AHL Charlotte Checkers

Admirals Outlast Checkers For Second Straight One-Goal Win

Published on October 8, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


CHARLOTTE, NC - Norfolk's Cory Conacher scored the winning goal early in the third period as the Admirals beat the visiting Checkers by a 4-3 score on Saturday night.

Jon Matsumoto had three assists for Charlotte, giving him back-to-back three-point games for the first time in his AHL career, while Drayson Bowman scored his first two goals of the season and had another disallowed just after the whistle blew in the second period. Former Admiral Mathieu Roy rounded out the scoring with his first goal as a Checker, while Mike Murphy made 40 saves in goal.

With the regulation win, Norfolk takes a three-point lead in the standings for the GEICO Challenge Cup, which will be awarded to the team with the most points at the conclusion of the eight-game season series.

Much as it was in the first match-up between the two teams on Friday night, a 6-5 overtime victory for Norfolk, the Admirals dominated the shots on goal battle with a total of 44-29. That included a 17-7 differential in the first period, with the teams exiting that frame on even terms after power play goals by Norfolk's Carter Ashton, whose two goals in the opener included the overtime winner, and Bowman.

Bowman's first goal, a rocket from the slot that beat Norfolk goaltender Jaroslav Janus, was one of two Checkers power play goals on the evening as the team improved from its 1-8 showing on Friday with a 2-5 result in Saturday's rematch. The other came midway through the second period, as the Checkers took their only lead of the evening, 2-1, on a blast from the point by Roy that found its way through traffic in front.

That lead would be short lived, as the Admirals continued another trend from Friday by providing a quick response to Checkers goals. Just 58 seconds after Roy's tally, the Admirals Alexandre Picard scored his second goal of the series to tie the game. Tyler Johnson would put home a rebound on a shot that hit the post behind Murphy after another five minutes, giving Norfolk a 3-2 lead.

It appeared as though the Checkers would head to the second intermission trailing by one, but quick work on an offensive zone faceoff in the dying seconds paid off for Charlotte. After Matsumoto won the draw, defenseman Brett Bellemore took a shot from the point that hit Bowman and deflected in with 10 seconds remaining.

That score would hold until Ashton corralled the puck on an offensive zone faceoff win by Norfolk around six minutes into the third period, sending a backhand pass to Conacher for a finish on the doorstep. The Checkers' best chances to tie the game came on a four-on-three power play that resulted from an interference penalty and scrum caused by a poorly-timed hit against Checkers captain Brett Sutter and a missed breakaway by Matt Pistilli.

The Checkers now return home, where they prepare for their opening night match-up with Peoria at Time Warner Cable Arena on Saturday and a rematch the following day. The first 3,500 fans to arrive on Saturday will receive a Checkers house flag courtesy of Time Warner Cable, while the first 7,000 to arrive will get a magnet schedule from Presbyterian Hospital.

Check out the Charlotte Checkers Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from October 8, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central