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ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Rycroft's goal in OT gives Checkers 2-1 win and one game series lead

April 9, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


(Charlotte, NC - Monday, April 9) The Charlotte Checkers found a way to win Monday night in their first playoff game of the season. Still feeling some signs of fatigue from a game-filled, late-season schedule, the Checkers were outshot 41-28 but managed a 2-1 win in sudden-death overtime at Bobcats Arena.

Daymen Rycroft's score with nine minutes remaining in the first sudden-death overtime session gave Charlotte the win to go up 1-0 in the best-of-three, mini-playoff series. The Checkers held a one-goal advantage until late in the third period, when the Lynx scored to send the game to overtime.

The Checkers can close out the series Tuesday night with a win when Game # 2 shifts to Augusta for a 7:35 p.m. face-off. If the Lynx win Tuesday, a third and deciding game would be back in Charlotte Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. at the Checkers practice facility, The Extreme Ice Center, in Indian Trail.

Charlotte goalie Chris Holt was superb in goal, stopping 40 Lynx shots including 14 in the second period. Nathan Gillies scored the other Charlotte goal with Brian Passmore netting the lone Augusta tally.

"Chris Holt was just phenomenal," commented Charlotte Coach Derek Wilkinson. "He's been dialed in since he's come back from Hartford. He did this in Hartford last year in their playoffs too when he got a chance to play. It seems like the more pressure, the more single-game focus there is, the better he is."

The Checkers overcame five minor penalties and scored a power-play goal of their own for a 1-0 first-period advantage. Two minutes after Charlotte killed off an Augusta, one minute, forty second two-man advantage, the Checkers scored with the Lynx two men down. Gillies took a pass and beat McKee from between the circles for the period's lone goal.

In the second period Augusta dominated with a big territorial advantage, while outshooting the Checkers 14-5. The Lynx also has their second two-man advantage power play, this time for a minute and two seconds. Holt and the Checkers penalty killing unit weathered the storm and somehow kept Augusta off the scoreboard, taking a 1-0 lead to the locker room through two periods.

In the third period Charlotte tightened things up considerably, but the Lynx were finally able to tie the game. With eight minutes left in regulation, Augusta used some crisp passing to set up Passmore for a tap in right in front of Holt to tie the game at 1-1. The shots in the third period were even at 9-9, with the Lynx holding a 34-21 shot advantage through three periods.

In the overtime each team had a chance to win with a power-play opportunity. But it was the Checkers who would capitalize. Rycroft rammed home Kirk DeWaele's rebound from in close to end the game and give Charlotte the first game of the series.

Special teams were a big factor in the Checkers victory. Charlotte went 2-4 on the power play and blanked Augusta on its eight tries, including two, two-man advantages. "They were critical," said Wilkinson. "We have the number one penalty kill in the league for a reason and it showed tonight. In this game when you don't have a whole lot of jump and you get a chance to get them down odd man, you have to capitalize and we did."

SERIES SCHEDULE:

Monday, April 9 - Augusta 1 @ Charlotte 2 OT

Tuesday, April 10 - Charlotte @ Augusta - 7:35 p.m. (TEAMLINE & B2)

Wednesday, April 11 - Augusta @ Charlotte - 7:00 p.m. (If Necessary) **At Extreme Ice Center (TEAMLINE)

*** Fans may purchase tickets in advance for Game 3 (to be held at the Extreme Ice Center in Indian Trail) for $ 5.00 through Tuesday. Tickets purchased at the door Wednesday will be $ 10.00. (If Game 3 is not played, there will be no refunds for tickets purchased in advance. Funds from those sales will be donated to Checkmate Charities.)

CHECKERS MONDAY NIGHT SCRATCHES: Rick Kozak, Dusty Jamieson and Niko Tuomi..

ON RECALL TO (AHL) HARTFORD: Hannu Pikkarainen, Alex Westlund, Corey Potter and Hugh Jessiman

FOR BOX SCORE CLICK: http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1804

NEXT GAME: The Checkers travel to Augusta Tuesday, April 10 at 7:35 p.m. for Game 2 of the best-of-three playoff series with the Lynx. (Game to be broadcast on TEAMLINE. Click here for connection info: http://www.teamline.cc/sportpage?teamcode=2820&eventcode=0036

Can't make the game? Watch it on B2 https://www.b2livetv.com/hockey/echl/charlotte/billnow.asp

Check out the Charlotte Checkers Statistics

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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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