Checkers clinch playoff berth with 3-2 shootout win over the Lynx
April 1, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
(Charlotte, North Carolina - Sunday, April 1) The Charlotte Checkers are in the playoffs. In one of the most exciting games of the season, Charlotte edged the Augusta Lynx 3-2 in a shootout Sunday afternoon at Charlotte Bobcats Arena to officially lock up a playoff spot in the ECHL South. The Checkers have qualified for the playoffs three straight seasons.
The Checkers won the shootout with two goals by Dan Murphy and Mark Lee, while goalie Chris Holt stopped four of the five Lynx shooters to gain the win. It was Holt's first game back after a nearly two-week stint with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League.
The victory was Charlotte's fifth straight, and sixth in its last seven games. The Checkers have gone 8-2 in their last ten games and swept the week-long, four-game homestand.
In regulation, the Checkers (40-25-1-2) got goals from Kirk DeWaele and Murphy, with Augusta getting scores from Greg Watson and Garrett Bembridge. Lynx goalie Nathan Marsters was superb making 40 saves in regulation plus overtime, as Charlotte outshot Augusta 42.24 for the game.
"Today was a little more suspenseful than we would have liked but it was a good week," remarked Charlotte Coach Derek Wilkinson. "To win four in a row at home after coming off a good road win in South Carolina last Sunday, and to win five in a row in a week is great."
The Lynx 39-27-1-3) scored twice in the first period, sandwiched around a Charlotte score to take a 2-1 advantage after the first 20 minutes. The Checkers turned up the heat and dominated the second period, outshooting Augusta 18-5. The pressure finally paid off as Murphy's power-play goal midway through the frame tied the game at 2-2.
Both teams had chances in the third period and overtime, but both goalies hunkered down to keep the game knotted as the contest headed to a shootout.
The Checkers have four games left in the regular season, beginning Tuesday when they travel to Gwinnett to meet the Gladiators at 7:00 p.m.
CHECKERS SUNDAY SCRATCHES: Rick Kozak and Niko Tuomi
ON RECALL TO (AHL) HARTFORD: Hannu Pikkarainen, Alex Westlund, Corey Potter and Hugh Jessiman
ON LOAN TO (AHL) PROVIDENCE: Ryan Glenn
FOR BOX SCORE CLICK: http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1756
NEXT GAME: The Checkers take on the Gwinnett Gladiators Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.at Duluth, Georgia.
NEXT HOME GAME: The Checkers will host the Texas Wildcatters Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.at Charlotte Bobcats Arena.
Can't make the game? Watch it on B2 https://www.b2livetv.com/hockey/echl/charlotte/billnow.asp )
ECHL Stories from April 1, 2007
- Thunder winning streak hits 10 games as 9,567 witness Radunske's four point-effort - Stockton Thunder
- Bad Bounces Beat Nailers - Wheeling Nailers
- Ice Pilots rally falls short in 5-3 loss to Everblades - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Wheeling Nailers Game Worn Jersey Auction Ends Saturday - Wheeling Nailers
- Berg becomes all-time Everblades scorer in 5-3 win - Florida Everblades
- Checkers clinch playoff berth with 3-2 shootout win over the Lynx - Charlotte Checkers
- Bombers overpowered by Titans, 5-4 - Dayton Bombers
- Chiefs down Cyclones in overtime - Johnstown Chiefs
- Lynx within one point of playoff berth with shootout win - Augusta Lynx
- Titans power to 5-4 win over Bombers - Trenton Devils
- Johnstown Claims 2-1 OT Win Over Cyclones - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Match-ups If Kelly Cup Playoffs Began Sunday - ECHL
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Holt reassigned to Charlotte - Charlotte Checkers
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Nearly 10,000 fans see Checkers defeat Columbia 4-1 - Charlotte Checkers
- 7,126 see Wranglers sweep Aces, win ninth straight - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Winning streak hits nine as Ellsworth stops 43 in net - Stockton Thunder
- Stockton Outlasts Bakersfield In Shootout, 4-3 - Bakersfield Condors
- Aces come up snake eyes in Vegas, 4-2 - Alaska Aces
- RoadRunners Clip Falcons 4-2 - Phoenix RoadRunners
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