ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers succumb to Gwinnett 5-3

Published on January 15, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


(Duluth, Georgia - Saturday, January 14, 2006) The Charlotte Checkers improved their performance Saturday night after a poor effort in Wednesday's 5-1 loss to Pensacola, but it wasn't enough to prevent a fourth straight loss. Guillaume Desbiens scored two goals including an empty-net goal that iced the game in the Gwinnett Gladiators 5-3 victory over the Checkers in Georgia.

Scott Kelman, Scott Mifsud and Adam Smyth scored single goals for the Gladiators, while Hugh Jessiman had two goals for Charlotte. Mike Bayrack had the other Checkers goal, and goalie Chris Holt lost his second straight making 36 saves. The loss was the Checkers fourth straight.

The Atlanta Thrashers assigned National Hockey League goalie Mike Dunham to Gwinnett on an injury rehab assignment prior to Saturday's game, and he started for the Gladiators. Dunham was the second NHL goalie to start against the Checkers in the last three games. Charlotte also faced Mike Morrison last Saturday, who is down with the Greenville Grrrowl from the Edmonton Oilers.

"We made a couple of mistakes tonight and you can't that against a good team like Gwinnett," commented Checkers coach Derek Wilkinson. "We had a much better effort tonight after Wednesday's disappointment, but it's very tough when you don't come away with any points."

Charlotte scored on their first power-play attempt in the first period when Luke Stauffacher found Jessiman alone in front of the Gladiators goalie, and the 2003 New York Rangers number one draft choice deked Dunham and scored for a 1-0 Checkers lead. Ninety seconds later Gwinnett tied the game at 1-1 when Kelman blasted a shot by Holt from the right-wing circle on a power play.

Gwinnett took a two-goal lead in the second period on two even-strength goals by Mifsud and Desbiens. Charlotte came back late in the period to cut the Gladiators lead to 3-2 on Jessiman's second power-play goal of the game at 15:26.

The Checkers tied the game early in the final period on Bayrack's 12th goal of the season on an assist from Dusty Jamieson. But Gwinnett rallied back a minute later to regain the lead at 4-3 on Smyth's goal, after taking advantage of Ryan Glenn's giveaway in the Checkers zone. The empty-net goal by Desbiens with 21 seconds left sealed the 5-2 victory for Gwinnett.

The loss dropped Charlotte's road record to below .500 for the first time this season at 10-11-2. Overall the Checkers record fell to 18-16-3 for 39 points. Gwinnett improved to 22-8-5 for 49 points. The Checkers return to Charlotte Bobcats Arena for their next game on Tuesday to host Pensacola at 7:00 p.m.

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ECHL Stories from January 15, 2006


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