ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers get fourth straight on road with 3-1 win at South Carolina

Published on February 25, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


(Charleston, South Carolina - Sunday, February 25) The Checkers dominance over the South Carolina Stingrays continues. A 3-1 victory Sunday afternoon at the North Charleston Coliseum was the Checkers' fifth straight overall against the Stingrays, and gave Charlotte a perfect 4-0 mark against South Carolina in Charleston this season. The Checkers also now lead the eleven-game season-series 7-2.

Nathan Gillies, Mark Lee and Bruce Graham scored for Charlotte (29-20-1-2 for 61 points), and were backed by a 34-save effort by goalie Chris Holt. Securing his 18th victory of the campaign, Holt was solid for a second straight game while making a 10th consecutive start. Marc Busenburg had the lone Stingrays goal, as South Carolina (26-21-3-4 for 59 points) extended its' winless streak to seven games (0-3-3-1).

The 3-1 victory enabled the Checkers to climb into sole possession of fifth place, the final playoff spot, in the ECHL's Southern Division. Charlotte also pulled within two points of fourth place Augusta.

"This really group battled again today," remarked Charlotte coach Derek Wilkinson. "Our defense was really great and we didn't give them much at all. Chris (Holt) really had good concentration the whole game, Kenny Smith made a perfect pass to spring Mark Lee for his goal, and Nathan Gillies' goal was a perfect shot that helped us get the lead. Those were just a few of the highlights today."

With both teams, short-handed, tired and banged up, the first period was somewhat listless and slow. Despite being outshot 11-8, the Checkers took a 1-0 lead after the first. Gillies gave Charlotte the lead with a power-play goal late in the period off a beautiful cross-ice pass by Bryan Rodney.

The Checkers scored the second period's only goal as Kenny Smith's long pass sprung Lee into the Stingrays zone on a breakaway. Lee deked South Carolina goalie, Davis Parley, and then scored his 15th goal of the session for a 2-0 Charlotte advantage.

In the third period the Stingrays cut the Charlotte lead to 2-1 when Busenburg tallied at 9 minutes, 21 seconds. But Graham's power-play goal with five minutes left in the contest gave the Checkers their two-goal lead back, and Charlotte held on the rest of the way for the 3-1 victory.

CHECKERS SUNDAY AFTERNOON SCRATCHES: Dusty Jamieson, Rick Kozak, Lee Falardeau, Jan Vodrazka and Adam Nightingale

ON RECALL TO (AHL) HARTFORD: Alex Westlund, Corey Potter, and Zdenek Bahensky

REASSIGNED FROM CHARLOTTE TO (AHL) HARTFORD BY (NHL) NEW YORK: Hugh Jessiman

ON LOAN FROM CHARLOTTE TO (AHL) PROVIDENCE: Ryan Glenn

FOR BOX SCORE CLICK: http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1560

Charlotte is off until Saturday, March 3 when it travels to Augusta to meet the Lynx at 7:30 p.m.. The Checkers next home game is Sunday, March 4 at 4:00 p.m. when the Florida Everblades come to Charlotte Bobcats Arena. The March 4 Checkers home game is "Pucks for Patrick" day, where the Checkers and their fans will help raise funds for "A Second Breath Foundation."

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 Charlotte Checkers Statistics

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ECHL Stories from February 25, 2007


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