Checkers make Grrrowl grrrumpy
November 21, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
CHARLOTTE, NC â Tired may be an understatement. In their third straight overtime game, the Charlotte Checkers got a huge spark from forward Ryan Lang and some slick goaltending by Kelly Guard to down the Greenville Grrrowl in a shootout. This win was the team's fourth straight and fifth in their last six games. The Checkers not only hold their position on top of the East Division of the American Conference, but also extended Guard's win streak to seven games. This improves the Checkers' record to 10-2-1 for 21 points, while upping their home record to 4-1-1 at Cricket Arena.
In the first period, both teams came out determined to slow the pace of the game through some stout defense and goaltending. The Checkers looked to go up when they found themselves with a two-man advantage midway through the first, but flopping defensemen and the quick reflexes of Grrrowl goalie Mike Morrison quelled any hopes of an early lead.
Soon, however, things changed. Greenville sent their two top point scorers, center Carl Mallette and winger Martin St. Pierre, after the Checkers, and they wasted no time doing some damage. 50 seconds into the second, Mallette took the St. Pierre pass to flip the puck over a downed Guard. Not to be outdone, Checkers forward Ryan Lang decided to take the reigns.
First, he slid a beautiful pass to a waiting Matt Chandler, who rocketed a wrister that glanced off the Morrison's outstreched hand into the net. Then, after a two-minute minor for roughing, Lang came screaming out of the penalty box and found himself the recipient of a Dan Preston assist, Preston's 11th assist on the season. Lang rang the bell and racked up his second point of the night, raising his season total to five.
"He's just tireless," Checkers Head Coach Derek Wilkinson said of Lang. "He doesn't do anything fancy, but he just gets the job done."
Greenville fought back on a shot from Grrrowl left wing Kris Barch, who tied the game when he caught Guard through his legs at 8:24 into the third period. Guard finished the game with 21 saves. Give the assist to Richard Pitirri, the left wing who has racked up 10 points in his last six games. As the game went into overtime, then a shootout, the Checkers knew they were in for another long one, but Guard wasn't finished. He came up with three big saves in the shootout, while Eddie Pershin, Jason Dawe and Dan Preston all found the back of the net.
The win drops Greenville to 5-7-1 and currently residing near the bottom of the East Division. The Checkers will be back at Cricket Arena on Tuesday, November 23 at 7:00 p.m. to host the Augusta Lynx, and on Friday, November 26 at 7:00 p.m to host the Columbia Inferno.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from November 21, 2004
- Steelheads conclude road trip with 2-1 win over Ice Dogs - Idaho Steelheads
- Royals Dominate Bombers Sunday Night - Dayton Bombers
- Salmon Kings Grab Two Points with 4-1 Victory Over Aces - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Aces stone-walled by Victoria, 4-1 - Alaska Aces
- Sea Wolves Howl Past Lynx 4-1 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Hayward Heads to Providence - Trenton Devils
- Wildcatters stop Gators - Louisiana IceGators
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Aces roll before yet another sell-out - Alaska Aces
- Salmon Kings Losing Streak Stretches to Six - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Bullies sting South Carolina 5-2 - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- Falcons Win Behind Jaeger's 36 Saves - Fresno Falcons
- Steelheads drop heartbreaker to Wranglers, 2-1 - Idaho Steelheads
- Checkers make Grrrowl grrrumpy - Charlotte Checkers
- Four Game Losing Streak is History For Bombers - Dayton Bombers
- Pride fall to Everblades in shootout - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- IceGators Down Augusta - Louisiana IceGators
- Rivermen Shut Out at Home by Toledo 1-0 - Peoria Rivermen
- 'Blades Battle From Behind to Beat Pride 5-4 - Florida Everblades
- Gulls Nipped By Falcons, 3-2 - San Diego Gulls
- Ice Dogs Defeat Undefeated Bakersfield, 5-2 - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Wranglers Nip Steelheads 2-1 - Las Vegas Wranglers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
