ECHL Florida Everblades

Checkers edge Florida 3-2 in front of largest crowd of the season

Published on February 3, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release


(Charlotte, North Carolina - Friday, February 2) The Charlotte Checkers rocked their largest crowd of the season on and off the ice Friday night at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Before an "80's night" crowd of 9,570, the Checkers (24-15-3 for 51 points) knocked off the Florida Everblades 3-2 to win their sixth straight home game.

The victory was Charlotte's seventh in its' last eight games overall, and raised its' record to 7-1-2 in its' last ten games. Daymen Rycroft, Mark Lee and Hugh Jessiman scored goals for the Checkers, while Chris Lee had both Florida tallies.

Charlotte goalie Alex Westlund gained his fourth win in his last five starts with 24 saves to improve his overall record to 11-5-3. Florida's rookie netminder David Schantz,

a second round draft pick of the NHL's Florida Panthers, absorbed the loss with 26 saves.

"We felt that those three early-January games in Florida were a turning point for our season," said Charlotte Coach Derek Wilkinson. "We played well in those games even though we didn't get as many points as we would have liked. To beat a team like Florida, who statistically is one of the best teams in the league, is a good sign for us. Tonight when it was five-on-five, we played great."

The Checkers scored first at 11 minutes, five seconds of the first period as Rycroft pecked away in front of the Everblades goal, finally urging the puck across the line for a 1-0 advantage. Charlotte has had trouble at times this season getting off to fast starts, but Friday night was not one of those nights. The Checkers had good jump from the opening whistle, dominated play, and finished the first period with a 15-8 shot advantage.

Charlotte increased its' lead to 2-0 just 1:24 into the second period, as Mark Lee capitalized on a Checkers' odd-man rush for his 13th goal of the season. The game's momentum changed suddenly due to a rash of Charlotte penalties early in the period. Referee Richard Leonard called four consecutive minors against the Checkers, creating two, two-man advantage power plays for the Everblades. Florida (26-14-2 for 54 points) wasted little time taking advantage as Chris Lee scored twice in a minute and a half span, each time scoring on a slapshot from between the circles. The Checkers spent the majority of the period killing off the six minor penalties they were assessed which slowed their early-game momentum. However, two minors late in the second period against the Everblades proved to be a key factor in the Checkers win.

In the first minute of the third period and with the Checkers enjoying a two-man advantage, Jessiman buried 30 footer by Schantz to give Charlotte a 3-2 lead. The stingy Checkers defense limited Florida to only six third-period shots, and the few quality chances the Everblades did muster were thwarted by solid goaltending by Westlund. Florida pulled its' goalie for an extra attacker, but the Checkers held their ground and secured the one-goal victory.

The Checkers will close out the week Saturday night in Pensacola where they'll meet the Ice Pilots for the fourth time this season at The Hangar. Saturday's face-off time is 8:00 p.m. Eastern time. Charlotte will return home to begin a three-game homestand Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at Charlotte Bobcats Arena when they'll host the South Carolina Stingrays. Game two of the homestand will be Saturday, February 10 against the Texas Wildcatters at 7:30 p.m., with game three Sunday afternoon, February 11 at 4:00 p.m. versus the Columbia Inferno.

NOTES: Charlotte goalie Alex Westlund was recalled after Friday's game by the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack.......Following Friday's win over Florida, the Checkers are now 2-3-2 versus the Everblades in the ten-game season series.

CHECKERS FRIDAY NIGHT SCRATCHES: Dusty Jamieson, John Donnelly, Rick Kozak, Nathan Gillies and Adam Nightingale.

FOR BOX SCORE CLICK: http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1424

Tickets for all Checkers home games can be purchased on the official team web site at www.gocheckers.com, on the telephone by using a credit card and calling 1-800-495-2295, or by visiting the Charlotte Bobcats Arena box office.

Check out the Florida Everblades Statistics

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ECHL Stories from February 3, 2007


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