Checkers Win Third Straight With 4-3 Win Over Columbia
Published on January 30, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
Charlotte, NCâ January 29, 2003: The Charlotte Checkers continued their winning ways at home with a 4-3 win Wednesday night at Cricket Arena over the Columbia Inferno. After giving up a two goal lead the Checkers pulled out the win while never trailing. A two-goal third period proved to be the difference, as Charlotte won its' third straight overall and fourth straight at home.
"We played real hard tonight and beat a very good team, in fact, we've beaten three good teams in a row" remarked Checkers Head Coach Don MacAdam. "We didn't play a particularly good second period tonight, put dug down deep in the third for the win. We're spreading out the scoring with all three lines."
For the third consecutive game Charlotte vaulted out to a 2-0 lead. In the first period after the teams skated fairly even until Charlotte scored with just 45 seconds left in the stanza. Walker McDonald took a pass from Kurt Seher, faked a pass and then blasted one over the left shoulder of Columbia goalie Patrick Couture for a 1-0 Checkers lead.
Charlotte increased its' lead to 2-0 at 5:16 of the second period as Eddie Pershin fired home a rebound past Couture. Seher earned his second assist of the night, and Kevin Caulfield also chipped in with a helper on the Pershin goal. The Inferno finally got on the board at 13:14 as Columbia capitalized on a three on two break, with Rejean Stringer connecting to cut the Checkers lead to 2-1.
Both teams combined for four goals in the first 8:35 of the final period. Early in the third period Columbia tied the game as Robin Carruthers knocked a centering pass by Charlotte goalie Scott Meyer to knot the score at 2-2. The Checkers came right back to grab the lead again as Konrad McKay scored at 5:36 for a 3-2 Charlotte advantage. Just over a minute later Columbia's Matt Ulwelling tied the game again at 3-3. But the Caulfield goal helped Charlotte grab the lead again for the third and final time at 4-3, scoring at 8:35 on assists from Pershin and Meyer. The final 11:25 of the final period went scoreless and the Checkers hung on for the 4-3 final.
Charlotte improved its' record to three games over .500 at 22-19-2 for 46 points. Columbia dropped its' fourth straight and fell to 27-19-1 for 55 points. The Checkers next embark on a two-game weekend road trip for a Friday and Saturday clash with the Reading Royals. Charlotte returns home next Tuesday for a third straight game with Reading, with face-off time at 7:05 p.m. at Cricket Arena.
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