CHECKERS TAME BEARS 

     VERSUS    

CHECKERS OUTLAST DEFENDING CHAMPS, 4-2
Muphy stumps Hershey offense with 42-save performance

For the second straight game, the Charlotte Checkers witnessed an outstanding performance from their starting goaltender and outlasted the defending champion Hershey Bears, 4-2.

The Checkers have now picked up points in seven straight games (4-0-3).

Mike Murphy made 42 saves, including a flurry in the final two minutes, for his third win of the season. Chris Terry scored the game-winning goal and added an assist to extend his point streak to five games (4g, 3a) while Jerome Samson scored two goals including the insurance marker into the empty net.
Charlotte opened the second period with a 5-on-3 power play for 1:09 and did not squander the opportunity. Samson took a pass from Rodney at the bottom of the left-wing circle and banked it off a defender past Hershey goaltender Dany Sabourin. Drayson Bowman picked up the second assist on the play.

Zac Dalpe would double the Checkers’ lead on the power play, less than two minutes later. Dalpe fired a wrist shot from the right point through a screen by Zach Boychuk and past the blocker of Sabourin. Boychuk and Bowman recorded the assists on the play.

Terry made it 3-0 for Charlotte at the 7:32 mark of the second period. Terry was sent in on a breakaway by Boychuk, held off two Bears defenders, deked Sabourin and tucked the puck home with one hand on his stick.

The Checkers got into penalty trouble late in the second period and were forced to kill off a 5-on-3 for 1:57. Mike Murphy stood tall for the Checkers making saves through traffic and foiled any second chance opportunities the Bears could muster.

Kyle Greentree would cut the Charlotte lead to 3-1, three minutes into the third period, with a power-play goal. The Bears’ power play moved the puck around fluidly in the offensive zone before Greentree snapped a shot from the right-wing dot that beat Murphy far side, off the post and in.

The Bears then pulled within one goal with 8:20 to go in the third period. Greentree banked the puck in off a defender from behind the net for his second of the game.

Hershey applied pressure late in the game but Murphy stopped everything that was thrown his way. Samson potted an empty-net goal with five seconds to play and Charlotte walked away with a 4-2 victory.

The Checkers (6-6-3) will host Hershey again Tuesday at 7 p.m. before hosting Bridgeport for a pair of games on Thursday and Friday. Ticket information can be obtained by calling 704-342-4423 or visiting www.gocheckers.com.

NOTES:

The Checkers are undefeated in regulation in their last seven games (4-0-3)…Chris Terry extended his point scoring streak to five games (4g, 3a)…Jerome Samson ranks second in the league in goals (9), and first in the league in shots (83)…Zack FitzGerald leads the league in penalty minutes (73)…Mike Murphy is second among rookie goaltenders in goals against average (2.22) and second in save percentage (.927).

SCORESHEET:

Hershey Bears 2 at Charlotte Checkers 4 – Status: Final
Sunday, November 7, 2010 – Time Warner Cable Arena

Hershey 0 0 2 – 2
Charlotte 0 3 1 – 4

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Bellemore Cha (interference), 4:06; Terry Cha (hooking), 6:05; Collins Her (tripping), 8:43; Rome Her (interference), 13:29; Boychuk Cha (hooking), 14:19; Miskovic Her (tripping), 19:08; Beagle Her (double minor – high-sticking), 19:29; Kane Her (misconduct – abuse of officials), 19:29.

2nd Period-1, Charlotte, Samson 8 (Bowman, Rodney), 0:40 (PP). 2, Charlotte, Dalpe 2 (Boychuk, Bowman), 2:35 (PP). 3, Charlotte, Terry 7 (Boychuk), 7:32. Penalties-Blanchard Cha (interference), 2:44; Pinizzotto Her (fighting), 3:18; Herauf Cha (fighting), 3:18; FitzGerald Cha (tripping), 17:41.

3rd Period-4, Hershey, Greentree 4 (Fahey, Willsie), 2:58 (PP). 5, Hershey, Greentree 5 (Fahey, Gordon), 11:40 (PP). 6, Charlotte, Samson 9 (Dalpe, Terry), 19:55 (EN). Penalties-Chaput Cha (tripping), 2:21; Micflikier Cha (tripping), 10:59.

Shots on Goal-Hershey 12-14-18-44. Charlotte 5-13-6-24.
Power Play Opportunities-Hershey 2 / 7; Charlotte 2 / 5.
Goalies-Hershey, Sabourin 1-4-0 (23 shots-20 saves). Charlotte, Murphy 3-3-2 (44 shots-42 saves).
A-5,644
Referees-Jamie Koharski (84).
Linesmen-Alex Stagnone, Paul Carnathan (93).