January 17, 2011 3:21 PM
Overall record: 23-15-1-4 (Home 10-9-0-4, Away 13-6-1-0)
Last week’s record: 2-2-0
Previous 10: 4-5-0-1
Standings: 3rd – East Division, 5th – Eastern Conference
THE WEEK AHEAD
Wed., Jan 19: CHECKERS vs. Springfield Falcons (7 p.m.) - TICKETS
Fri., Jan 21: CHECKERS vs. Springfield Falcons (7 p.m.) - TICKETS
Sun., Jan 23: CHECKERS at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (3 p.m.)
WEEK IN REVIEW
Game 40: Tuesday, Jan. 11 - at NOR (W, 2-1)
Make It a High Five in Norfolk
The Checkers scored the game’s first two goals and held on for their fifth win in five tries in Norfolk. A late tally from Admirals leading scorer Marc-Antoine Pouliot narrowed Charlotte’s lead to 2-1, but the team hung on for the win. Oskar Osala and Nicolas Blanchard were the goal scorers for the Checkers, and Justin Pogge won his ninth straight road decision by making 33 saves on 34 shots.
Game 41: Thursday, Jan.13 - vs. MCH (L, 6-4)
Late Comeback Falls Short
The Manchester Monarchs scored three times in the opening 11:34 and fended off a late comeback attempt as they defeated the Checkers, 6-4, Thursday at Time Warner Cable Arena. In the loss, Brett Sutter tallied his first two-goal game as a Checker, with Jacob Micflikier and Oskar Osala adding Charlotte’s other two markers.
Game 42: Friday, Jan.14 - vs. MCH (W, 6-5)
Checkers King Monarchs in Shootout Thriller
After squandering a 5-2 lead in the third period, Drayson Bowman, Jon Matsumoto and Chris Terry scored shootout goals to lift the Checkers to a 6-5 win over the Manchester Monarchs in front of more than 10,000 fans at Time Warner Cable Arena. Cedric McNicoll earned first star honors by scoring two goals, while Mike Murphy won for the 10th time this season, in his first start since Jan. 1. Using ticket proceeds and a post-game jersey auction, the Checkers raised more than $20,000 for Zach Bennett and his family as they plan to move from Albany, NY to Charlotte.
Game 43: Sunday, Jan.16 - vs. NOR (L, 4-2)
Checkers Doubled Up By Admirals
Second-period goals from Blair Jones and Radko Gudas were the difference as the Norfolk Admirals came from behind to defeat Charlotte, 4-2, at Time Warner Cable Arena. Dustin Tokarski beat the Checkers for the first time, stopping all 12 shots he faced after relieving Cedrick Desjardins in the second period. The win was Norfolk’s third straight in Charlotte and the visiting team has won all eight meetings in the season series.
NOTABLES
* Brett Sutter’s goal 12 seconds into Sunday’s game was the fastest ever goal by a Checker to start a game.
* Mike Murphy earned the win Saturday against Monarchs, his first win via shootout this season. Justin Pogge was the winner in the Checkers’ only prior shootout win, Dec. 28 over Norfolk.
* By scoring the Checkers’ fifth goal Friday night, Jon Matsumoto recorded his 200th career professional point.
*Drayson Bowman played in his 100th professional game Friday vs. Manchester.
*Zac Dalpe’s shorthanded goal Friday was his first for the Checkers since he tallied in Charlotte’s 6-2 win over Providence Dec. 17. Between his last two Charlotte goals, Dalpe recorded his first three NHL goals, his first coming against Martin Brodeur in Carolina’s 6-3 win over New Jersey Jan. 1.
* Nick Dodge’s AHL-leading, 201-game ironman streak was snapped Friday night. By playing in every game for Charlotte this season and all 80 games for Albany last season, Chris Terry becomes the AHL's newest ironman leader with 123 straight games played.
LEADERS
Goals: Samson (20)
Assists: Osala (25)
Points: Samson (42)
PIM: FitzGerald (136)
Plus/Minus: Carson/Dalpe (+10)
Wins: Pogge (13)
GAA: Pogge (2.88)
Save %: Pogge (.915)
THE WEEK AHEAD
Wednesday and Friday - Checkers vs. Springfield Falcons (7 p.m.)
The Falcons visit Charlotte for the first time ever on Wednesday and Friday nights at Time Warner Cable Arena. The teams have met twice this season, with clubs having split a pair of games at MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass. Charlotte won 4-1 on Oct. 10 for its first win an AHL franchise before the Falcons trumped the Checkers 7-3 on the heels of a 5-0 first-period lead on Jan. 8.
Sunday - Checkers at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (3 p.m.)
On Sunday, the Checkers will try to shake a season-long bugaboo against the Penguins, with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton winning the first four contests in Charlotte. This will be the first of the remaining four matchups between the clubs taking place in Wilkes-Barre. Entering the week, the Penguins have the best home record in the AHL at 17-5-0, and the league’s best road record at 15-4-0, as they lead the Eastern Conference with 64 points.
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