Checkers can't hold back surging Gladiators, lose 4-3
February 5, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
Charlotte, N.C. - The Checkers had a lead going into the third period but couldn't keep the Gwinnett Gladiators from mounting a comeback as Charlotte dropped the contest 4-3.
Charlotte made quick work of achieving a lead after forward Lee Falardeau sent a pass to an offensively positioned blueliner Julien Brouillette who wristed a shot past Gwinnett goalie Josh Johnson at 3:16. This gave the Checkers a 1-0 lead but they weren't done scoring in the first stanza. While killing off a penalty, Checkers forward Brad Ralph found a loose puck on a bad outlet attempt out of the Gladiators zone. Ralph stepped in and wristed a shot past the blocker of Johnson extending the Checkers lead to 2-0 at 12:27.
Gwinnett would tie the contest during the second period after registering two power play goals. The Gladiators Dirk Southern scored the first goal off a lucky bounce in front of Charlotte goalie Jeff Jakaitis. Southern's shot was stopped by the goalie but the rebound bounced in off Checkers defenseman Kenny Smith's leg and past Jakaitis at 5:55 slashing the Checkers lead to 2-1. At exactly the half way mark of the contest, Gwinnett defenseman stationed himself in the slot and blasted in a rebound off the initial point shot by defenseman Brennan Turner. With the game tied at 2-2, the Checkers recaptured a lead on a power play goal of their own after Falardeau centered a pass for Ryan Murphy who made no mistake one-timing the puck past Johnson at 12:35.
In the third period, the Gladiators scored a short-handed goal to tie the contest. Gwinnett forward Jordan Fox stole the puck from Checkers defenseman Julien Brouillette and roofed a shot over the glove of Jakaitis at 2:13 locking the game at 3-3. Gwinnett scored their third power play goal of the contest when Tom Zanoski fired a shot through traffic that found its way over the shoulder of the Checkers netminder and into the net at 10:51. Despite the late charge by Charlotte, the Checkers lost the contest 4-3.
Notes: Jakaitis turned aside 24 of 28 shots while Johnson stopped 34 of 37...these two teams will meet again in Gwinnett on Saturday night...Gwinnett scored three power play goals on eight attempts while Charlotte struck once on nine chances.
The Checkers are playing in their 16th season of play as a member of the ECHL. The next home game will take place Feb. 8 against the Florida Everblades at 4:00pm. In the team's 15-year history, the Checkers have made the playoffs 11 times including four consecutive playoff appearances to date. The Checkers are in their fourth season of play at Time Warner Cable Arena. Season tickets are on sale now with full-season packages starting at just $396. For season ticket information, please call 704-342-4-ICE or visit www.gocheckers.com.
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