ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers win third straight at North Charleston Coliseum with 5-4 win in OT

Published on February 24, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


(Charleston, South Carolina - Friday, February 23) In the Checkers previous 50 games this season, they played with more players than they played with Friday night. Starting the game with only 16 players, Charlotte finished the game with 15 bodies and still managed to pull off a 5-4 overtime victory against the South Carolina Stingrays Friday night at the North Charleston Coliseum. Blake Bellefeuille scored the winning goal with just 44 seconds left in the five-minute sudden-death overtime session off a beautiful helper from Bryan Rodney. The victory was Charlotte's second overtime win over the Stingrays (26-19-3-4 for 58 points) in a week, and improved the Checkers record over South Carolina to 6-2 in the eleven-game season-series. Nathan Gillies had a pair of goals for the Checkers, (28-20-1-2 for 59 points) with Mark Lee scoring once. John Donnelly also scored his first goal as a member of the Checkers. Charlotte goalie, Chris Holt, saw a lot of rubber, facing 41 shots while stopping 37. Holt also had a solid third period and overtime, with 17 saves in that 24 minute span.

"That was probably the best second period we've played all season," said Charlotte Coach Derek Wilkinson. "As a group everyone played together, and played for each other. When you score five goals against an MVP goaltender like Davis Parley in his building, you've earned it."

While buoyed by his team's effort and victory, Wilkinson was somewhat subdued regarding the injury to Checkers forward Adam Nightingale. Injured in a late first-period fight, the preliminary diagnosis was a separated shoulder that could possibly sideline Nightingale for the rest of the season.

South Carolina took an early 1-0 lead in the first period on a power-play goal from Cail MacLean at 2 minutes, 17 seconds. The Checkers came back to take a 2-1 advantage on a pair of first-period tallies by Gillies in a two and a half span. Less than a minute after Gillies' second goal, Matt Stefanishion tied the game banging home Evan Schwab's rebound as the two teams hit the locker room tied at 2-2 after one period.

The Checkers played a sparkling second period, outshooting the Stingrays 15-10 and scoring the stanza's only goal. Donnelly gave Charlotte a 3-2 advantage at 17:40 of the second as he nudged the puck across the line on a goal-mouth scramble.

The Stingrays tied the game and then went ahead 4-3 on a pair of goals in the first eight minutes of the third period. But the Checkers fought back as Kenton Smith roared into the Stingrays zone and put a nice pass on the stick of Lee, who blasted the puck in from 30 feet to tie the match at 4-4.

Kirk DeWaele took a penalty late in regulation that also carried over into overtime, but the Charlotte penalty killers hunkered down allowing Bellefeuille's winner in the final minute of overtime.

CHECKERS FRIDAY NIGHT SCRATCHES: Dusty Jamieson, Rick Kozak, Lee Falardeau and Jan Vodrazka.

ON RECALL TO (AHL) HARTFORD: Alex Westlund, Corey Potter, and Zdenek Bahensky

REASSIGNED FROM CHARLOTTE TO (AHL) HARTFORD BY (NHL) NEW YORK: Hugh Jessiman

ON LOAN FROM CHARLOTTE TO (AHL) PROVIDENCE: Ryan Glenn

FOR BOX SCORE CLICK: http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1542

The Checkers roadtrip continues Sunday afternoon when Charlotte returns to Charleston to face the Stingrays again with face-off at 4:00 p.m. The Checkers next home game is Sunday, March 4 at 4:00 p.m. when the Florida Everblades come to Charlotte Bobcats Arena. The March 4 Checkers home game is "Pucks for Patrick" day, where the Checkers and their fans will help raise funds for "A Second Breath Foundation."

Tickets for all Checkers home games can be purchased on the official team web site at www.gocheckers.com, on the telephone by using a credit card and calling 1-800-495-2295, or by visiting the Charlotte Bobcats Arena box office.

Check out the Charlotte Checkers Statistics

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ECHL Stories from February 24, 2007


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