babs<3checkers
04-16-2007, 12:03 PM
Checkers Press Release
CHECKERS IN 2-0 SERIES DEFICIT AFTER FLORIDA EVERBLADES TAKE GAME 2 WITH 7-2 WIN
The Everblades vaulted out to a 3-0 first-period lead and never looked back, taking a 7-2 victory over the Charlotte Checkers in Game 2 of the ECHL South Division Semi-Finals in Fort Myers. The win gives Florida a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series, with the Everblades needing only one more victory to advance to the ECHL South Division Finals.
Seven different Florida players scored goals, and Everblades goalie, Craig Kowalski, was superb for a second night in a row with 36 saves in the convincing victory. Florida took advantage of their early lead and sustained it throughout the contest. The Everblades led 3-0 after one period and 6-1 after the second. Charlotte goalie, Chris Holt, was pulled shortly after allowing Florida’s fifth goal in the middle of the second period. Evan Lindsay finished the game in net for the Checkers playing 32 minutes and yielding the final two goals. The Everblades had five goals on their first 15 shots.
Dustin Johner, Mike Card, Ernie Hartlieb, David Brine, Brad Parsons, Brett Peterson and Derek Damon all scored for the Everblades. Johner and Brine each had a goal and two assists for Florida. Dusty Jamieson, playing in only his second game since suffering an injury in late November, scored one of Charlotte’s two goals on a power play. Jamieson was playing in place of Daymen Rycroft, who was injured in Game 1 Friday night. Blake Bellefeuille had the other Checkers goal.
Now the series shift back to Charlotte for Game 3 Tuesday night at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Charlotte must win to extend the series to a fourth game, which is scheduled for Thursday at Bobcats Arena. The Checkers won three of four games played in the regular season against Florida at Bobcats Arena, including the last three.
Despite being down 2-0 in the series, the Checkers are not tossing in the towel. “It’s the best-of-five series, we’re coming back home and it’s not over till it’s over,” said Charlotte Captain, Jan Vodrazka. “The last step is the hardest and we are definitely going to make it hard. I’m still positive, of course, that we can win this series and now we have to take advantage of the home ice.”
The Everblades vaulted out to a 3-0 first-period lead. Johner got the scoring started when his shot from between the circles landed inside the left post and into the net at 7 minutes, 56 seconds. Card cleaned up a rebound after two Holt saves two minutes later to give the Everblades a 2-0 advantage. Nathan Gilles was given a double minor for high sticking at 14:03, and Florida took advantage. Hartleib’s first goal of the playoffs at 16:05 gave the Everblades a 3-0 lead after one period.
In the second period Florida scored twice in a 1:19 span to seize a 5-0 lead. Brine’s wrister from the slot made it 4-0 at 5:06. Parsons strike at 6:25 gave the Everblades the 5-0 advantage. Finally the Checkers would get on the board with a power-play goal, as Jamieson batted in a centering pass from Gillies in mid-air to get Charlotte on the board. But Peterson’s power-play goal with under a minute to go in the period gave Florida a 6-1 lead after two periods.
The two teams traded goals in the final period for the 7-2 final.
ECHL South Division Semi-Finals: (Best-of-Five) (Florida leads series 2-0)
Friday, April 13 – Checkers 2 @ Florida 3
Saturday, April 14 – Checkers 2 @ Florida 7
Tuesday, April 17 – Everblades @ Charlotte – 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 19 - Everblades @ Charlotte – 7:00 p.m. (If necessary)
Sunday, April 22 – Checkers @ Florida – 6:00 p.m. (If necessary)
OPENING ROUND PLAYOFF SERIES RESULTS: (Best of Three) (Charlotte wins series 2-0)
Monday, April 9 – Augusta 1 @ Charlotte 2 OT
Tuesday, April 10 – Charlotte 3 @ Augusta 2 OT
Checkers win series 2-0
CHECKERS SATURDAY NIGHT SCRATCHES: Rick Kozak, Daymen Rycroft and Niko Tuomi
ON RECALL TO (AHL) HARTFORD: Hannu Pikkarainen and Alex Westlund
FOR BOX SCORE CLICK: http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1847
CHECKERS IN 2-0 SERIES DEFICIT AFTER FLORIDA EVERBLADES TAKE GAME 2 WITH 7-2 WIN
The Everblades vaulted out to a 3-0 first-period lead and never looked back, taking a 7-2 victory over the Charlotte Checkers in Game 2 of the ECHL South Division Semi-Finals in Fort Myers. The win gives Florida a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series, with the Everblades needing only one more victory to advance to the ECHL South Division Finals.
