Checkers closing in on playoff bid
March 21, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
CHARLOTTE, NC â This week, the Charlotte Checkers (37-22-6; 80 PTS; 1ST East Div) tried to break a four game winless streak and secure a playoff bid. After notching a point by taking Pensacola to a shootout on March 12, the Checkers suffered a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Trenton on Tuesday. Friday wasn't any kinder as Pee Dee topped Charlotte in regulation. The tide began to turn as the Checkers returned home to face Gwinnett on Saturday night. The Checkers lost to the Gladiators in a shootout but the momentum certainly seemed to return. On Sunday, the Checkers broke the winless streak by defeating American Conference rival, the Florida Everblades. The win also puts the Checkers one point away from securing a playoff bid. It would be their first appearance in two years.
LAST WEEK
Tuesday, March 15 vs. Trenton, L 3-5
Despite allowing the Charlotte Checkers to come back from a three-goal deficit, the Trenton Titans were able to pull away with a 5-3 victory at Cricket Arena. 2,804 in attendance saw the Titans record three goals against the Checkers Alex Westlund in the opening stanza. Kelly Guard came in to relieve Westlund, and Charlotte was able to get on the board at 9:56 of the second period. On the power play, Bogdan Rudenko took the feed from Eddie Pershin and cut the Titans' lead to two goals. The Checkers continued to chip away the Titans' edge with a Mike Wirll goal 2:47 into the third period. Brian Escobedo then tied the game 3-3 when he put his own rebound past the Trenton netminder at 8:30 of the final frame. The Titans took the lead once again when they registered a marker with just 1:45 left in regulation. An empty net goal put the final touch on the Titans 5-3 victory.
Friday, March 18 at Pee Dee, L 1-3
The Pee Dee Pride defeated the Checkers in a 3-1 win Friday night in Florence, South Carolina. The Pride scored just 2:48 into the first period when they nicked a shot past Checkers goalie Alex Westlund. Charlotte's Juris Stals tied the game at 12:49 of the first period off an assist from Eddie Pershin. The Pride took the lead again at 13:10 in the second as a shot blasted past Westlund from inside the right-wing circle. In the final minute of the third period, the Checkers pulled Westlund for an extra attacker. The Pride took advantage, scoring on the empty net with 16 seconds left to seal it.
Saturday, March 19 vs. Gwinnett, T 3-4 SO The Checkers lost to the Gladiators 4-3 last night in a shoot out. The Checkers dominated the Gladiators in the first. Bogdan Rudenko shot the puck past Gladiator goaltender, Sean Fields, at 7:28 of the period. Exactly four minutes later, Juris Stals took the puck from Lee Falardeau and lit the red light. In the second, Gwinnett scored at 4:56 of the period. 23 seconds later, the Gladiators tied the game at 2-2. In the third, the Checkers surged ahead with Juris Stals' second goal of the game at 14:21 of the period. Gwinnett tied the game at 3-3 and sent the teams to overtime. After a scoreless five minute overtime, Gwinnett secured the win in the shoot out.
Sunday, March 20 vs. Florida, W 3-2
The Florida Everblades, who have already secured their spot in the playoffs, had not seen a loss since the beginning of March. It was anybody's game and Florida struck first. At 2:13, the Everblades eked the puck past Checkers goaltender, Alex Westlund. Team points leader, Eddie Pershin took control at 9:48 of the period when he scored his 25th goal of the season off a pass from Mike Wirll. The period ended with the score even at 1-1. In the second, Jason Dawe sank the puck from the top of the crease, off assists from Ryan Lang and Juris Stals. Two minutes and 36 seconds later, Bogdan Rudenko lit the lamp, giving the Checkers a comfortable 3-1 lead. The Everblades offense awakened at 17:51 of the period when an unassisted goal put them within one. In the third, Florida had two power play opportunities but Charlotte was able to kill off both. The Checkers secured the 3-2 victory and are now within one point of a playoff spot.
THIS WEEK
Friday, March 25 at Columbia, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 26 at South Carolina, 7:30 p.m.
CHECKERS NEWS
· The Checkers are currently first in the East Division with 80 points. They are third in the American conference, and are tied for fifth in the league overall.
· Team points leader, Eddie Pershin is tied for the eighth highest points in the league with 25 goals and 37 assists for 62 points. He is tied for first in the league for shorthanded assists (4), and tied for second in shorthanded points (6). Pershin also leads the team in scoring over the last ten games with 12 points (5g, 7a).
· Ryan Lang is the team's second highest scorer over the last ten games with 4 goals and 6 assists for 10 points. Lang also has the highest plus/minus rating over the last ten games (+7).
· Alex Westlund is fourth in the league for the most number of wins with 25 on the season. He is second in the league with 1274 saves and he has played 2687 minutes...the most of any ECHL goalie.
· Defenseman Thomas Bellemare is tied fourth in the league with 17 major penalties.
· New acquisition Darby Regan is fourth in the league with 218 penalty minutes. Regan is second in the league with 49 minor penalties.
· Bogdan Rudenko is working on a seven game point streak dating back to March 8. He has 3 goals and 1 assist in his last four games.
· Juris Stals has 3 goals and 1 assist in his current three-game point streak.
CHECKERS LEADERS
Goals: Dusty Jamieson (29)
Assists: Eddie Pershin (37)
Points: Eddie Pershin (62)
Plus/Minus: Dusty Jamieson (+17)
PIM: Regan Darby (218)
Wins: Alex Westlund (25)
GAA: Alex Westlund (2.72)
Save Pct.: Alex Westlund (.913)
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