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Charlotte Checkers

Checkers take game five and series with 4-3 overtime win at Columbia

April 21, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


(Columbia, SC – Wednesday, April 20, 2005) The Charlotte Checkers weren’t content to just make the playoffs this season. They wanted to win a series. Charlotte erased a two-goal, second period deficit and beat the Columbia Inferno in sudden-death overtime 4-3 Wednesday night at the Carolina Coliseum.

The victory allowed Charlotte to capture the best-of-five series three games to two, and propelled the Checkers into the ECHLÂ’s, Kelly Cup, American Conference Semi-Finals against the Gwinnett Gladiators. Charlotte dropped the first two games of the series but rallied to win three straight.

Lee Falardeau had the hat-trick for Charlotte, including the game-winning goal 5 minutes, 49 seconds into sudden-death overtime. Bogdan Rudenko had the other Checkers goal, and goalie Alex Westlund sparkled with 32 saves.

Game one of the best-of-five series against the Gladiators will be Sunday in Duluth, Georgia at 4:00 p.m. The first game of the series in Charlotte (Game 3) will be played Wednesday, April 27 at Cricket Arena at 7:00 p.m.

The playoff-series win was the first for the Checkers since the 1997-98 season when Charlotte beat the Birmingham Bulls three games to one in the opening round.

“This has been quite a group of players we’ve had here in Charlotte this season,” remarked Checkers Coach Derek Wilkinson. “It was a tremendous performance tonight by Lee Falardeau, one of several prospects we have from the National Hockey League’s New York Rangers. Defenseman Dave Liffiton had a terrific series and Alex Westlund did a marvelous job of keeping us in the game tonight and giving us a chance to win.”

The Checkers got the start they wanted in the first period when Rudenko knocked home his own rebound just 49 seconds into the contest for a 1-0 lead. It didnÂ’t take long for Columbia to tie the game, as the Inferno kept a Charlotte clearing pass in the Checkers zone and scored at 2 minutes, 59 seconds on a goal by Robin Carruthers.

The Checkers clearly dominated the first period, outshooting the Inferno 16-5.

In the second period Columbia scored twice to assume a 3-1 advantage. Greg AmadioÂ’s screen shot at 2:12 eluded Westlund, and Brad RalphÂ’s power-play goal at 10:05 pushed the InfernoÂ’s lead to 3-1.

The Checkers scored a very important goal with 6:00 left in the period when Falardeau scored his first of three on the night. With Charlotte on the power play, Dwight Helminen fed Falardeau in the high slot and his wrister beat Columbia goalie Mike Minard. The goal allowed the Checkers to go to the locker room after two periods down by only one goal rather than two.

In the third period it was Falardeau who tied the game at 3-3 at the midway point of the stanza. He picked up the puck out of the left wing corner, walked toward the Columbia goal and beat Minard from in close. Columbia dominated the period, outshooting Charlotte 15-6, but the Inferno was blanked in the final stanza.

In the sudden-death overtime session, the Checkers came out strong and were all business. They outshot the Inferno in the overtime five to one before Falardeau took Dan PrestonÂ’s pass in front of the Columbia net and scored the game-winner.

NOTES: Checkers defenseman Regan Darby was injured late in the first period and did not returnÂ…Â…..playoff tickets for all Checkers home games are now on sale and can be purchased at the Cricket Arena box office, Charlotte Coliseum box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by phone by calling (704) 522-6500, and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

CHECKERS UPCOMING PLAYOFF GAME SCHEDULE:

CHARLOTTE PLAYS GWINNETT IN AMERICAN CONFERENCE (BEST-OF-FIVE) SEMI-FINALS

Game 1 - Sunday, April 24 @ Gwinnett at 4:00 p.m.

Game 2 - Monday, April 25 @ Gwinnett at 7:00 p.m.

Game 3 - Wednesday, April 27 @ CHARLOTTE at 7:00 p.m.

Game 4 - Thursday, April 28 @ CHARLOTTE at 7:00 p.m. (If necessary)

Game 5 - Saturday, April 30 @ Gwinnett at 7:30 p.m. (If necessary)

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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