O`Brien`s Hat Trick Lifts Sens Over Checkers
February 18, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. - The Binghamton Senators used five straight goals and a hat trick by Jim O'Brien to down the Charlotte Checkers, 6-2, on Friday evening in upstate New York.
Binghamton goalie Barry Brust made 37 saves on 39 shots to win his eighth straight start as the Senators pulled to within two points of Charlotte in the East Division standings.
Brett Sutter and Jacob Micflikier scored for the Checkers, while Justin Pogge made 36 saves in a losing effort.
Binghamton opened the scoring, just 26 seconds into the game, when O'Brien grabbed a rebound in the defensive zone and converted on the breakaway.
The Checkers, however, had an answer and pulled even, 7:03 later, when Brett Sutter took a centering feed from Jacob Micflikier and fired it past Brust.
The game remained tied 1-1 for just three minutes before Ryan Keller restored Binghamton's one-goal advantage. Keller took a pass from AHL leading scorer Corey Locke and buried it past Pogge.
Binghamton then went ahead 3-1, four minutes into the second, when Locke's centering pass attempt ricocheted off a Checkers defender and in.
O'Brien would score two more to put the Senators ahead, 5-1, after 40 minutes. He fired a wrist shot into the upper corner of the net from the left-wing circle before completing the hat trick three minutes later on a breakaway.
Binghamton defenseman Eric Gryba put the game away midway through the third when he fired a one-timer into the back of the net. Charlotte would add a goal by Micflikier but it wasn't enough as the Senators won, 6-2.
The Checkers (30-20-6) will travel to Glens Falls, N.Y. tomorrow to face the Phantoms at 7 p.m. Watch or listen live at www.AHLLive.com. The Checkers' next home game is Thursday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. For ticket information, call 704-342-4423 or visit www.GoCheckers.com.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from February 18, 2011
- Checkmate: O'Brien's Hat Trick Lifts B-Sens Past Charlotte - Binghamton Senators
- Admirals Earn 2-1 Shoot-out Win - Milwaukee Admirals
- Phantoms Shootout Loss Extends Point Streak - Adirondack Phantoms
- Aeros Fall In Shootout, Still In First Place - Houston Aeros
- Stars Don't Align for Griffins - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Emery's Debut Spoiled by San Antonio, 4-2 - Syracuse Crunch
- Falcons Beat Monarchs 5-4 - Springfield Falcons
- Wild Finish Results In Devils' Win - Albany Devils
- Only One Point Tonight - Manchester Monarchs
- Amerks Outlast Bears To Extend Winning Streak To Season-high Four Games - Rochester Americans
- MacLean Nets Hat Trick In 4-2 Rampage Win Over Crunch - San Antonio Rampage
- Moose bitten by Monsters - Manitoba Moose
- Penguins Shut Down Admirals - Norfolk Admirals
- Whale beat Phantoms in SO - Connecticut Whale
- Wolves Slide By IceHogs, 4-3 - Chicago Wolves
- O`Brien`s Hat Trick Lifts Sens Over Checkers - Charlotte Checkers
- Moose announce winning entry of Home Depot Backyard Rink Contest - Manitoba Moose
- Devils stun Sharks late - Worcester Sharks
- Stars clip Griffins in OT - Texas Stars
- P-Bruins Rob Pirates in Shootout - Providence Bruins
- Bulldogs edge Marlies - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Bruins Bounce Pirates in a Shootout - Portland Pirates
- Bryan Helmer Plays 1,000th American Hockey League Game - AHL
- Helmer Skates in 1000th AHL Game - Oklahoma City Barons
- Wolves Sign Dorich - Chicago Wolves
- Legein Loaned to Greenville - Adirondack Phantoms
- Marlies Sign Pair of Goaltenders to PTO Contracts - Toronto Marlies
- Dekanich Recalled by Nashville - Milwaukee Admirals
- Whale Primed and Ready for Harvest-Properties.Com Whale Bowl - Connecticut Whale
- Schlemko Assigned to San Antonio for Conditioning - San Antonio Rampage
- Griffins Host Lake Erie for '90s Night and Dollar Beers, Dollar Dogs - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Postma Returns to Chicago - Chicago Wolves
- Bruins Acquire Tomas Kaberle from Toronto - Providence Bruins
- Bruins Acquire Peverley, Valabik from Atlanta for Stuart, Wheeler - Providence Bruins
- Thrashers Trade Valabik to Boston - Chicago Wolves
- Rangers Return Kris Newbury to Whale - Connecticut Whale
- AHL Announces Suspension - AHL
- Preview: Aeros at Milwaukee - Houston Aeros
- Devils Recall Zajac From Trenton - Albany Devils
- Lightning Reassign Mike Vernace to Admirals - Norfolk Admirals
- AHL Quick Hits - AHL
- Playoff Push Continues - Falcons Host Monarchs Tonight - Springfield Falcons
- B-Sens Sign Forward Andrew Sweetland - Binghamton Senators
- Game Day: AHL's Two Oldest Teams Meet Tonight at Blue Cross Arena - Rochester Americans
- Senators Recall Forward Francis Lessard from Binghamton - Binghamton Senators
- Gameday Preview - Texas at Grand Rapids - Texas Stars
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.
