Checkers vs. Gladiators: 3/11/07

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Click on the link below for the Coaches comments


http://www.prosportsmedia.com/admin/../checkers/mm/video/clip/3-11-2007.wmv

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Checkers lose, despite Murphy's hat trick
Defeat is 2nd straight, 5th in past 7 at home
TIM DONELLI
Special Correspondent
After yielding six goals in their previous home game Thursday, the Charlotte Checkers allowed seven Sunday in a 7-4 loss to Gwinnett.

Dan Murphy's hat trick went to waste for Charlotte, which dropped its second straight and fifth in seven games at Bobcats Arena.

Gwinnett's Dan Turple (30 saves) turned aside numerous chances by Charlotte, especially in the first period. Mike Vigilante led the Gladiators (35-18-5-2) with two goals, and Blue Bennefield had a goal and two assists.

The Checkers erased a two-goal deficit early in the second period and cut another two-goal deficit later in the period to one goal.

The loss kept Charlotte (31-23-1-2) two points behind South Carolina for the fifth and final playoff spot in the ECHL South.

"We battled; guys were battling and playing their tails off. It was a very frustrating game," said Charlotte coach Derek Wilkinson.


Gwinnett 2 3 2 -- 7
Charlotte 1 2 1 -- 4

First Period: 1, Gwinnett, Vigilante 21 (Contois, Bennefield), 4:49; 2, Gwinnett, Mifsud 25 (Schell), 11:21 PP; 3, Charlotte, Gillies 15 (Lang, Rycroft), 17:02 PP; Penalties: Rycroft Chr (tripping), 1:09, Mifsud Gwt (high-sticking), 5:54, Constant Chr (hooking), 9:41, Smith Chr (slashing), 9:56, Vigilante Gwt (hooking), 11:08, Jackson Gwt (interference), 16:40, Flache Gwt (cross-checking), 17:32.

Second Period: 4, Charlotte, Murphy 12 (Lee, Bellefeuille), 0:22; 5, Gwinnett, Milam 20 (Painchaud, Stepp), 1:11 PP; 6, Gwinnett, Bennefield 14 (Schell, Flache), 7:34; 7, Charlotte, Murphy 13 (Bellefeuille), 10:27; 8, Gwinnett, Vigilante 22, 13:03 SH; Penalties: Pikkarainen Chr (hooking), 0:47; Smith Chr (boarding), 2:54; Jackson Gwt (boarding), 11:40; Lee Chr (high-sticking), 14:25; Jackson Gwt (slashing), 17:01.

Third Period: 9, Gwinnett, Contois 17 (Bennefield), 9:13; 10, Gwinnett, Painchaud 20, (Flache), 12:02; 11, Charlotte, Murphy 14, (Bellefeuille, Lee), 16:27 PP; Penalties: Rycroft Chr (roughing), 1:15; Vodrazka Chr (unsportsmanlike conduct, misconduct), 12:02; Sitko Gwt (boarding), 14:34.

Shots on goal: S. Carolina 9-17-3-29. Charlotte 9-19-10-38. Goaltenders: Gwinnett, Turple 17-10-2-1 (35 shots-30 saves). Charlotte, Holt 20-18-0-2 (34 shots-28 saves), Alves 0-0-0-0 (0 shots-0 saves). Att.: 6,945 (at Charlotte).


www.charlotte.com

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SELLOUT CROWD SEES CHECKERS BATTLE HARD BUT FALL SHORT TO THE GWINNETT GLADIATORS 7-4


The Charlotte Checkers main problem Sunday was the inability to keep the puck out of their own net. After yielding six goals in their last game at home Thursday, the Checkers let in seven on Sunday in a 7-4 defeat to the Gwinnett Gladiators. Dan Murphy’s hat trick went to waste for Charlotte, who dropped their second straight overall, and fifth in its last seven home games at Charlotte Bobcats Arena.

For a second consecutive game the bounces didn't go well for Checkers goalie Chris Holt. Just five days ago Holt sparkled and picked up his first career shutout in a 2-0 victory over Augusta on Tuesday. Meanwhile Gwinnett netminder Dan Turple turned aside numerous quality chances by Charlotte, especially in the first period. Turple finished with 30 saves. Mike Vigilante led the Gladiators with a pair of goals and Blue Bennefield had a goal and two assists.

Despite playing almost the whole contest from behind, The Checkers never gave up and fought to the end. They erased a two-goal deficit early in the second period, and cut another two-goal deficit later in the second stanza to one goal.

The loss kept Charlotte (31-23-1-2) two points behind South Carolina for the fifth and final playoff spot in the ECHL South. The Checkers have 15 regular-season games remaining and hold three games in hand on the Stingrays.

“We played our hearts out, the guys played well and I thought we had all kinds of great chances early,” said Charlotte Coach Derek Wilkinson. “We battled; guys were battling and playing their tails off. It was a very frustrating game.”

The Checkers got off to a rough start as the Gladiators (35-18-5-2) jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Vigilante knocked home a pass from behind the net by Andy Contois at 4 minutes, 49 seconds of the first period, as Gwinnett took a 1-0 lead.

Midway through the first period, the Checkers took two minor penalties in a 15-second span giving the Gladiators a two-man advantage. Scott Mifsud got loose down low and fired a short-side shot over Holt's left shoulder as Gwinnett assumed a two-goal advantage.

The Checkers struck back late in the period on the power play, as Gillies rammed in a shot that eluded Turple to slice the Gwinnett lead to 2-1 after the first period.

Charlotte tied the game in the first minute of the second period. Murphy took a perfect pass from Lee and found himself wide open at the side of the Gladiators goal. But Gwinnett scored three of the next four goals in the period to assume a 5-3 advantage after two periods. Murphy’s second goal of the period was first set up by his own steal in the Gwinnett zone, and ended with a great pass from Blake Bellefeuille at 10:27.

In the final period Contois made it 6-3 Gwinnett at 9:13. Three minutes later Checkers defenseman Jan Vodrazka appeared to be tripped by Chad Painchaud, but referee Chris Cozzan made no call. Painchaud went in alone on a breakaway and scored for a 7-3 Gladiators advantage. Murphy completed his hat trick with three and a half minutes left in the contest, but Gwinnett prevailed for the 7-4 final.

“It’s always hard to lose, especially when you battle,” remarked Vodrazka. “I have to give us credit for battling the whole way to the end today. Since the beginning of the season I have always believed that this is a playoff team. We’re a tough cookie and we’re going to keep plugging away until the playoffs come.”

The Checkers will close out their five-game homestand this Tuesday when once again the Gwinnett Gladiators will provide the opposition with faceoff set for 7:00 p.m. at Charlotte Bobcats Arena.

CHECKERS SUNDAY AFTERNOON SCRATCHES: Dusty Jamieson, Rick Kozak, Lee Falardeau, Adam Nightingale anbd Mike Dryer.

ON RECALL TO (AHL) HARTFORD: Alex Westlund, Corey Potter, and Bruce Graham.

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=1639


Upcoming Promotions: Saturday, March 17 - Florida @ Checkers @ 7:30 p.m.

Time Warner Cable Customer Appreciation Night (TWC customers that show their bill or bill insert at the box office receive two-for-one Attack Zone Seats). Checkers logo caps for the first 2,000 fans courtesy of RoadRunner High Speed Online Service. St. Patrick’s Day Specialty Jerseys presented by Connolly’s on 5th. On-line jersey auction to follow the game.

Tickets for all Checkers home games can be purchased on the official team web site at 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.


www.gocheckers.com