Checkers 5-2 triumph puts Charlotte in tie for fourth place
Published on March 27, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
(Charlotte, North Carolina - Tuesday, March 27) The Charlotte Checkers moved into a three-way tie for fourth place in the ECHL South with a convincing 5-2 triumph over the Pensacola Ice Pilots Tuesday night at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Mark Lee scored twice and Blake Bellefeuille added three assists as Charlotte won its second straight game and third in their last four games.
The victory gave the Checkers (37-25-1-2) 77 points to tie them with Augusta and South Carolina. Charlotte still holds two games in hand on the Stingrays and one game on Augusta. (Click here for up-to-date ECHL standings) http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/statdisplay.php?type=standings
Daymen Rycroft, Bruce Graham and Mike Ouellette also tallied for the Checkers. Charlotte goalie Alex Westlund won his 16th game of the season while only having to make 16 saves. The Checkers outshot the Ice Pilots 44-18 for the game.
"We did all the right things in the first period to set the tone for the night," said Charlotte Coach Derek Wilkinson. "We wanted to go out and get the lead in the first and not look back and we didn't. I liked the way we game out and had that fire."
The Checkers blitzed the Ice Pilots in the first period, scoring four goals for a 4-0 advantage after 20 minutes. Charlotte got the ball rolling 1 minute, 33 seconds into the period as Rycroft scored his 24th of the season for a 1-0 Checkers lead. Graham poked home a shot from in close by Ice Pilots goalie Michael Mole at 3:09 for a 2-0 lead.
The Checkers increased their lead to 3-0 at 13:57, as Ouellette spotted a loose puck in the high slot and blasted in his 15th goal of the season. Lee's first of two goals on the night with three minutes left gave Charlotte a four-goal lead.
In the second period the Ice Pilots made a mild comeback with a pair of goals to cut the Checkers lead to 4-2, despite being outshot 17-7.
Charlotte turned the heat back up in the third period by notching an insurance goal by Lee, and outshooting Pensacola 14-5 for the 5-2 final.
The Checkers continue their four-game homestand Thursday when they'll host the Ice Pilots again at Charlotte Bobcats Arena at 7:00 p.m.
CHECKERS TUESDAY SCRATCHES: Rick Kozak
ON RECALL TO (AHL) HARTFORD: Chris Holt, and Hannu Pikkarainen FOR BOX SCORE CLICK: http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1722
NEXT GAME: The Checkers next game is at home this Thursday when they'll continue a four-game homestand by entertaining the Pensacola Ice Pilots at Charlotte Bobcats Arena at 7:00 p.m.
Can't make the game? Watch it on B2 https://www.b2livetv.com/hockey/echl/charlotte/billnow.asp )
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:
Thursday, March 29 - Pensacola @ Charlotte ("Checkers 'Limited Edition' Trading Card Night" with the first 3,000 fans on Thursday receiving set two of the Checkers "Limited Edition" Trading Cards presented by LastMinuteGolfer.com.)
Saturday, March 31 - Columbia @ Charlotte ("Pucks & Prayers Night" - Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers, Adam Nightingale of the Charlotte Checkers, and Dr. Norman Geisler from Southern Evangelical Seminary will speak after the game. Saturday's game will also be "Dusty Jamieson Bobblehead Doll Night" with the first 2,000 fans receiving the dolls presented by Presbyterian Hospital and team dentist Dr. Larry Seitlin.)
Sunday, April 1 - Augusta @ Charlotte (Ronald McDonald House Day - A portion of every ticket purchased with the promotional code RMH, will benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte. The first 2,000 fans on Sunday will also receive Team Posters presented by the North Carolina Zoo, Colonial Properties Trust and K104.7 FM. Free public skate and autograph session will follow the game on the Charlotte Bobcats Arena ice. Sunday's game is also "Family Four Pack" day. Fans receive four tickets, four hot dogs, and four sodas for only $49.00.
Tickets for all Checkers home games can be purchased on the official team web site at www.gocheckers.com, on the telephone by using a credit card and calling 1-800-495-2295, or by visiting the Charlotte Bobcats Arena box office.
ECHL Stories from March 27, 2007
- Falcons Fall in Stockton 5-2 - Fresno Falcons
- Checkers 5-2 triumph puts Charlotte in tie for fourth place - Charlotte Checkers
- Bad start hurts Ice Pilots in 5-2 loss - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Bombers Drop OT Loss 3-2 to Nailers - Dayton Bombers
- Morrison Assigned To AHL San Antonio - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Radunske Is In Glas Co ECHL Player of the Week - Stockton Thunder
- Steelheads prep for final home series - Idaho Steelheads
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Condors Host Stockton and Blues Brothers Saturday - Bakersfield Condors
- Thunder's Radunske Named In Glas Co Player Of The Week - ECHL
- Pensacola's Sullivan Suspended Two Games, Fined - ECHL
- Peters Reassigned From Iowa - Idaho Steelheads
- Former Ice Dogs Goaltender Halak Named NHL 'Three Star' - ECHL
- Cyclones Receive Defenseman Rory Rawlyk - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Schell Called up to AHL Chicago - Atlanta Gladiators
- Bombers' Denike Named Rbk Hockey Goalie Of The Week - ECHL
- Former Falcon Greiss Wins AHL Weekly Award - ECHL
- Dany Roussin Returned To Royals - Reading Royals
- Chiefs stymie Cyclones, 3-1 - Johnstown Chiefs
- Johnstown Claims 3-1 Win Over Cyclones - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Ice Pilots final road trip of season begins tonight - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Shantz recalled to AHL - Florida Everblades
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Johnstown legend joins Chiefs - Johnstown Chiefs
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