Checkers vs. Inferno: 3/31/07

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Checkers Press Release

NEARLY 10,000 FANS SEE CHECKERS SECURE 4-1 VICTORY OVER COLUMBIA SATURDAY NIGHT

The Charlotte Checkers won their fourth straight game and fifth in their last six games with a 4-1 victory Saturday night over the Columbia Inferno at Charlotte Bobcats Arena in front of 9,520 fans.

The win, along with South Carolina’s 3-2 loss to Augusta, pulled Charlotte closer to securing a playoff berth in the ECHL South. The Checkers are now tied with Augusta for fourth place in the division with 81 points, two points ahead of South Carolina. The top five teams in the division qualify for the playoffs. Charlotte still holds three games in hand on the Stingrays, and two games on the Lynx. The Checkers can clinch a playoff spot Sunday with a win over Augusta. If Charlotte beats the Lynx, the best the Stingrays could do would tie the Checkers with 83 points. However, the Checkers hold all tiebreakers.

The Checkers got goals from four different players including Shawn Vinz, Zdenek Bahensky, Dan Murphy and Blake Bellefeuille. Goalie Evan Lindsay made only 16 saves, but several were spectacular in getting his second straight win in a Charlotte uniform. Brad Ralph scored the lone goal for Columbia. The Checkers improved to 6-2 against the Inferno

“We’ve been coming out ready at home and guys are excited to play, especially with the big crowd tonight,” said Charlotte Coach Derek Wilkinson. “We’ve had solid goaltending and timely scoring, which have helped to make the games a little easier.”

Once gain the Checkers got off to a fast start with two goals in the first 12 minutes of the game. Vinz, a rookie just signed out of the University of New Hampshire, scored on his first shift. He sent home Daymen Rycroft’s rebound at 6 minutes, 8 seconds for a 1-0 Charlotte lead. Bahensky got a partial breakaway and deked Columbia goalie, Todd Ford, for his ninth goal of the season for a 2-0 Checkers advantage at 12:01.

After Columbia sliced the Charlotte lead in half with the lone goal of the second period, the Checkers quickly got their two-goal advantage back early in the third period on Murphy’s strike at 2:33. Bellefeuille’s wrist shot from 30 feet out with five minutes left in the contest sealed the 4-1 win.

CHECKERS SATURDAY NIGHT SCRATCHES: Rick Kozak and Niko Tuomi

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=1746

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CHECKERS 4, INFERNO 1

Checkers newcomer Vinz finds mark (http://www.charlotte.com/323/story/70135.html)
Rookie scores on 1st shift to ignite Charlotte win

KEITH CANNON
Special Correspondent

RALEIGH --Shawn Vinz didn't need long to contribute to the Charlotte Checkers' playoff push Saturday.

Vinz, a 24-year-old winger, scored a short-handed goal in his first pro shift to jump-start the Checkers in a 4-1 ECHL victory against the Columbia Inferno at Charlotte Bobcats Arena.

Combined with Augusta's 3-2 home win Saturday against South Carolina, the Checkers (39-25-1-2) and the Lynx (39-27-1-2) are tied for fourth (81 points) in the South Division. The top five in the division will make the playoffs. South Carolina (35-26-4-5) is two points back.

The Checkers will host Augusta at 4 p.m. today.

"We've been playing pretty well for the last six or seven weeks and we're developing a pretty solid lineup at the right time," Charlotte coach Derek Wilkinson said.

Vinz, who finished his college career at New Hampshire with a first-round NCAA tournament loss a week ago, is helping.

"A playoff run is fun anywhere you're doing it," he said. "It's nice to come down here in this kind of atmosphere and it was great to score on my first shift."

Vinz scored 6 minutes, 8 seconds in, following a rebound of Daymen Rycroft's shot on a 2-on-1 short-handed break.

"I was hoping just to get a feel for the pace of game," Vinz said. "I was in the right place at the right time."


Columbia 0 1 0 -- 1
Charlotte 2 0 2 -- 4

First Period: 1, Charlotte, Vinz 1 (Rycroft, Kenton Smith), 6:08 (sh). 2, Charlotte, Bahensky 9 (Vodrazka), 12:01. Penalties: Miles, Co (cross-checking), 2:48p; Vodrazka, Ch (interference), 4:39; Fauci, Co (interference), 7:32; Vinz, Ch (interference), 13:13.

Second Period: 3, Columbia, Ralph 19 (Miles), 18:08. Penalties: None.

Third Period: 4, Charlotte, Murphy 19 (Lee, Constant), 2:33 (pp). 5, Charlotte, Bellefeuille 27 (Kenton Smith, Lee), 14:37. Penalties: Rollins, Co (hooking), 1:58; Faulkner, Co (high-sticking), 2:33; Fulghum, Co (slashing), 9:27.

Shots on goal: Columbia 6-9-2--17. Charlotte 17-9-20--46. Goalies: Columbia, Ford 14-13-2-4 (46 shots-42 saves); Charlotte, Lindsay 2-7-0-1 (17-16). Att.: 9,520 (at Charlotte).