Seven different Florida players scored goals, and Everblades goalie, Craig Kowalski, was superb for a second night in a row with 36 saves in the convincing victory. Florida took advantage of their early lead and sustained it throughout the contest. The Everblades led 3-0 after one period and 6-1 after the second. Charlotte goalie, Chris Holt, was pulled shortly after allowing Florida’s fifth goal in the middle of the second period. Evan Lindsay finished the game in net for the Checkers playing 32 minutes and yielding the final two goals. The Everblades had five goals on their first 15 shots.
Dustin Johner, Mike Card, Ernie Hartlieb, David Brine, Brad Parsons, Brett Peterson and Derek Damon all scored for the Everblades. Johner and Brine each had a goal and two assists for Florida. Dusty Jamieson, playing in only his second game since suffering an injury in late November, scored one of Charlotte’s two goals on a power play. Jamieson was playing in place of Daymen Rycroft, who was injured in Game 1 Friday night. Blake Bellefeuille had the other Checkers goal.
Now the series shift back to Charlotte for Game 3 Tuesday night at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Charlotte must win to extend the series to a fourth game, which is scheduled for Thursday at Bobcats Arena. The Checkers won three of four games played in the regular season against Florida at Bobcats Arena, including the last three.
Despite being down 2-0 in the series, the Checkers are not tossing in the towel. “It’s the best-of-five series, we’re coming back home and it’s not over till it’s over,” said Charlotte Captain, Jan Vodrazka. “The last step is the hardest and we are definitely going to make it hard. I’m still positive, of course, that we can win this series and now we have to take advantage of the home ice.”
The Everblades vaulted out to a 3-0 first-period lead. Johner got the scoring started when his shot from between the circles landed inside the left post and into the net at 7 minutes, 56 seconds. Card cleaned up a rebound after two Holt saves two minutes later to give the Everblades a 2-0 advantage. Nathan Gilles was given a double minor for high sticking at 14:03, and Florida took advantage. Hartleib’s first goal of the playoffs at 16:05 gave the Everblades a 3-0 lead after one period.
In the second period Florida scored twice in a 1:19 span to seize a 5-0 lead. Brine’s wrister from the slot made it 4-0 at 5:06. Parsons strike at 6:25 gave the Everblades the 5-0 advantage. Finally the Checkers would get on the board with a power-play goal, as Jamieson batted in a centering pass from Gillies in mid-air to get Charlotte on the board. But Peterson’s power-play goal with under a minute to go in the period gave Florida a 6-1 lead after two periods.
The two teams traded goals in the final period for the 7-2 final.
ECHL South Division Semi-Finals: (Best-of-Five) (Florida leads series 2-0)
Friday, April 13 – Checkers 2 @ Florida 3
Saturday, April 14 – Checkers 2 @ Florida 7
Tuesday, April 17 – Everblades @ Charlotte – 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 19 - Everblades @ Charlotte – 7:00 p.m. (If necessary)
Sunday, April 22 – Checkers @ Florida – 6:00 p.m. (If necessary)
OPENING ROUND PLAYOFF SERIES RESULTS: (Best of Three) (Charlotte wins series 2-0)
Monday, April 9 – Augusta 1 @ Charlotte 2 OT
Tuesday, April 10 – Charlotte 3 @ Augusta 2 OT
Checkers win series 2-0
CHECKERS SATURDAY NIGHT SCRATCHES: Rick Kozak, Daymen Rycroft and Niko Tuomi
ON RECALL TO (AHL) HARTFORD: Hannu Pikkarainen and Alex Westlund
FOR BOX SCORE CLICK: http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1847