Kelly Cup Playoffs Update

Published on April 26, 2005 under ECHL (ECHL)
Augusta Lynx News Release


Monday's Action

American Conference

Gwinnett vs. Charlotte – Series tied 1-1

Kenton Smith became the latest Charlotte Checker to play the hero role, scoring the overtime game winner for his club in a 4-3 win over the Gwinnett Gladiators on Monday, evening their American Conference Semi Final series at one game apiece.

Charlotte jumped all over the Gladiators in the first period, scoring three times in the opening frame. Bogdan Rudenko broke the ice at 3:21 with a power play marker, followed by Ryan Glenn's four-on-four goal to make it 2-0 at 5:29. Dwight Helminen notched the third Checkers goal of the period at 12:55, chasing Gladiators starter Adam Berkhoel, who allowed three goals on eight shots.

Gwinnett would soldier on, however, manufacturing a three-goal comeback to force overtime. Chris Durno got Gwinnett on the board at 2:29 of the second period, following that marker with his second tally of the night, a power play goal at 6:21 to make it a 3-2 game. Adam Smyth completed the comeback at 10:08 of the second period, tying the game with help from Jim Jackson and Pascal Pelletier. Gladiators backup netminder Sean Fields held the fort in the defensive end of the ice, turning aside all 24 shots faced for the remainder of regulation to help send things to OT.

There, Smith took center stage at the 7:04 mark, beating Fields through traffic with an assist from Dan Preston to ice a 4-3 win and even the series for Charlotte. Alex Westlund again had a busy night in net for Charlotte, stopping 49 shots for the win.

The series shifts back to Charlotte for Wednesday's Game Three at 7:05 pm.

Florida vs. Greenville – Florida leads 2-0

After a Game One that included 197 PIMs and a third period brawl, Game Two followed with the mildly heart-rending effects of a Florida Everblades 4-3 overtime win over the Greenville Grrrowl on Monday night.

Scott Balan got Greenville on the board first with a shorthanded effort from Sam Paolini at 9:45 of the opening frame. Florida would respond with a pair of goals 21 seconds apart from Kris Vernarsky and Brad Church starting at 17:03 to give the Everblades a 2-1 lead after the first period.

Richard Pitirri evened the contest at 10:14 of the second period, but once again Florida reclaimed the lead, this time on a David Lundbohm marker just nine seconds before the close of the middle frame.

Up 3-2 entering the third, Florida could not hold the lead. Paolini lifted Greenville's spirits just 51 seconds into the final frame, tying the contest at 3-3 and setting the stage for overtime.

There, Steve Saviano barely gave anyone time to take their seats before converting a Lundbohm feed at the :16 mark of the first overtime period to give the Everblades the win.

Tyler MacKay was pulled after allowing the third period game-tying goal at the :51 mark, finishing with nine saves. Rookie Craig Kowalski was inserted into the contest for Florida and came up big, stopping all nine shots faced over the rest of the contest. Mike Morrisson was also pulled from the Greenville net after allowing two goals on 12 shots, and Mike Brodeur took the loss with 21 saves in relief.

Game Three will come Tuesday night in Greenville at 7:05 pm.

National Conference

Alaska vs. Long Beach – Alaska wins 3-0

Alaska has once again closed out a playoff series first this post-season, erasing the Long Beach Ice Dogs from the playoff picture with a 3-1 win Monday night.

No scoring in the first period gave way to Chris Minard and Mike Scott moving Alaska ahead 2-0 with a pair of second period goals.

Michael Lambert drew Long Beach within a goal at 6:40 of the third period, and the Ice Dogs continued to press for the equalizer. Pulling goaltender Sebastien Centomo (31 saves) for the extra attacker, Long Beach ended up instead giving up an empty net goal to Kimbi Daniels for the 3-1 final.

Peter Aubry made 23 saves for the win, his ECHL-leading sixth of the playoffs.

Alaska will now await the winner of the Trenton/Reading series to determine the National Conference Final.

American Conference Semifinals (Best-of-Five)

No. 1 Florida Everblades (42-20-10) at No. 4 Greenville Grrrowl (39-28-5) 7:30 p.m. ET

Florida Leads Series 2-0

* Steve Saviano had an assist and scored the game winner in Florida's 4-3 overtime win in Game 2.

* Greenville's Sam Paolini had a goal and an assist in Game 2 and has three points (1g-2a) in three games.

* David Lundbohm, Paul Cabana and Chris Lee have all scored in each of Florida's six playoff games.

* Grrrowl is 1-1 with a 1.40 goals-against average and is 30 percent (3-for-10) on the power play at home.

* Everblades are 5-1 and have averaged 4.5 goals per game in the playoffs.

* Grrrowl went 2-1-0 at home against Florida during the regular season, with two games decided by one goal.

* Florida's David Lundbohm leads the playoffs with six goals and Steve Saviano leads in assists with eight.

* Greenville is 3-3 in the playoffs with four of its six games being decided in overtime (2-2).

* Florida's Tyler MacKay gave up three goals on nine shots in Game 2, raising his goals-against average from 2.85 to 3.04.

* Martin St. Pierre has scored in five of six playoff games and leads the Grrrowl with seven points (2g-5a).

Upcoming Kelly Cup Playoffs Games

American Conference Semifinals (Best-of-Five)

No. 2 Gwinnett Gladiators (40-24-8) at No. 3 Charlotte Checkers (39-26-7) Series Tied 1-1

Game 3 - Wednesday, April 27 at 7:05 p.m. ET

National Conference - North Division Finals (Best-of-Five)

No. 1 Reading Royals (43-22-7) at No. 2 Trenton Titans (42-21-9) Series Tied 1-1

Game 3 - Wednesday, April 27 at 7 p.m. ET

National Conference - West Division Finals (Best-of-Five)

No. 1 Alaska Aces (45-19-8) vs. No. 2 Long Beach Ice Dogs (43-20-9) Alaska Wins Series 3-0

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ECHL Stories from April 26, 2005


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