Checkers eliminated from playoffs with 3-2 loss to Florence
March 26, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
(Charlotte, NC - Friday, March 26) After a long, hard struggle, the Charlotte Checkers were finally eliminated from the ECHL playoffs following a 3-2 loss to the Florence Pride Friday night at Cricket Arena. The Checkers pummeled Florence goalie Sebastian Laplante with 50 shots but could only light the lamp twice on goals by Doug Christiansen and Dusty Jamieson. The Pride's winning goal was scored by Kyle Kidney at 9:13 of the third period, as he was wide open for an easy tap in right in front of Charlotte's goal after being left unattended by the Checkers defense.
The Checkers missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season, and have been eliminated from post-season play in four of the last six seasons. The loss Friday was Charlotte's fourth straight. Callups and injuries have decimated the Checkers lineup in the month of March, with finding quality players nearly impossible this late in the season. Florence was already eliminated from the playoffs prior to Friday's game.
"We got our offense going a bit tonight with the 50 shots but didn't have much to show for it with only two goals," remarked Checkers coach Derek Wilkinson. "It was a great goaltenders' battle tonight with both goalies really playing well. We still continue to make costly mistakes in our own zone and don't seem to learn from those mistakes."
For the first time in a while it was the Checkers getting the game's first goal as Christiansen tapped in a Mike Wirll shot with just 11 seconds left for 1-0 Charlotte first period lead.
The Pride got a pair of second period goals in less than a minute to take its first lead of the game. Luke Earl knocked Ryan Knox's rebound past Charlotte goalie David St. Germain at 9:17 to tie the game at 1-1. Forty two seconds at 9:59, Shaun Sutter got credit for a deflection in front of the Checkers goal, and Florence claimed its first lead of the game at 2-1. In the last three minutes of the period both teams had two, two-on-one chances, but St. Germain and Laplante held their ground and kept the score at 2-1.
In the third period Charlotte tied the game at 2-2 on a power play goal by Jamieson at 2:03 off an assist by defenseman Clay Plume. But Kidney's goal midway through the final period proved to be the game-winner for the 3-2 final.
Charlotte's record fell to 31-30-8 for 70 points with the Pride increasing its record to 28-32-8 for 64 points. The Checkers will stage their regular season home finale Saturday night at Cricket Arena at 7:30 p.m. against the Columbia Inferno. Saturday's game is also another "Checkers Team Poster Night." The first 5,000 fans who enter the arena will receive a free Checkers team poster, compliments of Circle K. Saturday's game is also the Checkers salute to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools "Teacher of the Year" nominees. A special pre-game ceremony will honor the 127 nominees.
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