BEARS STRIKE EARLY, DOWN CHECKERS, 5-2

VERSUS

BEARS STRIKE EARLY, DOWN CHECKERS, 5-2
Charlotte splits two-game series with defending champs

The Charlotte Checkers fell behind early and could not recover as they were downed 5-2 by the defending champion Hershey Bears on Tuesday evening in Charlotte.

The loss snapped a seven-game undefeated-in-regulation streak for Charlotte who went 4-0-3 over that span. Bears forward Kyle Greentree led the way offensively with two goals while Chris Terry scored for the Checkers to extend his point streak to six games (5g, 3a).

Hershey opened the scoring with two quick goals, early in the first period. Boyd Kane forced a turnover in the Charlotte zone and fed Francois Bouchard, who scored on a wrist-shot from the high slot at 5:58. Then, just 56 seconds later, a turnover in the Checkers’ end sent the puck to Greentree, who banked a shot off of Pogge’s stick and in from the side of the net.

Charlotte pulled goaltender Justin Pogge for Mike Murphy, after 6:54, to try to swing the momentum.

The Checkers began to create scoring chances, including a shot by Drayson Bowman that beat Bears netminder Dany Sabourin but rang off the post.

Hershey made it a 3-0 game at 13:58 of the second period when Patrick Wellar blasted a slap shot from the point to beat Murphy.

Terry got the Checkers on the board late in the second period when he and Jerome Samson broke in on a 2-on-1. Samson carried the puck down the right-wing side and slid a pass over to Terry, who redirected it into the back of the net.

Charlotte outshot Hershey 19-8 in the second period but could only manage one goal on the scoreboard.

Zac Dalpe cut the Hershey lead to 3-2, 47 seconds into the third period. From the corner, Jacob Micflikier sent a pass to the top of the crease to Dalpe, who put the puck into the top corner of the net.

The Bears regained their two-goal lead when Greentree buried his fourth goal of the two-game series. Greentree, hanging out in front of the net, picked up a rebound and flicked it over a sprawling Murphy.

Charlotte pulled Murphy with 1:59 left for an extra attacker, but couldn’t beat Sabourin. Kane iced the game for Hershey when he lofted the puck into the empty net to win, 5-2.

The Checkers (6-7-3) will host Bridgeport (5-7-0), the AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, for a pair of games on Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. Ticket information can be obtained by calling 704-342-4423 or visiting www.gocheckers.com.

NOTES:

Chris Terry extended his point scoring streak to six games (5g, 3a)…Jerome Samson ranks tied for third in the league in goals (9), and first in the league in shots (84)…Zack FitzGerald leads the league in penalty minutes (73)…The Checkers are 4-1-3 in their last eight games.

Hershey Bears 5 at Charlotte Checkers 2 – Status: Final
Tuesday, November 9, 2010 – Time Warner Cable Arena

Hershey 2 1 2 – 5
Charlotte 0 1 1 – 2

1st Period-1, Hershey, Bouchard 3 (Kane), 5:58. 2, Hershey, Greentree 6 (Bouchard), 6:54. Penalties-Collins Her (interference), 1:05; McNeill Her (fighting), 6:57; Blanchard Cha (fighting), 6:57.

2nd Period-3, Hershey, Wellar 1 (Collins), 13:58. 4, Charlotte, Terry 8 (Samson, Graham), 17:21. Penalties-Bruess Her (hooking), 3:22; Fahey Her (cross-checking), 9:44.

3rd Period-5, Charlotte, Dalpe 3 (Micflikier, Osala), 0:47. 6, Hershey, Greentree 7 (Finley, Fahey), 5:09. 7, Hershey, Kane 5   18:30 (EN). Penalties-McNeill Her (hooking), 10:25; Samson Cha (double minor – high-sticking), 12:31.

Shots on Goal-Hershey 9-8-9-26. Charlotte 6-19-14-39.
Power Play Opportunities-Hershey 0 / 2; Charlotte 0 / 4.
Goalies-Hershey, Sabourin 1-4-0 (39 shots-37 saves). Charlotte, Pogge 3-4-0 (3 shots-1 saves); Murphy 3-3-2 (22 shots-20 saves).
A-3,659
Referees-Jason Rollins (37).
Linesmen-Mike Sheehan, Mark Hamlett (81).