Checkers Come Back Falls Short Against Everblades, lose 4-3
Published on January 18, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Checkers came close to tying the game late in the third period but didn't have an answer for the goaltending of David Leggio as they were defeated by the Florida Everblades, 4-3.
The Checkers surrendered the first goal of the game while on the power play. Everblades forward Ryan Lang intercepted a pass in neutral ice and flipped a back-hander past Checkers netminder Jeff Jakaitis at 7:11 on a breakaway. The Checkers would tie the contest when forward Mike Bayrack took the puck to the Florida net and put a shot on goal that was stopped by netminder David Leggio. Despite the save, Everblades defenseman Doug O'Brien's attempt at clear the puck from the crease resulted in an accidental shot between the legs of Leggio and the tying Checkers goal credited to Bayrack at 19:18.
During the second period, the Everblades struck for two goals. They recaptured a one goal lead when O'Brien blasted a shot from the top of the left circle past Jakaitis at 7:45. The Everblades went up 3-1 after Steve McJannet snuck in behind the Checkers defense and slid the puck between the legs of the Charlotte goalie at 10:20.
The Checkers fought back in the third period when Brad Ralph roofed a shot over the glove of a screened Leggio after David Rutherford created a turnover behind the Everblades net at 1:56. Florida retrieved their two-goal advantage after defenseman Aaron Brocklehurst's point shot bounced off the backboards in front of Jakaitis who sprawled but couldn't stop the tap in by Mathieu Roy at 6:33 putting the Everblades up 4-2. The Checkers final goal came from Ryan Hillier during a Checkers power-play at 11:42 but it wasn't enough to fully close the gap.
Notes: This is the fourth consecutive loss for the Checkers against the Everblades...the Checkers scored once on seven power play chances while the Eveblades went scoreless on six attempts...The Checkers Matthew Ford was recalled to Hartford of the American Hockey League before the game but should attend the ECHL All-Star game this upcoming week in Reading.
ECHL Stories from January 18, 2009
- Devils Powerplay Downs Jackals - Elmira Jackals
- Stockton Earns Seventh Straight Win After Overtime Win Against Idaho - Stockton Thunder
- Steelheads Fall to Stockton in OT, 4-3 - Idaho Steelheads
- Condors Slide Past RoadRunners 4-3 - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Condors Pull Out 4-3 Win in Phoenix - Bakersfield Condors
- Bodie Becomes 388th ECHL Player To Play In NHL - ECHL
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Idaho Steelheads - Stockton Thunder
- Blades are Best in ECHL at All-Star Break After 4-3 Win at Charlotte - Florida Everblades
- Checkers Come Back Falls Short Against Everblades, lose 4-3 - Charlotte Checkers
- Devils Turn On the Power in 4-2 Victory Over Jackals - Trenton Devils
- Nicholson Reassigned to Blades from AHL - Florida Everblades
- Checkers Ford and Taylor Called Up to Wolf Pack - Charlotte Checkers
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Salmon Kings Lose To Aces In Shootout - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Alaska Wins Shootout, Sweeps Victoria - Alaska Aces
- Reign Declaw Grizzlies In Shootout - Ontario Reign
- Thunder win sixth straight in front of 7,884 on Gongalsky's two goals - Stockton Thunder
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
