The Checkers stormed back after a 7-2 game 1 loss to win three straight and take the opening series 3-1 versus the #8 seed Toledo Walleye. Up next for Charlotte is Cincinnati who finished the regular season in fifth place in the American Conference in points (91) and first in wins (44).
Round 1 - American Conference Quarterfinals (best-of-five)
Charlotte wins series 3-1 – Click HERE for scores
Round 2 - American Conference Semifinals – (best-of-seven)
Charlotte (43-21-8) vs. Cincinnati (44-25-3)
Game 1 – Friday, April 16 – Cincinnati at Charlotte, 7 p.m.
Game 2 – Saturday, April 17 – Cincinnati at Charlotte, 7 p.m.
Game 3 – Wednesday, April 21 – Charlotte at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Game 4 – Friday, April 23 – Charlotte at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Game 5 – Saturday, April 24 – Charlotte at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.*
Game 6 – Tuesday, April 27 – Cincinnati at Charlotte, 7 p.m.*
Game 7 – Wednesday, April 28 – Cincinnati at Charlotte, 7 p.m.*
* - if necessary
Matchup:
Teams: Cincinnati won the season series with a 2-1-0 record. The Checkers were the highest-shooting (34.68 shots/gm) and fifth highest-scoring team (235 g) in the American Conference this season while Cincinnati allowed the fewest goals (200). Charlotte will look to get on the board first as they were 27-2-7 in the regular season when doing so. The Cyclones were the least penalized team and scored the most shorthanded goals (16) in the entire ECHL.
Coaches: Charlotte head coach Derek Wilkinson earned a career high 43 wins and 94 points this season leading the Checkers to their first ever #1 seed in the conference. Cincinnati’s head coach Chuck Weber, meanwhile, has advanced the Cyclones to the third round of the playoffs in each of his first three seasons behind the bench, including a Kelly Cup Championship in 2008.
Goaltending: Checkers netminder Ryan Munce led the ECHL in save percentage (.913) and ranked third with 26 wins during the regular season. Cyclones rookie goaltender Jeremy Smith, a second-round pick of the Nashville Predators, had a league-best 1.60 goals against average during the first round of the playoffs. Smith allowed only eight goals in five games against South Carolina.
Links:
Regular season scoring: Charlotte / Cincinnati
Playoff scoring: Charlotte / Cincinnati
Goaltending: Charlotte / Cincinnati
Playoff goaltending: Charlotte / Cincinnati
ECHL daily report: Reg. season / Playoffs
NOTES:
Charlotte is 10-1 in its last 11 home games…Aaron Slattengren leads the Checkers with six assists in four games…Charlotte clinched its first division title and #1 conference seed in franchise history heading into the playoffs...the Checkers had the four largest crowds in the ECHL this season… Ryan Munce led the ECHL in save percentage (.913), was third in wins (26) and was named ECHL Goaltender of the Month for March…Andrew Carroll led the Checkers this season with 30 goals, including six game winners.
ADDITIONAL INFO:
Ticket information for games 1 and 2 can be found at www.gocheckers.com/playoffs or by calling 704-342-4ICE. Fans can hear Jason Shaya call all of the action by visiting www.gocheckers.com and clicking the “Listen Live” button on the left side of the page. You can also watch the game live at www.b2livetv.com (pay-per-view).
