AHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers Weekly Report

January 24, 2012 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


The Checkers came through a week of significant roster changes with more divisional breathing room than they've had for quite some time.

Charlotte's two wins in three games against Grand Rapids and Abbotsford, combined with some favorable results around the league, gave them a six-point lead on Milwaukee and Chicago in the Midwest Division. Milwaukee has played four fewer games, Chicago two.

With new trade additions Evgenii Dadonov, A.J. Jenks (who both arrived in exchange for Jon Matsumoto) and Joe Sova, the Checkers will look to keep that momentum going as they visit Norfolk on Tuesday to complete a grueling stretch of travel before returning home to begin a back-to-back set with Rockford on Thursday.

Checkers 6, Grand Rapids 5 -

Charlotte, which trailed 2-0 in the first period before rallying to go up 5-2 in the second, held on to beat Grand Rapids 6-5 in a game of dramatic momentum shifts at Time Warner Cable on Tuesday. Chris Terry (2), Bobby Sanguinetti, Sean Dolan, Zac Dalpe and Drayson Bowman scored for the Checkers, who got 31 saves from Mike Murphy to complete the two-game sweep of the Griffins.

Checkers 5, Abbotsford 0 -

The Checkers picked up their most convincing win of the season on Friday, beating the Heat 5-0 to begin their two-game visit to Abbotsford. Rookie John Muse made 26 saves to record the team's first shutout of the season and his first at the AHL level in just his third career start, while Chris Terry tied a team record with 4 points, all assists. Riley Nash, Nicolas Blanchard, Justin Krueger, Bobby Sanguinetti and Drayson Bowman all scored for the Checkers.

Abbotsford 5, Checkers 2 -

Abbotsford scored five unanswered goals to halt Charlotte's winning streak at three games Saturday. The Heat's run came just minutes after Bobby Sanguinetti and Sean Dolan had scored 1:08 apart to give the Checkers a 2-0 lead late in the second period, with Abbotsford clawing one back before intermission before going on to score twice more in the first 2:57 of the third. Mike Murphy made 23 saves for Charlotte, which allowed a late-empty net goal to seal the defeat.

- Sova joins Checkers via trade

The Carolina Hurricanes' second trade in three days results in yet another new addition for the Checkers.

- Dadonov to start fresh in Charlotte

Looking to begin a new chapter in his hockey career, forward Evgenii Dadonov hopes to have found that opportunity in the Carolina Hurricanes organization.

- Matsumoto moves on

Getting traded is never what one might call convenient, but it doesn't get much more inconvenient than what Jon Matsumoto experienced in the last few days.

- Trade brings Dadonov, Jenks to Checkers

The Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers swung a trade on Wednesday night that will have a significant impact on the Checkers.

- Checkers recall Ryan Donald

With defenseman Chris Murray unable to make the trip to Abbotsford due to an injury, the Checkers recalled Ryan Donald from the ECHL's Florida Everblades.

- Canes recall Dalpe, reassign Sutter

When the points finally started coming for Zac Dalpe, the Carolina Hurricanes took notice.

- A solid pair

Justin Krueger and Rasmus Rissanen have gone from rookies rotating as healthy scratches in October and November to arguably the team's most consistent defensive pair of late.

- Checkers deliver teddy bears to children's hospital

Nicolas Blanchard, Chris Durno, Michal Jordan, Jon Matsumoto, Mike Murphy and Mathieu Roy visited Presbyterian Hemby Children's Hospital on Monday afternoon to deliver teddy bears to the children.

- Sanguinetti wins AHL Performance of the Month Award

After being sidelined for 10 games with a broken foot, Sanguinetti recovered and recorded five assists in seven games during the month of December.

- TERRY STREAKS AGAIN: Forward Chris Terry is currently on the most prolific five- game run by a Charlotte skater this season, recording 11 points (4g, 6a) since Jan. 12. By scoring a goal for the third consecutive game against Grand Rapids on Jan. 17, Terry now has a share of the longest goal, assist (five games) and point (eight games) streaks of any Checkers player during the current campaign. His current streak includes a 4-point performance, all assists, that tied a team record on Jan. 20. Since the trade of Jon Matsumoto and the recall of Jerome Samson, Terry has become the Checkers' scoring leader with 36 points (10g, 26a) in 41 games.

