checkers took a 4-3 advantage into the final period, but once again Florida fought back to tie on a two-man advantage power-play goal by Adam Taylor at 8:19 of the third.
Florida’s Johner took a penalty midway through the overtime session that helped set up Charlotte’s winning goal. Lee, who missed several good scoring chances in regulation, tried to send a pass to a teammate just outside the Everblades crease. The puck trickled in by Kowalski and the Checkers skated off with the win.
“It was frustrating to not score in regulation today.” said Lee. Blake (Bellefeuille) and Pikk (Pikkarainen) both set me up and I couldn’t finish. When the game was slow early and things weren’t going our way, Coach Wilkinson kept us focused.”
The Checkers five-game homestand continues Tuesday at Bobcats Arena when Charlotte will host Augusta at 7:00 p.m. in another crucial Southern Division match.
CHECKERS SUNDAY AFTERNOON SCRATCHES: Dusty Jamieson, Rick Kozak, Lee Falardeau, Adam Nightingale and John Donnelly
ON RECALL TO (AHL) HARTFORD: Alex Westlund and Corey Potter
REASSIGNED FROM CHARLOTTE TO (AHL) HARTFORD BY (NHL) NEW YORK: Hugh Jessiman
ON LOAN FROM CHARLOTTE TO (AHL) PROVIDENCE: Ryan Glenn
FOR BOX SCORE CLICK: http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1597