ESTERO, FL—The Charlotte Checkers jumped out to an early lead and Ryan Munce took care of the rest as the team downed the Florida Everblades, 3-0, on Saturday. With the win, Charlotte earned five of a possible six points in the three-game mini-series.
Kenny Roche led the way offensively for the Checkers with two goals, including the game-winner. Munce stopped all 47 shots he faced and, for the second night in a row, was named the game’s first star.
Just over a minute and a half into the game, Roche was awarded a penalty shot when he was hauled down by a Florida defender but could not solve Florida goaltender Barry Brust. He would make good just three minutes later, however, as he one-timed a Tyler Doig pass through the legs of Brust for his team-leading 11th of the season.
The Checkers then took a 2-0 lead for the third game in a row against the Everblades on another one-time shot from Roche, his second of the game and 12th of the season.
Charlotte held a 22-11 shot advantage after the first period and would add another goal just under eight minutes into the second. T.J. Reynolds took a shot from the point and Mike Harder grabbed the rebound and scored on the wraparound for his second in three games since joining the Checkers.
Florida would apply constant pressure and Munce turned away several scoring chances before an unusual event took place. With 1:15 to play in the second, a Florida player hit the post and the fans at Germain Arena prematurely threw stuffed animals on the ice as part of “Teddy Bear Toss” night. The officials decided to head to intermission and complete the remaining 21:15 of the game after clean-up and a resurfacing.
The stoppage seemed help the Checkers as Florida could not seem to get the momentum back. Munce turned aside all 10 shots he faced in the third and the Checkers earned their second win in as many nights.
The Checkers (14-6-3-0) will continue their five-game road trip on Sunday in South Carolina 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: Ryan Munce has stopped 83 of the last 84 shots he has faced…Kenny Roche is on a three-game goal streak (4g) and has 11 goals in his last 13 games…Mike Harder has two goals in three games since joining the team…T.J. Reynolds leads all ECHL defensemen with 97 penalty minutes and 11 fighting majors and leads the Checkers with a +14 rating…In Friday’s game, Randy Rowe played in his 500th pro game and Harder his 600th…Andrew Carroll and Derek Couture remain on loan to Hartford, Daniel Tkaczuk is with Syracuse, Matt Ford remains with Lake Erie (AHL) and defenseman Ethan Graham is with Norfolk (AHL)…Trevor Glass, Codey Burki and Aaron Slattengren are on the 21-day injured reserve.
Charlotte Checkers 3 At Florida Everblades 0 - Status: Unofficial Final
Dec 12, 2009 - Germain Arena
Charlotte 2 1 0 - 3
Florida 0 0 0 - 0
1st Period-1, Charlotte, Roche 11 (Doig, Taylor), 4:28. 2, Charlotte, Roche 12 (Schepke, Chabot), 14:59. Penalties-Chabot Chr (tripping), 8:37; Taylor Chr (slashing ), 9:34; Reid Fla (unsportsmanlike conduct), 9:34; Morrison Fla (tripping), 11:27; Doig Chr (roughing, roughing), 12:42; Lang Fla (roughing, roughing), 12:42; Duffy Fla (delay of game), 16:00; Dowzak Chr (unsportsmanlike conduct), 19:59; McJannet Fla (unsportsmanlike conduct), 19:59.
2nd Period-3, Charlotte, Harder 5 (Reynolds, Chappell), 7:54. Penalties-Dowzak Chr (fighting - major), 2:20; McJannet Fla (fighting - major), 2:20; Harder Chr (hooking), 3:42; Lang Fla (interference), 5:47; Snavely Chr (slashing ), 15:59.
3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Rowe Chr (hooking), 8:22; Doig Chr (slashing ), 13:56; Schepke Chr (tripping), 15:50; Carlson Fla (slashing ), 16:16.
Shots on Goal-Charlotte 22-8-12-42. Florida 11-26-10-47.
Power Play Opportunities-Charlotte 0 of 4; Florida 0 of 6.
Goalies-Charlotte, Munce 4-2-0-0 (47 shots-47 saves). Florida, Brust 3-1-0-2 (42 shots-39 saves).
A-6,586
Referees-Joe Sullivan (4).
Linesmen-Matt Devivo (44), Jay Jacobs (54).
