Florida takes care of business in 7-2 win over Checkers
March 24, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
(Charlotte, NC - Wednesday, March 24) The Checkers were all but mathematically eliminated from the ECHL playoffs after being beaten by the Florida Everblades 7-2 Wednesday at Cricket Arena. Brian McCullough had two goals and two assists for Florida while Reggie Berg and Keith Anderson each had a goal and as assist for the Everblades. Konrad McKay and Richard Keyes had the Charlotte goals as the Checkers fell seven points out of the final playoff spot in the Southern Division with four games remaining. The loss also dropped the Checkers to 1-8-1 in their last 10 games.
"I have mixed feelings right now," lamented Checkers coach Derek Wilkinson. " I am really proud of some guys and really disappointed in several others. I was really expecting a lot better play from us tonight and for whatever reason, we cannot seem to keep the puck out of our net. I am absolutely dumbfounded as to why we are playing so poorly. Yes Florida has an excellent team, but our problems tonight have much more to do with the Charlotte Checkers than the Florida Everblades."
Charlotte's first period woes continued Wednesday as Florida built a 4-0 lead after 20 minutes. Four different Everblades scored starting with Berg's tally 4:05 into the contest. Three minutes and 32 seconds later John McNabb beat Checkers goalie Gregg Naumenko on a power play for a 2-0 Florida lead. Brent McDonald made it 3-0 at 11:53 before Damian Surma lit the lamp on a breakaway at 16:32.
In the second period Florida made it 5-0 as Anderson converted a two on one break at 3:16. Wilkinson switched goalies after the Everblades fifth goal inserting David St. Germain to replace Naumenko. McCullough then scored on Florida 's first shot on St. Germain as he stuffed the puck in from in close for a 6-0 Everblades advantage. McKay finally broke the ice for the Checkers, as he took a pass from Rory Rawlyk after busting out of the penalty box and beat Florida goalie Jeff Maund on a breakaway at 10:30. At 12:58 Florida notched its seventh goal as McCullough scored his second goal of the game for a 7-1 Everblades advantage after 40 minutes.
In the third period the Checkers got their second goal of the game as Keyes scored his 12th goal of the season on an odd-man rush to trim the Florida lead to 7-2, which marked the game's final score.
The Checkers dropped to 31-29-8 for 70 points while the Everblades increased their record to 34-24-10 for 78 points. Charlotte has four games left with the final two home games of the regular season coming this weekend. The Checkers will host Florence Friday night at Cricket Arena at 7:30 p.m., and then Columbia in the regular season home finale Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.
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