Checkers tripped up by Generals 4-1
March 23, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
(Charlotte, NC - Monday, March 22) Charlotte recovered from a poor first period but still came up short, losing to the Greensboro Generals 4-1 Monday night at the Greensboro Coliseum. Mark Turner had two goals and added an assist while Mike Bayrack had a goal and two assists for the Generals. Goalie Jamie Hodson made 38 saves in frustrating the Checkers and holding them to one goal. Richard Keyes had the lone marker for the Checkers off assists from Konrad McKay and Andrei Lupandin. Charlotte outshot the Generals 39-35 for the game and played Greensboro even the final two periods. David St. Germain took the loss in goal for Charlotte in making 31 saves. The loss extended the Checkers winless streak to 0-3-1 while falling to 1-7-1 in the past nine games.
The Checkers remain in sixth place in the Southern division of the ECHL, and fell five points behind Greensboro and South Carolina for the fourth and final playoff spot in the division with five games remaining. Charlotte is six points behind second place Florida and two points behind fifth place Roanoke.
"I was very happy with our effort tonight and the way we played Greensboro on even terms the last two periods," commented Checkers coach Derek Wilkinson. " David (St. Germain) didn't feel very comfortable in the first period tonight and it's hard to come back from a 3-0 deficit. Their top line is very good and we just don't have a top line right now to match up with theirs. Hodson also played very well for them and he was a big difference."
The Generals jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first 20 minutes. Turner roofed a shot over the shoulder of St. Germain for a 1-0 Greensboro lead just 1:00 minute into period one. The Generals increased their lead to 2-0 at 7:22 when Joel Irwin scored his 15th goal of the season, with assists from Bayrack and Randy Perry. Greensboro put the final goal on the board in the period on Turner's second of the game at 13:41. Despite being outshot 17-11, the Generals lead 3-0 after the first period.
The Checkers scored the lone goal of the second period on the power play at 9:35 as Keyes walked out of the corner and into the slot before wristing a shot by Hodson to cut the Generals lead to 3-1. In the third period the Checkers stymied their comeback chances by having to kill off four minor penalties. Charlotte did have a two-man advantage for 1:29, but despite good puck movement and several good chances the Checkers could not score. Bayrack added a Generals insurance goal late in the period or the 4-1 final.
The Checkers dropped to 31-28-8 for 70 points while Greensboro improved to 37-27-1 for 75 points. The Checkers begin a three-game homestand Wednesday night at Cricket Arena when they'll host Florida at 7:00 p.m.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from March 23, 2004
- Gulls Beat Ice Dogs Yet Again, 5-3 - San Diego Gulls
- Checkers open up three-game homestand - Charlotte Checkers
- Generals win second consecutive home affair - Greensboro Generals
- Alaska stonewalled by Gwinnett, 5-0 - Alaska Aces
- Gladiators Get Five-of-a-Kind against Aces - Atlanta Gladiators
- Pride fall to Stingrays - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Fresno's Posillico Suspended Five Games, San Diego's Sbrocca Suspended Three Games - ECHL
- Tibbetts Sent To Houston - San Diego Gulls
- Gulls - Ice Dogs Game Preview - San Diego Gulls
- Regular Season Home Schedule Concludes This Weekend; Fans Encouraged To Buy Tickets Early - Johnstown Chiefs
- Generals website offers new feature - Greensboro Generals
- Titans Sign Russell - Trenton Devils
- Jokila Named InGlasCo ECHL Player of the Week - ECHL
- Janne Jokila named ECHL Player of the Week - Dayton Bombers
- Milam Recalled; Flache Reassigned - Atlanta Gladiators
- Curtin Goes Up...To Bridgeport - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- Sea Wolves' Gardner Named ITECH HOCKEY ECHL Saver of the Week - ECHL
- Injuries change the line-up for Grrrowl - Greenville Grrrowl
- Kean Goes On IR - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- IceGators announce Pack the Dome Night - Louisiana IceGators
- Today In The ECHL - ECHL
- Express hosts Greenville Wednesday - Roanoke Express
- Fresno Falcons Weekly Update - Fresno Falcons
- Checkers tripped up by Generals 4-1 - Charlotte Checkers
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.
