Checkers Fall To Columbia 4-1
Published on February 18, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
Charlotte, NC- February 18, 2003: The Charlotte Checkers had hoped to close out their season-high, seven-game homestand on a winning note Tuesday night at Cricket Arena. The visiting Columbia Inferno had other plans however and took a 4-1 victory over the Checkers to temporarily half the Checkers playoff run. Columbia got goals from four different scorers and backup keeper Josh Blackburn turned aside 20 shots to get the win. Charlotte finished its' season-high, seven-game homestand at 4-3-0, and still trails the fourth place Trenton Titans by ! six points in the battle for the final playoff spot in the Northeast Division.
"I'm very surprised with the way our guys played tonight," remarked Checkers Head Coach Don MacAdam. "It was the final game of our homestand and we're fighting for a playoff spot and I didn't see much energy out there tonight. We also had a lot of trouble with our defense down low. That's not to take anything away from Columbia. They're a very good team."
In the first period, the two teams traded power play goals with the Checkers drawing first blood at 6:05 as Dan Preston tipped in a slap shot from Takahito Suzuki past Blackburn for a 1-0 Checkers lead. Columbia came right back at 11:44 on their first power play attempt as Rejean Stringer's shot deflected off of Charlotte defenseman Craig Weller and by Checkers starting goalie Scott Meyer to tie the match at 1-1.
In the second period, the Inferno grabbed the lead at 16:32 when Denis Martynyuk stuffed i! n a loose puck by Meyer after the Charlotte goaltender had made several saves just outside the crease. Columbia, playing a tight-checking game throughtout the night, out shot the Checkers in the second period 10 to 5 and 26 to 11 through two periods.
Goalie Jeff Salajko came in at the start of the third period to replace Meyer who was shaken up at the end of the second period. The Inferno forged a 3-1 advantage at 4:47 as former Checker Derek Crimin rammed a loose pick in the goalmouth by Salajko. The tight checking Inferno held the Checkers at bay the rest of the way, while adding a late insurance goal at 17:26 by Robin Carruthers.
Charlotte dropped its' second straight and fell to 27-23-2 for 56 points. The Inferno won their second straight and improved to 24-20-1 for 17 points. The Checkers will begin a season-long, six-game road trip Friday night in Columbia in a rematch against the Inferno.
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