CHARLOTTE, NC—The Charlotte Checkers put 42 shots on goal but could only muster two goals as they dropped a 4-2 decision to the Gwinnett Gladiators on Sunday. Gwinnett has now won four of seven meetings this season.
Frank Doyle stopped 36 shots in a losing effort for the Checkers and Mike Bayrack notched two goals and an assist for Gwinnett against his former team.
Each team took 16 shots in the first period but neither could find the back of the net. Both Doyle and Gladiators goaltender David Brown made several key saves to keep the scored knotted at 0-0.
Gwinnett opened the scoring on a goal by Chad Denny. Denny skated down the left wing boards and let a shot go through traffic that fooled Doyle between the legs. The goal came at 4:04 of the second period and was assisted by Matt Siddall, his first of three assists on the night.
Charlotte would answer back less than four minutes later on the power play. Julien Brouillette took a pass from Michel Leveille and fired a shot past Brown, off the post and in.
In the third, Bayrack scored two goals from the front of the net, where he was parked. The goals were the first two of the season for the veteran forward.
With less than two minutes to play, the Checkers brought themselves within one on a goal by Randy Rowe, his fifth in six games. Rowe stuffed the puck past Brown on the short side and Charlotte looked as though they were on the verge of a comeback.
The Gladiators, however, would put the game away just 18 seconds later on a Checkers turnover. Matt Francis took the puck from a Charlotte defender and beat Doyle on a breakaway to seal the victory.
The Checkers (12-6-2-0) will continue their five-game road trip on Wednesday in Florida and will return to Time Warner Cable Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 16 to host South Carolina. Game time is 7 p.m. and ticket information can be obtained by calling 704-342-4-ICE or visiting www.gocheckers.com
Notes: Randy Rowe has nine points (5g, 4a) in six games since being activated off injured reserve…Daniel Tkaczuk has 18 points (6g, 12a) in 12 games since joining the team…T.J. Reynolds leads all ECHL defensemen with 94 penalty minutes and 10 fighting majors and leads the Checkers with a +12 rating…Derek Couture remains on loan to Hartford, Matt Ford remains with Lake Erie (AHL) and defenseman Ethan Graham is with Norfolk (AHL)…Trevor Glass and Aaron Slattengren are on the 21-day injured reserve.
Charlotte Checkers 2 At Gwinnett Gladiators 4 - Status: Final
Dec 6, 2009 - The Arena at Gwinnett Center
Charlotte 0 1 1 - 2
Gwinnett 0 1 3 - 4
1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Reynolds Chr (tripping), 5:56; Brocklehurst Gwt (slashing ), 9:38; Leveille Chr (cross-checking), 11:12; Bayrack Gwt (hooking), 15:38.
2nd Period-1, Gwinnett, Denny 4 (Siddall, Brocklehurst), 4:04. 2, Charlotte, Brouillette 5 (Leveille, Doig), 7:25 (pp). Penalties-Kaufman Gwt (hooking), 7:13; Marshall Chr (slashing , fighting - major), 13:07; Paris Gwt (fighting - major), 13:07; Schepke Chr (hooking), 14:40.
3rd Period-3, Gwinnett, Bayrack 1 (Siddall), 8:49. 4, Gwinnett, Bayrack 2 (Roberts, Siddall), 12:11. 5, Charlotte, Rowe 5 (Tkaczuk, Schepke), 18:24. 6, Gwinnett, Francis 1 (Bayrack, Marchesi), 18:42. Penalties-Bayrack Gwt (slashing ), 0:52; Leveille Chr (hooking), 1:17; Doig Chr (tripping), 4:12; Paris Gwt (holding), 14:21.
Shots on Goal-Charlotte 16-15-11-42. Gwinnett 16-12-12-40.
Power Play Opportunities-Charlotte 1 of 5; Gwinnett 0 of 6.
Goalies-Charlotte, Doyle 3-1-0-0 (40 shots-36 saves). Gwinnett, Brown 2-1-1-0 (42 shots-40 saves).
A-4,842
Referees-Keith Kaval (20).
Linesmen-Paul Reid (97), Ben Shiley (92).
