NORTH CHARLESTON, SC—Playing their fifth game in eight nights, the Charlotte Checkers could not generate any offense and dropped a 4-0 decision to the South Carolina Stingrays on Sunday in North Charleston.
Stingrays forward Nikita Kashirsky recorded the hat trick and goaltender Todd Ford stopped all 25 shots he faced for his first shutout of the season. Frank Doyle got the start for the Checkers and made 26 saves in a losing effort.
With the loss the Checkers drop to 6-4-2 on the road and will meet South Carolina again for the next four games, beginning Wednesday in Charlotte.
The Stingrays opened the scoring just over seven minutes into the game on a goal by Kashirsky. Nate Kiser took a shot from the point and the team’s leading goal-scorer was there to bang home the rebound.
The rookie forward from Russia would add another just two minutes later when he redirected a pass from Trent Campell between the legs of Doyle.
With two minutes to play in the second period, South Carolina increased their lead to three. Matt Fornataro streaked into the Checkers’ zone on the left wing and fed a nice pass to Gregg Johnson who tipped it past Doyle.
The shots favored Charlotte 19-18 after forty minutes, however they were unable to solve Ford.
With less than four minutes to play, Kashirsky would ice the game and complete the hat trick off a pass from Gregg Johnson. The goal was his 16th of the season, leading all ECHL rookies.
The Checkers (14-7-3) 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…Mike Harder has two goals in four 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 0 At South Carolina Stingrays 4 - Status: Final
Dec 13, 2009 - North Charleston Coliseum
Charlotte 0 0 0 - 0
South Carolina 2 1 1 - 4
1st Period-1, South Carolina, Kashirsky 14 (Kiser, Campbell), 7:15. 2, South Carolina, Kashirsky 15 (Campbell, Johnson), 9:28. Penalties-No Penalties
2nd Period-3, South Carolina, Johnson 8 (Fornataro, Godfrey), 18:00. Penalties-No Penalties
3rd Period-4, South Carolina, Kashirsky 16 (Johnson), 16:34. Penalties-Marshall Chr (tripping), 2:53.
Shots on Goal-Charlotte 8-11-6-25. South Carolina 11-6-13-30.
Power Play Opportunities-Charlotte 0 of 0; South Carolina 0 of 1.
Goalies-Charlotte, Doyle 3-2-0-0 (30 shots-26 saves). South Carolina, Ford 12-4-0-1 (25 shots-25 saves).
A-3,616
Referees-Steve Patafie (29).
Linesmen-Mathieu Chenier (71), Paul Reid (97).
