ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers Strike Late For Win Against Gladiators

December 19, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


Charlotte, N.C. - The Charlotte Checkers had trouble holding a lead in the third period but Tomas Zaborsky's goal with seven seconds left would be enough to secure a victory against the Gwinnett Gladiators.

The only goal of the first period came off the stick of Gladiators defenseman Jeff Dunne at 7:47 Dunne beat Checkers netminder Maxime Daigneault after his initial shot was blocked and came right back to his stick for a second attempt that went between the legs of Daigneault. This put the Gladiators up 1-0 after twenty minutes.

The Checkers tied things up in the final minute of play of the second period. Charlotte forward Ryan Hillier carried the puck into the Gwinnett zone and directed a pass to the middle of the ice that was deflected past Gladiator goalie Kevin Nastiuk by Checkers centerman Peter Tsimikalis at 19:55. This locked the game at 1-1 after forty minutes.

In the third period, Checkers forward Matthew Ford continued his torrid pace and scored his 11th goal in as many games. This time he roofed a shot over the pad of Nastiuk while on the power play giving the Checkers a 2-1 lead. The Gladiators fought back and it was Chris Cava who lifted a shot past a sprawling Daigneault at 10:34 tying the game at 2-2. Later, Ford was awarded a penalty shot and made it count as he blasted a slap shot over the glove of Nastiuk scoring his second of the game. This helped retrieve a Checkers lead at 10:52 of 3-2. Gwinnett wouldn't be held back for long as forward Pat Bateman struck for the tying goal when he skated hard to the net and batted in his own rebound on an initial save by Daigneault at 12:56. But, with seven seconds left in the game Checkers forward Tomas Zaborsky streaked down the left wing wall and snuck a shot in on the blocker side of Nastiuk for the game winning goal at 19:53 to the delight of the over 5,000 in attendance at Time Warner Cable Arena.

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ECHL Stories from December 19, 2008


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