ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers Can't Hold On, Lose To Lynx, 6-4

Published on January 8, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


Charlotte, N.C. - Charlotte had a two goal advantage and watched it evaporate as the Augusta Lynx mounted a second period comeback defeating the Checkers, 6-4.

In the first period, the Checkers worked the power play as Matt Waddell fired a wrist shot through traffic. Lynx goaltender, J.P. Levasseur bobbled the puck and Checkers forward, Chris Capraro waited in the crease and slammed the loose puck home at 5:31 giving Charlotte a 1-0 lead. The Checkers would tally another goal on the power play in a similar fashion when Levasseur couldn't hang on to the rebound on a shot from Nathan Gillies and defenseman, Mark Smith descended on the puck and banged it in expanding the Checkers lead to 2-0 at 10:32. Augusta would strike back with a power play goal when Igor Pohanka fed Ryan Dingle in the slot. Dingle made a nice move to freeze Checkers netminder, Matt Zaba and backhanded a shot over Zaba slashing the Charlotte lead to 2-1 at 12:08. During the late stages of the first stanza, Shawn Vinz intercepted an outlet attempt by Augusta and fed Ryan Murphy who put the puck over the glove of Lavesseur retrieving the two goal lead for Charlotte at 18:31.

The Lynx would lock things up with two quick goals from Jeremy Schenderling and James Brannigan bringing the game to 3-3. But, Charlotte would battle back and recapture a one-goal advantage when Chris Capraro one-timed a nice pass from Mike Bayrack at 15:32. The Lynx would respond with a goal of their own less than two minutes later. This time it was Aaron Slattengren deflecting a point shot from Eric Lundberg on the power play at 17:15 locking the game at 4-4. Augusta would attain their first lead of the game when Matt Auffrey was the recipient of a nice pass from Pohanka on a two-on-one break at 18:30. Auffrey wristed the shot just under the cross bar giving the Lynx the 5-4 advantage to end the second period.

In the final period, the only goal was scored by Slattengren after he redirected the pass from Pohanka between the legs of Zaba at 3:23. Charlotte would be unable to mount a comeback and they would lose by a score of 6-4.

Notes: Zaba turned aside 35 of 41 shots and Levasseur stopped 22 of 26...Charlotte scored three power play goals on five tries while Augusta scored twice on eight attempts.

The Checkers are in their 15th season of play as a member of the ECHL. Their next home game takes place on Jan 10 against the Pensacola Ice Pilots. In the team's 14-year history, the Checkers have made the playoffs 10 times including three consecutive playoff appearances to date. The Checkers are their third season of play at St. Lawrence Homes Home Ice at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Season tickets are on sale now with full-season packages starting at just $175. For season ticket information, please call 704-342-4-ICE or visit www.gocheckers.com.

Check out the Charlotte Checkers Statistics



ECHL Stories from January 8, 2008


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