Checkers vs. Ice Pilots: 3/29/07

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Click here to view video (http://www.prosportsmedia.com/admin/../checkers/mm/video/clip/3-29-07.wmv)

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Checkers Press Release

CHECKERS EDGE CLOSER TO PLAYOFF BERTH WITH 6-2 HOME VICTORY OVER PENSACOLA


The Checkers played perhaps one of their easiest games on the season Thursday night at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Charlotte defeated a demoralized and short-handed Pensacola team 6-2 for their third straight win and fourth victory in their last five games.

Daymen Rycroft scored twice for the Checkers and goaltender Evan Lindsay made 29 saves in his Charlotte debut. Blake Bellefeuille, Mike Ouellette, Mark Lee and Dan Murphy also scored for the Checkers.

The win moved Charlotte (38-25-1-2) into a fourth place tie with Augusta in the ECHL South, as each team now possesses 79 points. The Checkers have a game in hand on the Lynx and two games on South Carolina, as the Stingrays lost 5-3 to Gwinnett Thursday night to fall into sixth place in the division.

"He (goalie Evan Lindsay) hasn't played a whole bunch and to come in against his former team, it was good to get him a win," remarked Charlotte Coach Derek Wilkinson. "When he became available it started to dawn on us that if a goalie gets injured in Hartford, we'd be in trouble. To be able to get a kid with his resume is pretty impressive."

The Checkers scored three goals in the first period and three in the second to vault out to a 6-1 advantage, and never looked back. Charlotte will continue its four-game homestand Saturday night hosting Columbia.

CHECKERS THURSDAY NIGHT SCRATCHES: Rick Kozak

ON RECALL TO (AHL) HARTFORD: Chris Holt, Hannu Pikkarainen, Alex Westlund, Corey Potter and Hugh Jessiman

FOR BOX SCORE CLICK: http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1731

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CHECKERS 6, ICE PILOTS 2
Checkers' new goalie ices Pensacola (http://www.charlotte.com/323/story/68273.html)
Lindsay gets 29 saves in debut with Charlotte, which wins 3rd straight
CLIFF MEHRTENS
cmehrtens@charlotteobserver.com
Losing their top goaltender didn't rattle the Charlotte Checkers.

Pumping in six goals made a smooth debut for Evan Lindsay in net as the Checkers crushed Pensacola 6-2 in an ECHL game Thursday at Bobcats Arena.

The winning streak is three, and Charlotte inched toward a playoff spot. The Checkers (38-25-1-2) moved into a fourth-place tie with Augusta in the South division and have played two fewer games.

The Checkers have six games left. The top five teams get in.

Hartford (American Hockey League) recalled goalie Alex Westlund (16-7-1) on Thursday, two weeks after it had summoned Chris Holt.

Charlotte coach Derek Wilkinson signed Lindsay, who was released last week by last-place Pensacola, where he was 0-7-1. But he's a six-year pro with a 71-61-15 record.

"I was a little surprised to get picked up off waivers this late in the season," said Lindsay, who had 29 saves. "I'm lucky enough to be in the right place, and ready to go. They're a good team, they play good defense and are accountable."

Wilkinson pulled a coup getting an experienced goaltender off the scrap heap.

"He's had a tough year, but it's good to see him smiling," Wilkinson said, referring to Lindsay. "He's not a flashy goalie. He gets his angles and stops the puck."

Charlotte removed any stress on Lindsay early. Daymen Rycroft scored in each of the first two periods. Mark Lee, Mike Ouellette, Blake Bellefeuille and Dan Murphy also scored, and it was 5-1 three minutes into the second period. Yawn.

Charlotte had a 30-13 shot advantage at one point, and easy access to most anywhere it wanted to shoot. Bruce Graham and Lee had two assists apiece. "It was a convincing win, but not a taxing win," Wilkinson said. "We were in control and didn't have to exert ourselves too much."


Pensacola 1 0 1 - 2
Charlotte 3 3 0 - 6

First period-1, Char., Rycroft 25 (Graham, Constant), 5:18. 2, Pen., Hecimovic 21 (Rankin, Wrigley), 11:47. 3, Char., Bellefeuille 26 (Lee), 13:03. 4, Char., Ouellette 16 (Kenny Smith, Slonina), 13:46. Penalties-Mohr, P (holding), 3:07; Vodrazka, C (high-sticking), 7:26; Char., bench (too many on ice), 14:58; Byfuglien, P (hooking), 19:12.

Second period-4, Char., Lee 23 (Bellefeuille), 1:40. 5, Char., Rycroft 26 (Graham, Gillies), 3:15. 6, Char., Murphy 18 (Lee, DeWaele), 12:25. Penalties-Korovkin, P (holding), 4:28; Sullivan, P (10-min.misconduct), 4:28; Meloche, P (high-sticking), 18:31.

Third period-8, Pen., Johnson 11 (Gauthier, Hecimovic), 19:37. Penalties-Lang, C (high-sticking), 1:22; Rankin, P (roughing, fighting), 5:55; Ouellette, C (fighting), 5:55; Bahensky, C (holding stick), 11:33; Knapp, P (hooking), 14:05; Constant, C (high-sticking), 15:21.

Shots: Pensacola 14-3-14-31; Charlotte 14-16-12-42. Goalies: Pen., Alves 8 shots, 6 saves; Geragosian, (0-2-0) 13:03 of 1st (34-30); Charlotte, Lindsay (1-0-0), 31-29. Att-4,152.

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Ice Pilots Press Release

Ice Pilots falter in second period lose 6-2 to Checkers
(http://www.icepilots.com/index.php?module=newser&func=display&topicnum=1&nid=437)

The Pensacola Ice Pilots had a terrific start to the game but would end up surrendering to a tough Charlotte Checker offensive attack. The Checkers fired five consecutive goals snapping a 1-1 tie and going on to beat the Ice Pilots 6-2 on Thursday night at Bobcat Arena.

The difference in the game was the Checkers breaking open a close 3-1 score with two goals less than two minutes apart in the second period. The victory helped the Checkers keep the fifth and final playoff in the South Division and also remain in pace with the Augusta Lynx.

The Ice Pilots came out solid in the first 10 minutes of the game and actually had the game tied 1-1 after giving up the first goal. John Hecimovic scored from David Wrigley and Rob Rankin.

However, the Charlotte Checkers would score two goals 43 seconds apart to make it 3-1.

In the second period, the Checkers scored two goals in the first five minutes of the to extend their advantage to 5-1 and then added another late to make it 6-1.

The Ice Pilots rounded out the scoring in the third period when Erik Johnson scored on a great rush up the ice with less than 30 seconds to play in the game.

Notes: It was the first professional start in goal for Jorge Alves, who is a native of Boston MA and noted for being a back-up for many teams in the Southeast in the ECHL.

The Ice Pilots returned Dan Sullivan to the line-up after serving a two game suspension. Torry Gadja did not play as he was injured on Tuesday night. Nate Metcalf dressed for the game.