ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers force game five

April 18, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


CHARLOTTE, NC – Improbable as it seemed, the seventh-seeded Charlotte Checkers came back to even the series against the second-seeded Columbia Inferno after being down 2-0. The best-of-five American Conference quarterfinals conclude on Wednesday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m. in Columbia.

LAST WEEK

Wednesday, April 13 at Columbia, L 2-0 The Charlotte Checkers dropped Game One of their opening round, ECHL American Conference quarterfinal playoff game Wednesday night at the Carolina Coliseum. Matt Ulwelling and Chanse Fitzpatrick scored for the Inferno, and Columbia goalie Mike Minard made 23 saves to earn the shutout. Charlotte had several good scoring chances throughout the game, but were not able to convert their scoring opportunities. The two teams battled through a scoreless first period. The Checkers scored what they thought was a goal in the first period, only to see referee waive it off. In the second the Inferno broke the scoreless tie just 24 seconds into the period. Matt Ulwelling took a pass from Robin Carruthers and rifled a shot from the top of the left wing circle by Checkers goalie Alex Westlund for a 1-0 Columbia advantage. In the third period Fitzpatrick flipped home his own rebound at 7:09 to give the Inferno a 2-0 lead that the Checkers would not overcome. The Inferno outshot the Checkers 30-23 for the contest. The loss was Westlund's first against Columbia this season in four games.

Friday, April 15, at Columbia, L 4-2 The Checkers wasted no time in breaking their scoring slump in Columbia. It was a drought that lasted six-plus periods dating back to the last regular-season meeting and game one of the playoffs here Wednesday. Dwight Helminen tipped in Rory Rawlyk's centering pass just two minutes and 53 seconds into the contest for a 1-0 Charlotte lead. Columbia came back quickly early in the second period with a pair of goals in a 2:41 span to assume a 2-1 advantage. The Checkers came back at 14:49, scoring their first power-play goal of the series, as Ryan Glenn ripped a shot from the center point that eluded Minard and tied the game at 2-2. The Inferno quickly regained the lead at 16:06. In the final period Columbia increased its lead to 4-2. With time running out, Wilkinson pulled Westlund for an extra attacker with nearly two minutes to go in the game, but the Checkers couldn't get any closer and Columbia held on for the 4-2 victory.

Saturday, April 16 vs. Columbia, W 3-1

The Charlotte Checkers defeated the Columbia Inferno 3-1 last night. At 13:07 of the first period, Checkers forward Lee Falardeau broke free and lit the lamp, giving Charlotte the 1-0 lead. With just 1:10 left to play in the second period, Columbia's Ryan Campbell fired a shot that bounced up and over Checkers goalie Alex Westlund's glove and into the goal. The second period ended 1-1. After battling for almost eighteen minutes in the third, the Checkers' Kenton Smith fired a bullet into the top right corner of the Inferno net to give Charlotte the lead with 2:17 left to play. The Inferno pulled their goalie for an extra skater, but in the final seconds of the game, Dwight Helminen intercepted a pass and scored an empty net goal to wrap up the game 3-1.

Sunday, April 17 vs. Columbia, W 5-2

The Inferno came out blazing in the first period, scoring just 1:22 into the frame when Inferno forward Chanse Fitzpatrick tapped in a D'Arcy McConvey rebound. With 2:20 left in the first, Checkers defenseman Dan Preston lit the lamp off a pass from All-Star rookie Ryan Glenn to make it even after one. At 3:22 in the second period, Glenn fed Dusty Jamieson who wristed a shot into the Inferno net for the shorthanded score. Six and half minutes later, Jamieson flipped a deflection between the pipes to put the Checkers up 3-1. At 13:03 with the Inferno on the power play, Columbia's Eric Boulton picked up the rebound and sailed over Checkers goalie Alex Westlund's right shoulder for the score. Just 2:31 into the third period, Glenn rang the buzzer, putting Charlotte up 4-2 with the Checkers second shorthanded goal of the game. The Inferno pulled their goalie for an extra man in the waning seconds of the contest but Jamieson was waiting. He intercepted the puck and fed Eddie Pershin who scored on the empty net to close out the game 5-2. Alex Westlund stopped 32 shots in the convincing Charlotte victory.

THIS WEEK

American Conference Quarterfinals (Best-of-Five Series):

GAME FIVE: Wednesday, April 20, at Columbia, 7:30 p.m.

CHECKERS NEWS

· Dusty Jamieson had five points (2g, 3a) including the game winning goal in last night's contest against the Inferno. Jamieson leads the team with 4 assists in the American Conference quarterfinals.

· Ryan Glenn had 1 goal and 3 assists last night, teaming up with Jamieson on four separate scoring conversions.

· Alex Westlund has a GAA of 1.50 and a save percentage of .952 in his last two games.

· Jamieson, Glenn, and Dwight Helminen have 2 goals each in the post-season.

· Kenton Smith, Dan Preston, Lee Falardeau, and Eddie Pershin have one playoff goal apiece.

· Falardeau and defenseman Rory Rawlyk have both been recalled to Hartford.

· The Checkers and the Inferno have each accumulated 23 points in the playoffs.

CHECKERS LEADERS

Goals: Dusty Jamieson/Ryan Glenn/Dwight Helminen (2)

Assists: Dusty Jamieson (4)

Points: Dusty Jamieson (6)

Plus/Minus: Dusty Jamieson (+3)

PIM: Ryan Lang (12)

Wins: Alex Westlund (2)

GAA: Alex Westlund (2.28)

Save Pct.: Alex Westlund (.922)

Check out the Charlotte Checkers Statistics



ECHL Stories from April 18, 2005


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