Checkers in tight playoff race
March 12, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
CHARLOTTE, NC - The Charlotte Checkers went 1-2-0 last week picking up a key win over Augusta on Tuesday but suffered losses to South Carolina and Gwinnett on Thursday and Saturday, respectively. The Checkers fell two points behind South Carolina in the South Division standings, pushing them to sixth place. The Checkers face Augusta two more times this season and South Carolina just once more. Augusta currently holds the fourth place spot in the South Division with 69 points.
CHECKERS THIS SEASON
31-23-3, 65 pts
LAST WEEK
1-2-0, 2 pts
Tuesday, March 6, 2007 vs. Augusta, W, 2-0 The Charlotte Checkers seem to play their best hockey when they don't dress a full squad. That proved to be the case again Tuesday night. Starting the game with only 14 forwards and defensemen and losing Jan Vodrazka for the second period to an injury, the Checkers gutted out a 2-0 victory at Charlotte Bobcats Arena.
The triumph moved the Checkers (31-21-1-2) to within two points of fourth-place Augusta in the ECHL South, with Charlotte holding four games in hand on the Lynx. The Checkers also increased their hold on fifth place, the final playoff spot in the division, to four points over South Carolina who lost to Columbia Tuesday night 6-4. The win also gave Charlotte a 2-0 mark on its on its current five-game homestand.
Dan Murphy and Nathan Gillies scored the Checkers goals, and goalie Chris Holt earned his first shutout of the season with 27 saves. Lynx goalie David McKee took the loss making 27 saves.
Thursday, March 8, 2007 vs. South Carolina, L, 2-6 The South Carolina Stingrays came into Charlotte Bobcats Arena Thursday night, desperate for a win so they could keep their playoff hopes alive. With only one win in their last ten games, the Stingrays fought off two, one-goal deficits and scored five-unanswered goals to beat the Charlotte Checkers 6-2.
Chris Chaput had a pair of goals for South Carolina (28-23-3-4), and Peter Szabo added three assists in the victory. After yielding two first-period goals, Stingrays goalie, Davis Parley, slammed the door on the Checkers in the final two periods by holding them scoreless while making 29 saves. Parley finished the game with 36 saves overall.
Blake Bellefeuille scored both Charlotte goals, and Chris Holt took the loss with 23 saves. The loss snapped a five-game Checkers winning streak over South Carolina, but Charlotte still leads the 11-game season series seven games to three.
Sunday, March 11, 2007, L, vs. Gwinnett, 4-7 The Charlotte Checkers main problem Sunday was the inability to keep the puck out of their own net. After yielding six goals in their last game at home Thursday, the Checkers let in seven on Sunday in a 7-4 defeat to the Gwinnett Gladiators. Dan Murphy's hat trick went to waste for Charlotte, who dropped their second straight overall, and fifth in its last seven home games at Charlotte Bobcats Arena.
For a second consecutive game the bounces didn't go well for Checkers goalie Chris Holt. Just five days ago Holt sparkled and picked up his first career shutout in a 2-0 victory over Augusta on Tuesday. Meanwhile Gwinnett netminder Dan Turple turned aside numerous quality chances by Charlotte, especially in the first period. Turple finished with 30 saves. Mike Vigilante led the Gladiators with a pair of goals and Blue Bennefield had a goal and two assists.
GAMES THIS WEEK Tuesday, March 13, 2007 vs. Gwinnett, 7:00 pm ET Friday, March 16, 2007 @ Columbia, 7:00 pm ET Saturday, March 17, 2007 vs. Florida, 7:30 pm ET
CHECKERS LEADERS
Goals: Two Players tied (20): Bellefeuille, Blake; Rycroft, Daymen
Assists: Lee, Mark (36)
Points: Lee, Mark (52)
Plus/Minus: Smith, Kenton (+11)
PIM: Vodrazka, Jan (149)
Wins: Holt, Chris (18)
GAA: Holt, Chris (3.15)
Save Pct.: Holt, Chris (.898)
CHECKERS BROADCAST INFO
Tune into all Charlotte Checkers away games as they broadcast on TEAMLINE. Fans can click the TEAMLINE logo on the Checkers website, www.gocheckers.com, or listen on the phone at 800-846-4700, code 2820. Fans can also watch several games this season on the B2 Network. Click the B2 Network logo on the Checkers website to view a list of available games as well as watch the game live. On the web or on the phone, listen as the voice of the Checkers, Tim Donelli, brings you all of the Checkers action.
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