VERSUS 
CHECKERS GIVE UP LATE GAME LEAD, LOSE IN OVERTIME
The Charlotte Checkers held a late third-period lead, took a costly penalty and then fell to the South Carolina Stingrays in overtime on Wednesday evening at Time Warner Cable Arena.
With the win, South Carolina increased their league-high win streak to 11 games. Charlotte, having picked up a point in overtime, is now 7-1-1 in its last nine games at home.
The Checkers were without the services of leading scorer Michel Leveille and former ECHL All-Star defenseman Steve Ward, who both sat out with injuries.
Neither team could get anything going in the first period as only 13 shots were recorded and no penalties were called.
The Checkers then opened the scoring with less than two minutes to play in the second period. David Marshall took a pass from Andrew Carroll and let a wrist shot go from the left side that trickled between the legs of Stingrays goaltender Todd Ford.
Just over eight minutes into the third period, South Carolina would tie the game on a goal by forward Gregg Johnson. Johnson streaked down the left wing and let a slap shot go that beat Ryan Munce over the glove.
Charlotte then regained the lead five minutes later when the team’s leading goal scorer Kenny Roche lifted a shot past Ford on the short side. The goal was Roche’s fifth in the last five games and was assisted by Tyler Doig and Mike Taylor.
With two and a half minutes to play in the game, defenseman Kevin Schaeffer was assessed a five-minute major penalty and the Stingrays took advantage on the power play as Matt Fornataro scored the game-tying goal.
South Carolina remained on the power play but Munce shut the door, saving a point in the standings, and the teams prepared for overtime.
In the overtime period, Stingrays defenseman Josh Godfrey took a pass from Nikita Kashirsky and one-timed a shot past Munce for the game-winner. The goal was a power-play marker as the major penalty carried over into the extra frame.
Munce, who was named ECHL Goaltender of the Week on Tuesday, stopped 29 of 32 shots, while Ford stopped 27 for the victory.
The Checkers (14-7-4-0) will once again host the Stingrays on Friday at Time Warner Cable Arena. Game time is 7 p.m. and ticket information can be obtained by calling 704-342-4-ICE or visiting www.gocheckers.com
GAME SUMMARY and OFFICIAL GAME SHEET
NOTES:
* Kenny Roche has five goals in his last five games, including two game-winners
* Ryan Munce has stopped 112 of the last 116 shots he has faced
* The Checkers are 7-1-1 in their last nine home games
* T.J. Reynolds leads all ECHL defensemen with 99 penalty minutes and 11 fighting majors and leads the Checkers with a +15 rating
* In Friday’s game, Randy Rowe played in his 500th pro game and Harder his 600th
* Trevor Glass, Codey Burki and Aaron Slattengren are on the 21-day injured reserve.
THREE STARS:
1. SC – J. Godfrey
2. SC – G. Johnson
3. CHR – K. Roche
ON ICE OFFICIALS:
Referee:
Curtis Marouelli (24)
Linesmen:
Dan Cohen (65)
Mathieu Chenier (71)
NEXT GAME:
The strange ECHL schedule continues. The Checkers started the month playing two of three against Gwinnett. Then they got a break and played Elmira. Then three in a row against the Florida Everblades. Now they have, get this, after playing them tonight five of their next six are against South Carolina. Checkers go at it again when the two teams face off Friday night in The Time Warner Cable Arena.
SCORE SHEET:
South Carolina Stingrays 3 (OT) At Charlotte Checkers 2 – Status: Final OT
Dec 16, 2009 – Time Warner Cable Arena
South Carolina 0 0 2 1 – 3
Charlotte 0 1 1 0 – 2
1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties
2nd Period-1, Charlotte, Marshall 5 (Carroll, Berube), 18:10. Penalties-Reynolds Chr (roughing), 3:55; Scherer Sc (interference), 4:38; Snavely Chr (hooking), 7:47; Rowe Chr (interference), 9:12; Yeo Sc (high-sticking), 19:40.
3rd Period-2, South Carolina, Johnson 9 (Johnson), 8:16. 3, Charlotte, Roche 13 (Doig, Taylor), 13:20. 4, South Carolina, Fornataro 13 (Godfrey, Johnson), 17:47 (pp). Penalties-Johnson Sc (high-sticking), 5:47; Doig Chr (high-sticking), 10:48; Schaeffer Chr (cross-checking major, game misconduct – cross-checking), 17:30.
OT Period-5, South Carolina, Godfrey 3 (Kashirsky), 1:41 (pp). Penalties-Doig Chr (misconduct), 1:41.
Shots on Goal-South Carolina 6-10-13-3-32. Charlotte 7-12-9-1-29.
Power Play Opportunities-South Carolina 2 of 6; Charlotte 0 of 3.
Goalies-South Carolina, Ford 13-4-0-1 (29 shots-27 saves). Charlotte, Munce 5-2-1-0 (32 shots-29 saves).
A-4,051
Comments (1)
Matt Campbellsays:
December 17, 2009 at 3:49 PMI recently was turned onto your blog second-hand from a WolfPack player. I like the amount of coverage you give to both Hartford and Charlotte. I’m a season ticket holder for the Checkers, and we don’t get too much inside info on the path between us and the Pack.
On the topic of last night’s game, we basically got screwed. Marouelli is a first year ECHL ref after spending the last two seasons in the USHL and SPHL. In fact I suspect this was one of his first ECHL games as he has done SPHL matches this year. He was well behind the play that resulted in the game deciding call; Schaeffer and Kashirsky (the Stingray that got “hit”) were leading the play down into the corner, Schaef was trailing. He raised his stick and was going to cross check him, but pulled up and barely touched him. Kashirsky’s skates got tangled resulting in him heaped on the ice with Schaef trying to make sure he was OK.
We’ve played the Rays very well this year considering how good they are. Last night was no exception, I thought the first half of the game was called beautifully by Marouelli. It was a case of a young ref making a call that he thought was correct but wasn’t. Thanks for sending us Carroll back, he’s a great addition at this level. I look forward to following your blog throughout the season, thanks.