ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Columbia's 4-2 win puts Checkers on brink of elimination

April 16, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


(Columbia, SC) Despite two reasonable efforts, the Charlotte Checkers find themselves down two games to none in their best-of-five, American Conference quarterfinal playoff series with the Columbia Inferno. Two former Checkers players, Walker McDonald and Eric Boulton, scored goals along with teammates Brad Ralph and Sean Owens in Columbia's 4-2 victory over Charlotte Friday night at the Carolina Coliseum.

Dwight Helminen and Ryan Glenn tallied for the Checkers in the losing cause. Charlotte goalie Alex Westlund made 19 saves in dropping his second playoff decision, while Columbia tender Mike Minard earned his second straight win with 24 saves.

Charlotte faces a must-win situation Saturday night in Charlotte at Cricket Arena at 7:00 p.m. in game three if the series is to continue.

McDonald has been a particular pain against the Checkers this season. He scored eight goals in the regular season, with half of those eight coming against Charlotte.

The Checkers special teams sputtered Friday night, as Columbia netted two power play goals and one short-handed goal. Charlotte wanted to get the lead in the game and got it, but couldn't hold it.

"We did what we wanted to do in the first period tonight, and that was come out strong and get the lead", remarked Checkers Coach Derek Wilkinson. "We had a couple of veterans make an uncharacteristic mistake on their first goal which tied the game. I thought we gave Columbia all it could handle in the first two games here, but didn't get anything to show for it. Now tomorrow's game is the only game that matters for us."

The Checkers wasted no time in breaking their scoring slump in Columbia, a drought that lasted six-plus periods dating back to the last regular-season meeting and game one of the playoffs here Wednesday. Helminen tipped in Rory Rawly's centering pass just two minutes and 53 seconds into the contest for a 1-0 Charlotte lead.

Columbia came back quickly early in the second period with a pair of goals in a 2:41 span to assume a 2-1 advantage. With play continuing after a delayed penalty against Charlotte, Matt Ulwelling passed the puck to McDonald who beat Westlund to tie the game at 1-1 just 1:01 into the period. The Inferno assumed the lead just 1:41 later, as Owens shot from the point was tipped in by Ralph at the near post on a power play.

The Checkers came back at 14:49, scoring their first power-play goal of the series, as Glenn ripped a shot from the center point that eluded Minard and tied the game at 2-2. The Inferno quickly regained the lead as Boulton's blast from just inside the left wing circle beat Westlund at 16:06, as Columbia skated to the locker room after two periods with a 3-2 advantage.

In the final period Columbia increased its lead to 4-2, as Owens got a loose puck in the slot and back-handed in his first goal of the playoffs at 8:43 on a power play. With time running out, Wilkinson pulled Westlund for an extra attacker with nearly two minutes to go in the game, but the Checkers couldn't get any closer and Columbia held on for the 4-2 victory.

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ECHL Stories from April 16, 2005


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