Charlotte evens series at 1-1 with 4-3 win over Gwinnett in sudden-death OT
April 26, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
(Duluth, GA â Monday, April 25, 2005) The Charlotte Checkers always seem to play their best when their backs are against the wall. Playing without their leading scorer Eddie Pershin and veteran defenseman Regan Darby, the Checkers scored 13 minutes into sudden-death overtime to secure a 4-3 win Monday night over the Gwinnett Gladiators in Duluth, Georgia. Kenton Smith's blast from the left wing circle eluded Gladiators goalie Sean Fields for the game winner, and allowed the Checkers to even their best-of-five, ECHL American Conference semi-final series at 1-1.
Games three and four of the series now move to Cricket Arena in Charlotte Wednesday and Thursday nights, with face-off both evenings set for 7:00 p.m. Game five, if necessary, will be played back in Gwinnett Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Bogdan Rudenko, Ryan Glenn and Dwight Helminen scored for the Checkers, all in the first period. The Gladiators score their three goals in the second period with Chris Durno netting a pair and Adam Smyth getting the other. Goalie Alex Westlund was superb once again for the Checkers, with 49 saves. In the first two playoff games against Gwinnett, Westlund has faced a whopping 114 shots and made 109 saves.
"We came out strong in the first period and were able to get three goals by a very good goaltender," commented Checkers Coach Derek Wilkinson. "In the second period we had a few of our guys take the foot off the pedal a little bit thinking with a three-goal lead it would be easy. They certainly learned a good lesson as Gwinnett tied up the game and dominated the period. I thought the third period and overtime sessions were even. Last night it took a perfect shot for them to win and tonight it took a perfect shot by Kenton for us to win."
Charlotte jumped out to a stunning 3-0 first-period lead. The Checkers got an early power-play chance and capitalized. Rudenko took a perfect pass in the slot from Glenn and back-handed the puck past Gladiators starting goalie Adam Berkhoel for a 1-0 lead at 3 minutes, 21 seconds. Charlotte made it 2-0 at 5:29 when Glenn brought the puck up ice with a delayed penalty pending on Gwinnett. Glenn cut toward the net and somehow the puck rolled off his stick and ended up in the back of the Gladiators net.
The Checkers built a 3-0 advantage when Helminen took the puck from behind the net and walked in front, firing the puck past Berkhoel at 12:55. Gwinnett Coach Jeff Pyle pulled Berkhoel for backup goalie Sean Fields following Helminen's goal. Despite being outshot 16-9 in the first period, the Checkers took the 3-0 lead to the locker room.
The Gladiators stormed back in the second period with three goals in a 7:39 span. Gwinnett got on the board at 2:29 as Durno scored a back-door goal off assists from Kris Goodjohn and Lane Manson. With Dave Liffiton in the penalty box, the Gladiators scored on the power play as Durno's centering pass in the goalmouth deflected in by Westlund, and the Checkers lead was cut to 3-2 at 6:21. Smyth's goal for Gwinnett at 10:08 completed the comeback as the Gladiators evened the score at 3-3. The Gladiators outshot the Checkers 21-11 in the second period.
Both teams had chances in the third period but neither could score, and headed to sudden-death for the second time in as many nights. It was the third straight overtime game in the playoffs for Charlotte.
The overtime period was also evenly played, until Smith's goal sent the Checkers home a winner.
NOTES: Eddie Pershin, the Checkers leading scorer in the regular season, missed Monday's game with an arm injury. ...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 Charlotte 1 @ Gwinnett 2 OT
Game 2 - Monday, April 25 Charlotte 4 @ Gwinnett 3 OT
Game 3 - Wednesday, April 27 @ CHARLOTTE at 7:00 p.m.
Game 4 - Thursday, April 28 @ CHARLOTTE at 7:00 p.m.
Game 5 - Saturday, April 30 @ Gwinnett at 7:30 p.m. (If necessary)
THE SERIES IS TIED AT 1-1
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