Pensacola doubles up Checkers 8-4
Published on December 18, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
Pensacola, Florida - Friday, December 17: The Charlotte Checkers began their southwest portion of their eight-game, season-long road trip with a wild and wholly game against the Pensacola Ice Pilots Friday night. Dwayne Hay scored four goals and added an assist while Tyler Beechey added two tallies as Pensacola subdued the Checkers 8-4. The Checkers never led in the contest but did tie the game twice. Charlotte got goals from Rory Rawlyk, Lee Falardeau, Dusty Jamieson, and Chris Belanger. The Checkers special teams rebounded from poor recent play with a pair of short-handed goals and a power-play goal. The Ice Pilots had a whopping nine power-play chances to only one for the Checkers, as Charlotte did yield two power-play goals.
"Our defense is hurting right now and we did not get a good performance from our goalie tonight (Kelly Guard)," remarked Charlotte coach Derek Wilkinson. "We also lost Ryan Glenn to a callup. I did like the way we battled back after so much adversity in the first part of the first period. We've got to somehow find a way to win a few games on this road trip."
Pensacola scored just forty three seconds into the game as Corey Neilson's shot from the point was tipped in by Hay for a 1-0 Ice Pilots lead. At five minutes, forty six seconds of the period Hay scored his second of the night for a 2-0 Pensacola advantage. Things got bleaker when Charlotte's Eddie Pershin was given a double minor at 6:37 for high sticking, and it appeared the Checkers might get run out of the building. That's when the tide turned and Charlotte got back into the game. Rawlyk received an early Christmas present when his clearing pass bounced off the glass just inside the Pensacola blue line and ended up in the back of the Ice Pilots goal. Pensacola goalie Frederic Cloutier came out of the net to play the puck behind his goal, but the crazy bounce headed for the goal and the Ice Pilots goalie was unable to get back in the net in time. The short-handed goal cut the Pensacola advantage to 2-1.Just under two minutes later with the Checkers still short-handed, Falardeau back-handed in a rebound of a Ryan Cuthbert shot to tie the game a 2-2. Moments later Guard gave up a soft goal to Jade Galbraith and Pensacola took a 3-2 lead which held to the end of the period.
In the second period the Ice Pilots out-scored the Checkers three goals to two. Charlotte tied the game at 3-3 on Jamieson's power-play goal at 4:48. The Ice Pilots then came right back and scored two power-play goals for a 5-3 lead. Jordan Krestanovich beat Guard in tight on a Pensacola two-man advantage, followed by Beechey's first of two as the Ice Pilots re-assumed their two-goal lead. The Checkers once again crawled closer as Belanger, just back from an injury, knocked home a rebound that pulled Charlotte to within one a 5-4 at 11:46. Under a minute later Pensacola came back as Hay completed his hat-trick at 12:22 for a 6-4 Ice Pilots lead. Wilkinson then pulled Guard in favor of Alex Westlund who went the rest of the way in goal for the Checkers.
Leading 6-4 after two periods, Pensacola added two more third-period goals by Beechey and Hay for the 8-4 final. The Checkers record on their eight-game, season long road trip dropped to 1-3-0. Overall Charlotte's record dipped to 13-8-2 for 28 points. The Ice Pilots saw their record rise to 13-4-2 for 28 points.
The Checkers road trip continues Saturday in Beaumont, Texas when the Charlotte meets the Texas Wildcatters at 8:05 p.m.
Following the eight-game road trip, the Checkers will return home to Cricket Arena to host Augusta on Sunday, December 26 at 3:00 p.m. Tickets available at the Cricket Arena Box office, the Charlotte Coliseum box office, and at all Ticketmaster locations. Tickets may also be purchased on line at _www.ticketmaster.com_ (http://www.ticketmaster.com/) or by phone at (704) 522-6500. Group, season and mini-plan tickets cab be purchased through the Charlotte Checkers office by calling (704) 342-4ICE.
ECHL Stories from December 18, 2004
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- Steelheads lose 3-2 to Falcons - Idaho Steelheads
- Pensacola doubles up Checkers 8-4 - Charlotte Checkers
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