AHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers Prevail In Shootout For Second Straight Game

Published on March 18, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - After surrendering a two-goal third-period lead, the Charlotte Checkers got shootout goals from Zac Dalpe, Chris Terry and Jon Matsumoto to defeat the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 3-2, at Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard.

The Sound Tigers scored two shootout goals of their own, but Mike Murphy stopped Robin Figren in the sixth round to secure the win for the Checkers, who improved to 38-23-2-6.

Jon Matsumoto and Chris Terry were Charlotte's regulation-time scorers against Nathan Lawson, who fell to 3-5-3 in his first start since being sent down by the New York Islanders. Rhett Rakhshani and Rob Hisey scored in regulation for Bridgeport.

After a scoreless first period, Matsumoto scored during a five-on-three power play to give the Checkers a 1-0 lead, 56 seconds into the second period. With Mark Katic ejected from the game after taking a five-minute boarding penalty in the last minute of the first period, a high Bryan Rodney slap shot caught Lawson under the chin and stunned the Bridgeport goalie long enough for Matsumoto to capitalize on the rebound.

Charlotte enhanced its lead to 2-0 when Terry scored his team leading 27th goal of the season at 3:55 of the second period. Nick Dodge started the sequence by carrying the puck into the Bridgeport zone and firing a pass to Terry, who directed the puck in off his skate.

In the third period, Bridgeport's leading scorer, Rakhshani, narrowed Charlotte's lead to 2-1 when he blistered a cross-ice-feed from Reese through Murphy's legs with 9:58 remaining.

The Sound Tigers then pulled even with their goalie pulled, when Hisey scored a shorthanded goal with 22 seconds remaining in the third period, by knocking in the rebound of a Justin DiBenedetto shot.

After a scoreless overtime period, Charlotte and Bridgeport headed to a shootout for the second straight game, where the Checkers scored on three of six chances against Nathan Lawson to secure the 3-2 win.

The Checkers (38-23-2-6) continue their three-game road trip when they face off against the Syracuse Crunch tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. The next game at Time Warner Cable Arena will be Mar. 22 when the Checkers entertain the Adirondack Phantoms at 7:00 p.m. For ticket information, call 704-342-4423 or visit gocheckers.com.

For every ‘like' the Checkers get on their Facebook page between now and Apr. 1, the team will donate $2 to Zach Bennett and his family, who plan to move to Charlotte for better medical care and to be closer to the team. Visit www.gocheckers.com or head to www.facebook.com/charlottecheckers.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2011


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