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ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers win seventh straight with 4-2 win at Greenville

January 22, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


Greenville, SC - Friday, January 21: The Charlotte Checkers recovered from a slow start and stretched their winning streak to seven games with a come-from-behind 4-2 win over the Greenville Grrrowl Friday night in Greenville, South Carolina. The Checkers trailed 2-1 after two periods before exploding for three goals in the final period. Eddie Pershin scored twice in the third including the game winner, while Mike Wirll tallied once. Lee Falardeau had the other Charlotte goal.

Checkers goalie Alex Westlund was spectacular in goal, especially in the first two periods when Greenville outshot the Checkers 26-15. Westlund finished with 33 saves and won his 13th game.

"We didn't play our best game tonight but somehow we found a way to win," remarked Charlotte coach Derek Wilkinson. "We obviously played poorly in the first two periods and we still have some things to work on. "But give credit to the guys, they got it rolling in the third period and we won the game."

The Checkers came out slow and flat in the first period and as a result were outshot 15-4. Because of Westlund's play however, Charlotte only trailed 1-0 after an Alex Kojenikov goal for Greenville at 7:15 of the first frame.

In the second period Charlotte tied the game at 1-1 at 7:01 as Falardeau put home a rebound of a Brian Escobedo shot past Grrrowl goalie Mike Brodeur.

Greenville regained the lead at 13:38 of the second, as Ed Caron got around Checkers defenseman Joe Dustin and fired the puck by Westlund from in close for a 2-1 Greenville lead.

In the third period Charlotte tied the game for the second time as Wirll's surprise shot from left wing boards landed in the net just inside the near post. With the score tied 2-2 late in the third, the Grrrowl took two penalties that opened the door for the Checkers to take the lead. Just after a two-man advantage expired, Charlotte scored the game-winning goal on Pershin's rebound just to the left of Brodeur at 18:27. Greenville pulled its goalie in the final minute for an extra attacker, but Pershin's empty-net goal with 22 seconds left iced the game for the Checkers at 4-2.

The victory improved Charlotte's record to 24-13-2 for 50 points, while the Grrrowl dropped to 18-17-3 for 39 points.

The Checkers will continue their two-game road trip Saturday night in Columbia when they'll meet the Inferno at 7:30 p.m.

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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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