Checkers win second straight with 5-1 win at Atlantic City
March 4, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
(Atlantic, City, New Jersey - Friday, March 4) Lately Charlotte coach Derek Wilkinson says he likes his team, and Friday night the Checkers gave him no reasons to change his mind. Charlotte scored two short-handed goals and two power-play goals en route to a convincing 5-1 win over the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies Friday night at historic Boardwalk Hall. Red-hot Dusty Jamieson scored two goals and Dwight Helminen had three assists to pace Charlotte, with goalie Alex Westlund displaying a solid performance in his home-town state with 36 saves.
The victory ensures the Checkers will keep the second spot in the ECHL's American Conference, and first place in the Eastern Division for another day.
"Our special teams were phenomenal tonight." said Wilkinson. "Everyone stepped up and not to be overlooked was a great performance by Alex (Westlund). He made some great saves on an Atlantic City power-play in the second period and we took over after that."
The Checkers grabbed a 1-0 lead at 11:21 of the first period when Helminen's speed created a two-on-one break. His perfect pass to Ryan Glen was blasted home by Boardwalk Bullies' goalie Trevor Koenig.
The Bullies came back three minutes later to take advantage of a Checkers turnover as Dustan Heintz knocked home a rebound to tie the game at 1-1 after one period.
The Checkers broke away in the second period with three goals to assume a 4-1 advantage. Jamieson scored his first of two goals at 8:02, as he deked Koenig out of the net and tucked the puck into an open net while Charlotte was shorthanded for a 2-1 lead. At 12:10 Jamieson scored his second goal of the night for a 3-1 Charlotte advantage. Late in the period Kenton Smith blasted a shot by Koenig from just inside the right circle on a power play, and the Checkers went to the locker room after two periods ahead 4-1.
Charlotte added one more goal in the final stanza as Ryan Lang extended his goal-scoring streak to three games as he tipped in an Eddie Pershin pass to close out the scoring for the 5-1 final.
Jamieson continued his torrid play with two goals, giving him ten in his last 11 games. Checkers center and captain Ryan Cuthbert left the game in the first period with an undisclosed injury.
The win improved the Checkers record to 33-20-4 for 70 points, while Atlantic City dropped to 30-18-7 for 67 points.
Charlotte returns home Saturday night to begin a five-game homestand when it hosts the Greenville Grrrowl at Cricket Arena at 7:00 p.m.
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