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ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Columbia scores twice in the third to edge Checkers 3-2

March 18, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


(Columbia, South Carolina - Sunday, March 18) The Charlotte Checkers had their three-game winning streak snapped Sunday in a 3-2 loss to the Columbia Inferno at the Carolina Coliseum. Brad Ralph's goal with three minutes remaining proved to be the game-winner, as Columbia won the game with a pair of third-period goals.

The Checkers took a 2-1 lead into the third period after second-period goals by Blake Bellefeuille and Nathan Gillies. But Charlotte got shut out in the final period and yielded goals by Ralph and Luke Fulghum as the Inferno completed their comeback.

The loss kept the Checkers tied for the fifth and final playoff spot in the ECHL South with the idle Augusta Lynx, with each team sporting 71 points. Charlotte still has two games in hand on Augusta. The Checkers fell four points behind fourth place South Carolina, as the Stingrays beat Pensacola 3-2 on Sunday. Charlotte still holds four games in hand on South Carolina.

The Checkers record now stands at 34-24-1-2 for 71 points, while Columbia kept its faint playoff hopes alive by improving its record to 25-29-4-5 for 59 points.

Despite the loss, the Checkers won three of their four games in the week, and have been winners in five of their last eight games.

Inferno goalie Todd Ford notched the win with 27 saves, while Checkers goalie Alex Westlund saw his personal three-game winning streak snapped as he absorbed the loss with 26 saves.

Charlotte's penalty-killing unit sparkled by denying the Inferno on all ten of its power-play chances. The Checkers didn't have much more success on their power play, going 1-9.

"The guys were certainly tired today with our third game in three days," said Mike Ouellette. "That's a hard building to play in, and it's always hard to lose to a team below you in the standings."

The Inferno jumped on the Checkers in the first minute of the first period when Kevin Asselin knocked home a rebound in front of Westlund for a 1-0 Inferno lead. Charlotte was penalized five times in the first period but weathered all the storms, including a Columbia two-man advantage for 1 minute, 4 seconds.

Following the first period Columbia Coach, Troy Mann, verbally confronted the referee, Jonathan Petersen. Mann was angered after two Columbia players were penalized late in the first. Mann was ejected from the game and the Inferno was also given a two-minute minor for unsportsmanlike conduct

In the second period Charlotte tied the game at 1-1 at 4:04 on a power play after the Inferno's Chris St. Jacques was given a five-minute major for knocking down Jeff Lang from behind. St. Jacques was also given a game misconduct. Bellefeuille launched a shot off of Ford and into the net from the left side of the Columbia goal. Late in the period at 19:02, Gillies gave Charlotte its first lead of the game when he poked home a rebound in front of Ford for a 2-1 Checkers advantage through two periods.

Columbia tied the game four minutes into the final period on Fulghum's 21st tally of the season, with Ralph's game-winning goal sealing the win for Columbia.

CHECKERS SUNDAY SCRATCHES: Dusty Jamieson, Lee Falardeau, and Adam Nightingale.

ON RECALL TO (AHL) HARTFORD: Corey Potter, Chris Holt, and Zdenek Bahensky

ON LOAN TO (AHL) HARTFORD: Kenny Smith

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

FOR BOX SCORE CLICK: http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1676

NEXT GAME: The Checkers are in Pensacola Tuesday night to take on the Ice Pilots with face-off set for 8:00 p.m. Charlotte time. Broadcast on (TEAMLINE http://www.teamline.cc/sportpages.html?teamcode=2820&eventcode=0036) and B2 https://www.b2livetv.com/hockey/echl/charlotte/billnow.asp )

NEXT HOME GAME: The Checkers next home game is Tuesday, March 27 when they'll entertain the Pensacola Ice Pilots at Charlotte Bobcats Arena at 7:00 p.m.

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.

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ECHL Stories from March 18, 2007


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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