Checkers' Hilton and Kinch Post Record Nights
April 4, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. â Last night, the Checkers earned a 4-1 victory at Cricket Arena and evened the best-of-five Northeast Division Semifinal series with Atlantic City at one game apiece. The Checkers tallied two goals in both the first and third period, while goaltender Jason LaBarbera stopped 33 of 34 shots to earn his first win of the 2002 Kelly Cup Playoffs.
Rookie defenseman Matt Kinch tallied two third period power-play goals while also assisting on Vince Malts' first period goal. Kinch tied three Checkers' playoff records with his third period offensive output. He matched the Checkers' record for most goals in one period (2), most power-play goals in one period (2), and most power-play goals in one game (2). Kinch, a fifth round selection of the Buffalo Sabres in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, notched 15 points (3g, 12a) in 26 games for the Checkers in the regular season. He tallied eight points (1g, 7a) in 40 games with the AHL"s Hartford Wolf Pack in 2001-02.
Kevin Hilton, the Checkers 2001-02 regular season assists leader (48), broke the team's all-time playoff record for most assists in one game as he recorded an assist on all four goals last night. Hilton matched the Checkers' playoff record for most assists in one period as he tallied two in both the first and third period. He also equaled the Checkers record for most points in one playoff game with four. Last season, Hilton tied the Checkers' all-time assists record for a single season as he handed out 61 assists in 71 games.
The Checkers and Bullies resume their best-of-five series Friday and Saturday night from Historic Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. Game times are set for 7:00 p.m. If necessary, the series shifts back to Charlotte for Game Five on Wednesday, April 10 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for all Checkers' playoff games are available at the Cricket Arena Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, charge-by-phone at 704-522-6500, and through the Checkers web site âwww.gocheckers.com.
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