Checkers drop the bomb in third
November 23, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
CHARLOTTE, NC â The Charlotte Checkers, coming off a stellar week in which they went 4-0-0, extend their win streak to 5 with a 5-2 victory over the Augusta Lynx. While they almost got caught off guard by Augusta, who tied it up 1-1 after two periods, the Checkers relied on some heady goaltending from Alex Westlund, and a third period explosion to burn the Lynx.
This was the second meeting between these American Conference East Division rivals, the first taken by Charlotte 4-1 on November 12. The Checkers seemed to take a while to get going, but as the first period wound down, Checkers center Mike Harder, whose 12-game point streak was broken Saturday evening, started another one by feeding Ryan Glenn, who scored for the one-goal advantage. Glenn's wrister, his first of the season, got past Lynx goalie Matus Kostur with 17:26 left in the period. Harder finished the game with three assists, totaling 15 on the year.
The second period was definitely marked by more attacking from both teams. Lynx defenseman Sean Connolly didn't let his two penalties in the period get to him, as he came racing out of the penalty box to fire a shot past Checkers goalie Alex Westlund to tie the game. Credit the assist to Augusta center Louis Goulet, who had one more assist in the third, upping his team-leading point total to 13.
Westlund was a stopping force in the net, saving 10 shots in the third period and 35 overall. The 5'10", 185-pound goaltender hadn't played since he was replaced by Kelly Guard in the second period in the game against the Texas Wildcatters on November 17.
"He was the best player on the ice tonight," said Checkers Head Coach Derek Wilkinson of Westlund. "He needed that game more than anyone."
"It was nice to see him battle back."
After the Checkers went up 3-1 4:10 into the third period on Dwight Helminen's third goal of the season, the Lynx got back into it when right wing Ken Magowan swatted the puck out of the air to tip off Westlund's arm and into the net. It was not 3-2 for long, however. Three-and-a-half minutes later, Helminen struck again, this time off a Lee Falardeau assist. Eddie Pershin's goal, his eighth, added to the deficit and to his team-leading total.
The Checkers come away sitting atop the American Conference East Division with a record of 11-2-1. The team hosts the Columbia Inferno Friday, November 26 at 7:00 p.m. Friday's game will be CMS Night and the Teddy Bear Toss presented by Office Depot. Bring a new, wrapped teddy bear to toss on the ice to benefit the Presbyterian Hemby Children's Hospital.
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