Micflikier leads way with goal and assist; Murphy stops 16 for first win
Rebounding from Saturday’s loss to Hartford, the Charlotte Checkers used three second-period goals to cruise to a 4-1 victory over the Springfield Falcons on Sunday afternoon.
Jacob Micflikier led the way offensively for the Checkers with a goal and an assist while goaltender Mike Murphy stopped 16 of 17 shots for his first win of the season. Jon Matsumoto, Jerome Samson and Chris Terry rounded out the scoring for Charlotte.
The Checkers scored twice on the power play, while Springfield failed to connect on six attempts with a man-advantage.
Both goaltenders were exceptional in the first period. Murphy made two point blank saves early on before Falcons netminder Danny Taylor responded with great pad save on Checkers forward Nicolas Blanchard.
Charlotte held a 13-8 shot advantage after the first period but the game remained scoreless.
Early in the second period, Springfield opened the scoring when Murphy went to play the puck behind the net and was interfered with. Falcons forward Michael Blunden picked up the loose puck and fed a pass to Maksim Mayorov who tapped it into the empty net.
The Checkers responded, three minutes later, with a power-play goal by Matsumoto, his second in as many games. Zach Boychuk moved the puck down low to Matsumoto, who banked a pass off a Springfield defender and past Taylor to tie the game at 1-1. Bobby Sanguinetti, who was assigned to the Checkers by the Hurricanes on Saturday, picked up the other assist on the goal at the 5:50 mark of the second period.
Charlotte then struck again on the power play, less than six minutes later, when Samson picked up a rebound off a Bryan Rodney point shot and buried it past a defenseless Taylor to make it a 2-1 Checkers lead.
With 4:41 to play in the period, Micflikier put the Checkers ahead by two when he beat Taylor low glove side from the left-wing faceoff dot. The goal was unassisted and was Micflikier’s second tally and third point of the young season.
In the third period, Charlotte tightened up defensively and put the game out of reach when Chris Terry one-timed a pass from Zack Fitzgerald at 13:48 to make it a 4-1 game.
Tempers flared late in the period, resulting in several scuffles and misconducts, and Murphy turned aside the remaining five shots he was faced with for his first win of the season. Taylor stopped 26 shots for the Falcons, who dropped to 0-2.
The Checkers will travel to Portland tomorrow to take on the Pirates. Game time is 1:00 p.m. and fans can catch all the action by heading to www.gocheckers.com and clicking the “Listen Live” button on the right side of the page.
Charlotte’s home opener is Friday, October 15 and ticket information can be obtained by visiting www.gocheckers.com or calling 704-342-4423.
NOTES:
CHECKERS ASSIGN GOEPFERT, LAWSON TO FLORIDA
Charlotte Checkers general manager and head coach Jeff Daniels announced today the team has assigned goaltender Bobby Goepfert and defenseman Kyle Lawson to its ECHL affiliate, the Florida Everblades.
The move comes after the Checkers were assigned Bobby Sanguinetti, Brett Carson and Justin Pogge from the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.
Charlotte Checkers 4 at Springfield Falcons 1 – Status: Final
Sunday, October 10, 2010 – MassMutual Center
Charlotte 0 3 1 – 4
Springfield 0 1 0 – 1
1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Fitzgerald Cha (roughing), 8:57; Kubalik Spr (hooking), 9:57; Sestito Spr (high-sticking), 11:56; Bellemore Cha (tripping), 14:52; Sanguinetti Cha (slashing), 19:58.
2nd Period-1, Springfield, Mayorov 1 (Blunden), 2:34. 2, Charlotte, Matsumoto 2 (Boychuk, Sanguinetti), 5:50 (PP). 3, Charlotte, Samson 1 (Rodney, Micflikier), 11:12 (PP). 4, Charlotte, Micflikier 2 15:19. Penalties-Fitzgerald Cha (high-sticking), 3:07; Cavanagh Spr (tripping), 5:17; Neuber Spr (slashing), 10:14; Holden Spr (tripping), 11:28; Samson Cha (interference), 12:15; Guite Spr (interference), 19:58.
3rd Period-5, Charlotte, Terry 1 (Fitzgerald), 13:48. Penalties-Blanchard Cha (game misconduct – third man in), 15:22; Chaput Cha (fighting), 15:22; Herauf Cha (fighting, game misconduct – secondary altercation), 15:22; Guite Spr (boarding, fighting), 15:22; Sestito Spr (fighting, misconduct, game misconduct – secondary altercation), 15:22; Fitzgerald Cha (roughing), 18:38; Neuber Spr (roughing, goaltender interference), 18:57.
Shots on Goal-Charlotte 13-8-9-30. Springfield 8-4-5-17.
Power Play Opportunities-Charlotte 2 / 9; Springfield 0 / 6.
Goalies-Charlotte, Murphy 1-1-0 (17 shots-16 saves). Springfield, Taylor 1-2-0 (30 shots-26 saves).
A-2,409
Referees-Geno Binda (22), Terry Koharski (10).
Linesmen-Frank Murphy (29), Rich Patry (52)