- FINDING MUSE: In 162 minutes of AHL hockey this season, Checkers rookie goaltender John Muse has allowed just one goal, including his first career shutout on Jan. 20. The only player to score against him this season was new teammate Evgenii Dadonov, who spoiled Muse's shutout bid with 1:03 remaining on Jan. 4 as a member of the San Antonio Rampage. Muse, who started the season with ECHL Florida, is 3-0-0 with a 0.37 goals- against average and .989 save percentage with the Checkers.

- BREAKING THE ICE: The Checkers entered the week with just three players - defensemen Rasmus Rissanen, Bobby Sanguinetti and Justin Krueger - still looking for their first goals of the season after spending the entire campaign in the AHL. They would go on to score in consecutive games, beginning with Rissanen on Jan. 15 and continuing with Sanguinetti on Jan. 17 and Krueger on Jan. 20. Sanguinetti went on to score goals in his next two contests, tying Chris Terry's season-long streak set just last week. The goals by Rissanen and Krueger were the first of their professional careers.

- SPECIAL WEEK: Over their last four games, the Checkers went 7-for-20 on the power play (35 percent) while killing all 10 opposing man advantages. They have at least one power play goal in each of their last five games, a streak that ties a season high, and have climbed into a tie for fifth in the AHL with a season mark of 20.6 percent. On the penalty kill, the Checkers rank seventh in the league at 83.6 percent.

- THIRD PERIODS: The Checkers have five regulation losses when leading after two periods, more than any other AHL team. Each of their last two regulation losses, against Hershey on Jan. 12 and at Abbotsford on Jan. 21, came with the team holding a 2-1 lead at the second intermission. The third period is the only period in which the Checkers have a negative goal differential (-11).

- CLOSE CALLS: The Checkers have played 23 one-goal games this season, tied for third most in the league. They have earned 32 out of a possible 46 points on those contests (.696), tying them for the fourth-best record of any AHL team in one- goal games.

- HOME AND AWAY: The Checkers' 31 points earned at home this season are the most in the AHL. With a record of 14-6-3 this season, the AHL Checkers have improved to 36-19-7 all-time at Time Warner Cable Arena. On the road, the Checkers are 10-9-1 the season.

STREAKS - Bobby Sanguinetti has points in each of his last five games (Jan. 12-21; 3g, 5a) and goals in his last three (Jan. 17-21, 3g). - Chris Terry has points in each of his last five games (Jan. 12-21; 4g, 7a). - John Muse has won each of his last three games (Dec. 16-Jan. 20). - Riley Nash has points in each of his last two games (Jan. 20-21; 1g, 2a).

- Zach Boychuk has assists and points in each of his last two games (Jan. 20-21; 2a).

- Jan. 20 - (D) Joe Sova acquired from Albany

- Jan. 20 - (C) Cedric McNicoll assigned to Florida (ECHL) from Charlotte

- Jan. 18 - (RW) Evgenii Dadonov acquired from San Antonio

- Jan. 18 - (C) A.J. Jenks acquired from San Antonio

- Jan. 18 - (C) Jon Matsumoto traded to San Antonio

- Jan. 18 - (D) Ryan Donald recalled to Charlotte from Florida (ECHL)

- Jan. 18 - (C) Brett Sutter reassigned to Charlotte from Carolina (NHL)

- Jan. 18 - (C) Zac Dalpe recalled to Carolina (NHL) from Charlotte

- Tuesday, Jan. 24 at Norfolk (7:15 p.m.)

- Thursday, Jan. 26 vs. Rockford (7 p.m.)

- Harris Teeter VIC Card Thursday: Show Your Harris Teeter VIC Card and receive $5 off any seat.

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

- Guys Night Out

- Wet Your Whistle Weekday: 12 oz. Bud Lights for $3.50.

- Friday, Jan. 27 vs. Rockford (7 p.m.)

- Race Night Presented by Hyundai: Driver apperances and special jerseys for charity auction.

- Bojangles Mystery Card Night: The first 5,000 fans will receive a Bojangles gift card worth somwhere between $1 and $100.

- Girl Scout Night: Register for a chance to perform the flag ceremony, sing the national anthem, sell cookies or ride the Zamboni, plus skate after the game!

Check out the Charlotte Checkers Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from January 24, 2012


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