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ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers pick up six points last week

March 26, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


CHARLOTTE, NC - The Charlotte Checkers picked up a much needed win Sunday against the South Carolina Stingrays winning 4-3 in overtime. The win put the Checkers at 2-1-0 for the week and kept the Checkers in the playoff hunt. The Checkers are trying to reach the playoffs for the third-consecutive season - a feat which the team hasn't accomplished since the team went to the playoffs in five-consecutive seasons stretching from 1994-98.

With eight games remaining, the Checkers currently sit just outside the playoff picture in the South Division. The Checkers trail South Carolina and Augusta who are currently tied for the fourth and fifth place in the division. South Carolina has played 67 games and Augusta has played 66. The Checkers, who have played 64 games, will face Augusta once more on Sunday, April 1, but will not face South Carolina again in the regular season. South Carolina and Augusta will end their season series with a two-game set Friday and Saturday of this week at Augusta.

The Checkers close out the season with six of their final eight games at home.

CHECKERS THIS SEASON

36-25-3, 75 pts

LAST WEEK

2-1-0, 4 pts

Tuesday, March 20, 2007 at Pensacola, W, 3-0 The Charlotte Checkers rode the back of goaltender Alex Westlund who pitched a shutout Tuesday night in a 3-0 blanking of the Pensacola Ice Pilots in Florida. Westlund's 25-save shutout was his third of the season and the Checkers fourth overall.

The Checkers offense got single goals from Blake Bellefeuille and Steve Slonina, as well as an empty-net goal from Daymen Rycroft. Jan Vodrazka also added two assists for Charlotte.

Friday, March 23, 2007 at Augusta, L, 2-5 The Charlotte Checkers were frustrated by the Augusta Lynx Friday night in dropping a 5-2 decision in Georgia. The Checkers outshot the Lynx 40-24 overall and 19-6 in the first period. But the Lynx were opportunistic in winning their third straight, while the Checkers got no bounces and were the recipient of one bad one.

Louis Goulet had two goals and added two assists for a four-point night while Ryan Lang added three assists in leading Augusta to the victory. Goulet's second goal was kicked in, but referee David Jones ruled it was an inadvertent kick and allowed the goal to stand. Lynx goalie David McKee was sharp with 38 saves, yielding only two Checkers power-play goals.

The Charlotte goals were scored by Blake Bellefeuille and Dan Murphy, both on the power play, while Checkers goalie Alex Westlund took the loss with 19 saves.

Sunday, March 25, 2007, W, at South Carolina, 4-3 The Charlotte Checkers and South Carolina Stingrays played what amounted to an early playoff game Sunday afternoon at the North Charleston Coliseum. With both teams fighting for one of the final playoff berths in the ECHL's South division, the Checkers prevailed after the smoke cleared with a 4-3 overtime win.

Steve Slonina scored his second goal of the game with just 37 seconds left in the five-minute, sudden death overtime period, giving the Checkers two much needed points. Charlotte (36-25-1-2) was dominant in the overtime with numerous scoring opportunities while outshooting the Stingrays 10-2. For the game Charlotte outshot South Carolina 45-33.

Blake Bellefeuille and Jan Vodrazka scored the other Charlotte goals while goalie Alex Westlund made 30 saves in notching his fourth victory in his last six starts since returning from the American Hockey League. The Checkers finished the eleven-game season series against the Stingrays (34-24-4-5) with an 8-3 record, including a perfect 5-0 mark at the North Charleston Coliseum.

CHECKERS NOTES

- Goalie Alex Westlund picked up his second shutout this season with a 3-0 win over Pensacola on Tuesday. - Forward Mark Lee has a point in the Checkers last nine games and 13 of the last 15 games. - Recently acquired right wing Stephen Slonina had two goals, including the game-winner, in the Checkers overtime win against South Carolina on Sunday - Slonina had three goals on the week.

GAMES THIS WEEK Tuesday, March 27, 2007 vs. Pensacola, 7:00 pm ET Thursday, March 29, 2007 vs. Pensacola, 7:00 pm ET Saturday, March 31, 2007 vs. Columbia, 7:30 pm ET Sunday, April 1, 2007 vs. Augusta, 4:00 pm ET

CHECKERS LEADERS

Goals: Graham, Bruce (31)

Assists: Lee, Mark (48)

Points: Lee, Mark (68)

Plus/Minus: Ouellette, Mike (+15)

PIM: Vodrazka, Jan (177)

Wins: Westlund, Alex (15)

GAA: Westlund, Alex (2.76)

Save Pct.: Westlund, Alex (.914)

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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.

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