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Charlotte Checkers

Checkers Weekly Report

November 14, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


Overall record: 9-6-1 (Home 4-1-0 | Road 5-5-1)

Last week's record: 1-2-0

Last 10 games: 6-4-0

Standings: 1st Midwest Division | 2nd Western Conference

The Checkers concluded the longest road swing in their two-year history with a record of 5-4-0, good enough to keep them atop the Midwest Division. They finished the most recent three-game segment with a record of 1-2-0, picking up a split in back-to-back games in Oklahoma City on Friday and Saturday before falling to Houston on Sunday.

In addition to the completion of the stretch that has seen them play more road games than any other AHL team (11), the Checkers also finished a run of four conesecutive three-in-three sets. Prior to the most recent group of games, they had finished each weekend with winning records at 2-1-0.

The team returns home for two games against divisional opponent Rockford that will take place Friday and Sunday. Seven of the Checkers' next eight games will be played at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Oklahoma City 1, Charlotte 0 -

A goal by Gilbert Brule just 3:44 into the contest was all the scoring the home team would need, as veteran Oklahoma City goaltender Yann Danis made 30 saves to become the first goaltender to shut out Charlotte this season. Justin Peters made 29 saves for the Checkers in his second game back from injury as his team was unable to stop the first-place Barons from extending their winning streak to six games.

Charlotte 3, Oklahoma City 2 -

Having failed to score a goal for the first time all season one night earlier, the Checkers got a measure of revenge against goalie Yann Danis and Oklahoma City in Saturday night's rematch. Jon Matsumoto and Brett Sutter scored in the game's first 7:13, while Justin Soryal scored the eventual game-winning goal in the second period. Oklahoma City scored the game's final two goals in an attempt to tie the game, but Charlotte's Justin Peters stood tall in a 29-save effort to end the Barons' six- game winning streak.

Houston 5, Charlotte 2 -

Houston took advantage of a lackluster first period by the Checkers to finish the four-game season series against Charlotte with points in each game (3-0-1). Jon DiSalvatore and Drew Bagnall scored in a first period that saw the Checkers out-shot 15-5, which proved too much for the visitors to overcome even after taking a season-high 18 shots in the second period. Matt Pistilli scored his second goal of the season on the power play, while team scoring leader Jon Matsumoto became the first Checker to net goals in consecutive games this season.

- The Checkers completed a run of playing three-in-three sets in four consecutive weekends, going 7-5-0 in those contests. In their history, the Checkers have gone 4-6-2 in game one, 9- 2-1 in game two and 7-5-0 in game three. The Checkers have four remaining three-in-three sets spread out over the remainder of the season, with the next cluster coming entirely at home on Dec. 3-5.

- Charlotte has had dramatically different fortunes in their second and third periods this season, as they sport a +10 goal differential in the second period and a -10 differential in the third. Their 20 goals scored in the second period are tied with Houston for the most in the league, while their 19 goals allowed in the third are tied for third-most in the AHL.

- The goaltending tandem of Mike Murphy and Justin Peters has combined to give the Checkers a goals-against average of 2.50, which ranks sixth in the AHL. Both goaltenders have contributed equally with nearly identical statistics on the season - they share a 2.36 goals against average to tie for 15th in the league, while Murphy's save percentage (.926 - t-7th AHL) narrowly eclipses that of Peters (.924 - 9th AHL). Since returning from injury on Nov. 5, Peters has stopped 84 of 88 shots for a .955 save percentage and 1.34 goals-against average, posting a record of 2-1-0.

- Checkers center Jon Matsumoto became the first player on his team to score goals in consecutive games this season when he tallied Saturday in Oklahoma City and Sunday in Houston, ending a drought in which he scored just once in his previous 10 contests. With three points in his last four games, Matsumoto (6g, 9a) has reclaimed the team's scoring lead from Jerome Samson and ranks tied for 13th in the AHL. He and Drayson Bowman (2 assists in two games) are the only Checkers players with active point streaks.

- Checkers forward Jerome Samson had a seven-game point streak (4g, 6a) snapped on Friday, which marked the longest active streak in the AHL and the fourth seven-game streak of his five-year professional career. Six of the seven games came on the road, tying him with Hershey's Keith Aucoin for the longest road streak by any player this season. Samson is the AHL's leader in shots on goal with 83 - 19 more than any other player.

CATEGORY RECORD AHL RANK LAST WEEK

Power play: 16-80 (20%) 10th 12th

Penalty kill: 54-66 (81.8%) 14th 20th

Goals per game: 2.69 21st 15th

Shots per game: 31.88 9th 8th

Goals allowed per game: 2.5 6th 6th

Shots allowed per game: 32 24th 27th

Penalty minutes per game: 15 9th (fewest) 11th

CATEGORY LEADER(S)

Points: Jon Matsumoto (15), Jerome Samson (14)

Goals: Jerome Samson (7), Jon Matsumoto (6), Drayson Bowman (5)

Assists: Jon Matsumoto (9), Jerome Samson, Chris Terry (7)

Power play goals: Jerome Samson (3)

Shorthanded goals: Brett Sutter (1)

Game-winning goals: Justin Faulk, Jon Matsumoto, Cedric McNicoll, Matthew Pistilli, Jerome Samson, Chris Terry, Justin Soryal (1)

Shots on goal: Jerome Samson (83), Drayson Bowman (41)

Penalty minutes: Chris Terry (31), Justin Soryal (30), Nicolas Blanchard (25)

Plus/minus: Drayson Bowman (+5), Jon Matsumoto (+4)

Wins: Mike Murphy (6), Justin Peters (3)

Goals-against average: Mike Murphy, Justin Peters (2.36)

Save percentage: Mike Murphy (.926), Justin Peters (.924)

Nov. 7 - (C) Zac Dalpe recalled to Carolina (NHL) from Charlotte

Nov. 7 - (LW) Drayson Bowman assigned to Charlotte by Carolina (NHL)

Friday, Nov. 18 vs Rockford (7 p.m.) Presented by The Marines

- Marine Ceremony - 120 recruits being 'sworn-in' & marines will be on-site to conduct the Chin-Up Challenge.

- Black Friday Presented by Amtrak - Checkers will wear special black jerseys, with fans encouraged to wear black.

- College Night - College students get 50 percent off tickets. Click here to purchase.

Sunday, Nov. 20 vs Rockford (3 p.m.)

- Military Appreciation Night Presented by Goodrich Corporation - To benefit the USO of North Carolina

- Rack Pack Collection Night - Bring travel-sized personal items to the game, get a free ticket to the Dec. 4 game

- Coke Family Four Pack - 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 Cokes and a Coke coupon for $60.

- Family Day Presented by North Carolina Zoo Asheboro - Zoo coupons will be handed out.

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