East Division Final – Series “J” (best-of-7)
Charlotte wins series 4-2
Game 1 – Charlotte 3, W-B/Scranton 2
Game 2 – W-B/Scranton 3, Charlotte 0
Game 3 – Charlotte 2, W-B/Scranton 1 (OT)
Game 4 – Charlotte 1, W-B/Scranton 0
Game 5 – W-B/Scranton 1, Charlotte 0
Game 6 – Charlotte 4, W-B/Scranton 3
Player Stats
Checkers - REGULAR SEASON / PLAYOFFS
Penguins - REGULAR SEASON / PLAYOFFS
Game 6 - CHA 4, WBS 3 - RECAP / SCORESHEET
Trailing 3-0 in the third period, the Checkers scored four goals in a span of 9:18 to defeat the Penguins, 4-3, and win the East Division Final series, 4-2. Chris Terry led the comeback with two goals, while leading scorer Zac Dalpe capped off the comeback with a game-winning tally with 3:18 to play. Brett Sutter added a goal and two assists and Mike Murphy earned his seventh win of the postseason after making 32 saves.
Despite holding the Checkers to more than five straight scoreless periods, Brad Thiessen, the AHL’s top goaltender during the regular season, allowed four goals on eight shots in the third period and took the loss.
Game 5 - WBS 1, CHA 0 - RECAP / SCORESHEET
Brad Thiessen stopped all 23 shots he faced for his second shutout of the series as the Penguins took Game 5 by a score of 1-0. Penguins forward Chris Collins scored the game’s only goal on a deflection, midway through the third period.
Murphy continued his stellar play, turning away all but one of the Penguins’ 33 shots, including some key saves to keep the Checkers in the game. Before Collins' goal, Murphy held a shutout streak of 161:11, dating back to the first period of Game 3.
Game 4 - CHA 1, WBS 0 - RECAP / SCORESHEET
Mike Murphy stopped all 44 shots he faced en route to his first career playoff shutout as the Checkers blanked the Penguins, 1-0. With the victory, the Checkers now lead the best-of-seven series, 3-1. Chris Terry scored the game’s only goal, early in the third period, to end 42 minutes of scoreless play.
Though somewhat overshadowed by his counterpart, Penguins goaltender Brad Thiessen was near-perfect, making 31 saves to keep his team in the game.
Game 3 - CHA 2, WBS 1 (OT) - RECAP / SCORESHEET
Brett Sutter scored over the shoulder of Brad Thiessen at 5:40 of overtime as the Checkers won, 2-1, in Game 3. Nick Dodge scored the other Checkers goal, his fourth of the postseason, while Mike Murphy improved to 5-2 by making 25 saves on 26 shots. The Checkers also survived five Wilkes-Barre/Scranton power plays to remain perfect at home on the penalty kill in the playoffs (20-for-20).
Thiessen took the loss for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, who fell in overtime for the first time all season, including the regular season.
Game 2 - WBS 3, CHA 0 - RECAP / SCORESHEET
Aided by a 34-save shutout from Brad Thiessen, the Penguins blanked the Checkers, 3-0. With the win, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton evened the best-of-seven series, 1-1. Held to fewer than two goals for the first time in the postseason, the Checkers couldn't solve Thiessen, who earned his first shutout of the playoffs after finishing the regular season ranked second in the AHL with seven. Brett Sterling, Chris Collins and Ryan Craig were the goal scorers for the Penguins.
Mike Murphy made 28 saves on 30 shots for the Checkers and took his first road loss of the playoffs (2-1). Murphy’s overall postseason record now stands at 4-2.
Game 1 - CHA 3, WBS 2 - RECAP / SCORESHEET
Jon Matsumoto scored two power-play goals as the Checkers defeated the top-seeded Penguins, 3-2, on Thursday evening. With the win, the Checkers take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series with three of the next four games in Charlotte. Mike Murphy continued his stellar play in goal for Charlotte, making 28 saves to improve his postseason record to 4-1, while Zac Dalpe scored the Checkers’ first goal to jump out to an early lead.
Geoff Walker and Brett Sterling scored for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, while goaltender Brad Thiessen stopped 16 of 19 shots.
Playoff Notes:
The Checkers/Penguins series was the lowest scoring six-game series in Calder Cup Playoffs History with just 20 combined goals between the two teams.
Mike Murphy ranks first in save percentage (.944) and second in goals-against average (1.79) in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
The Checkers' penalty kill unit is a perfect 30-for-30 at home and is 56-for-60 (93.3% - T-1st) overall.
Mike Murphy held a shutout streak of 161:11 from the first period of Game 3 to the third period goal in Game 5.
In all eight Charlotte wins in the playoffs, the winning goal has come in the third period or later.
Charlotte is 7-2 in one-goal games and 7-1 when being outshot.
The Checkers have outscored their opponents, 17-8, in the third period or later.
With the winner in Game 3, Sutter and father Darryl became the first ever father-son duo in Calder Cup Playoff history to score overtime game-winning goals (Darryl - May 6, 1980 with New Brunswick).
Clippings:
Game 6
"Checkers' comeback clinches series" - Charlotte Observer
"Charlotte stuns Pens in third to advance" - TheAHL.com
May 7
AHL Morning Skate: May 7 - TheAHL.com
Game 5
"Checkers can't close out series" - Charlotte Observer
"Pens stay alive, force Game 6" - TheAHL.com
Game 4
"Murphy, defense carry Checkers" - Charlotte Observer
"Murphy's 44-save SO puts Checkers on brink" - TheAHL.com
May 3
"Charlotte boasts 2 goalies, 1 goal" - Charlotte Observer
Game 3
"Sutter, Checkers ice Penguins in overtime" - Charlotte Observer
"Sutter pushes Checkers past Pens in OT" - TheAHL.com
May 2
"Physical series hitting Charlotte" - Charlotte Observer
"10 reasons to embrace the Checkers" - Charlotte Observer
"Charlotte coach a good teacher" - Charlotte Observer
AHL Morning Skate: May 2 - TheAHL.com
Game 2
"Thiessen turns away Checkers threat" - Charlotte Observer
"Pens blank Charlotte" - Citizens' Voice
April 30
"Checkers stepping up to win" - Raleigh News & Observer
AHL Morning Skate: April 30 - TheAHL.com
Game 1
"Checkers break on top in 2nd round AHL series" - Charlotte Observer
"Matsumoto leads Checkers to Game 1 win" - TheAHL.com
Pre-series
Series preview - GoCheckers.com
Series preview - TheAHL.com
"Checkers face top team, tough goalie" - Charlotte Observer
"Checkers boast potent attack" - Citizens' Voice (Pa.)
"Checkers oust defending champs" - Charlotte Observer
"Hershey Bears lost series grasp in Game 5" - PennLive.com
