ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers drop second straight in 3-2 loss

Published on February 18, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


(Charlotte, NC - Tuesday, February 17) The Charlotte Checkers, playing in their fifth game in six days and fourth game in five days, dropped their second in a row in a 3-2 defeat to the Greenville Grrrowl Tuesday night at Cricket Arena. Charlotte never led in the contest, and for the second straight game yielded the game-winning goal midway through the final period. Mike Henderson ‚¬â„¢s strike at 6:47 of the third period was the game-winner, with Greenville goalie Michel Robinson also making 32 saves to gain the victory. Michael Chin and Matt Demarski scored the other Grrrowl goals while Lucas Lawson and Blaz Emersic tallied for Charlotte.

‚¬ÂWe played hard enough to win tonight but made a few mistakes that cost us, ‚¬Â remarked Checkers defenseman Chad Wilchynski. ‚¬Å“We ‚¬â„¢re still in good shape, and as soon as we get a few of our players back from injuries and from the AHL, we ‚¬â„¢ll be fine. ‚¬Â

The Checkers remained one point behind South Carolina for the fourth and final playoff spot in the ECHL ‚¬â„¢s Southern Division, as the Stingrays also lost on Tuesday 4-2 to Florence. Charlotte fell four points behind third place Florida as the Everblades picked up a point in a 3-2 shootout loss to Pensacola. The Checkers stayed five points behind second place Greensboro as the Generals dropped a 4-1 decision to Roanoke.

Greenville took the lead 7:42 into the first period as Demarski ‚¬â„¢s rebound beat a sprawled Charlotte goalie Scott Meyer as the Grrrowl assumed a 1-0 lead. The Checkers tied the game at 1-1 on a two-man advantage, as Wirll passed the puck to an open Lawson who fired in his eighth goal of the season at 15:10. The two teams headed to the locker room at the end of 20 minutes tied at 1-1. Chin beat Meyer from in close at 17:39 of the second period to give the Grrrowl a 2-1 lead after two periods.

The Checkers equalized early in the third period at 2:10 on Emersic ‚¬â„¢s 14th goal of the season. But Henderson ‚¬â„¢s tally at 6:47 proved to be the game-winning goal. Charlotte pulled Meyer in the final minute for an extra attacker, and a Greenville penalty with 29 seconds left in regulation gave the Checkers a six on four advantage. However, Greenville stubbornly held on for the 3-2 final.

The Checkers dropped to 26-21-6 for 58 points while the Grrrowl improved to 10-35-5 for 25 points. Charlotte will be off until Saturday when the Greensboro Generals will invade Cricket Arena at 7:30 p.m. to conclude a Checkers four-game homestand.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

Saturday, Feb 21 - Greensboro @ Charlotte - "Tribute to the King T-Shirt Night! The first 2,200 fans through the door receive a free t-shirt courtesy of Dr. Larry Seitlin. The Checkers will also be having a tribute to Elvis Presley, the King of Rock-n-Roll. Dress like Elvis and get a chance to go on the ice!

Check out the Charlotte Checkers Statistics

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ECHL Stories from February 18, 2004


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