DALPE’S LATE GAME HEROICS CARRY CHECKERS TO 4-3 VICTORY 

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DALPE’S LATE GAME HEROICS CARRY CHECKERS TO 4-3 VICTORY
Rookie forward has nine goals in his last nine games

Zac Dalpe scored two goals in 11 seconds in the final minute of the game to propel the Checkers to a 4-3 victory over the Norfolk Admirals on Wednesday evening.

Dalpe had two goals and an assist in the win. Riley Nash and Bryan Rodney scored the other goals for the Checkers, while Justin Pogge was solid all night making 28 saves to record the win. Pierre-Cedric Labrie scored his first two goals of the season for the Admirals.

Nash opened the scoring 1:29 into the contest with his fourth goal of the season. Jerome Samson sprung Nash and Chris Terry on a two-on-one before Terry sent a back-hand pass through the defender’s legs to Nash, who one-timed it low stick-side on Admirals goaltender Tokarski.

Matt Fornataro struck back for the Admirals five minutes later. James Wright skated into the Checkers zone and made a cross-ice pass to Fornataro who rifled a wrist-shot from the top of the left-wing circle and over the glove of Pogge. 

The Checkers would take a 2-1 lead, early in the second period, on Rodney’s second goal of the season following the expiration of a power play. Zach Boychuk faked out Tokarski and fed Rodney, who shot the puck into the open net past a sprawling Tokarski. Dalpe picked up the secondary assist on the play.

Norfolk would answer back quickly as Labrie tipped a shot past Pogge. Juraj Simek took a shot from the top of the right-wing circle that was re-directed by Labrie on its way to the goal. Chris Durno had the second assist, his fourth point against the Checkers in the home-and-home series.

Labrie would score his second goal of the game with 5:24 left in the second period to give the Admirals their first lead of the game. He skated off the right-wing half-wall towards the slot and beat Pogge through a screen over his glove. Mike Angelidis picked up the only assist on the play.

With the extra attacker on the ice, Dalpe knotted the game with 53 seconds left in the third. Drayson Bowman barely held the puck in at the left point and sent a wrist shot toward the goal that was deflected by Dalpe past Tokarski.

Eleven seconds later Dalpe put the Checkers in front for good. Off the face-off, Dalpe stole the puck from the Admirals defender and barreled in on a breakaway. He faked Tokarski and tucked a back-hand in under the cross bar.

Charlotte (11-8-3) will continue its three-game road trip Saturday in Worcester before returning home on Sunday, Dec. 5 and Monday, Dec. 6 to host the Syracuse Stars. Holiday packs are now on sale and include four games, a merchandise certificate and a puck for as low as $35. Call 704-342-4423 or head to www.gocheckers.com for more information.

NOTES:

Zac Dalpe has nine goals in his last nine games (9g, 3a), while Jacob Micflikier has nine points (5g, 4a) in his last eight games… Jerome Samson is currently tied for second in the AHL in goals (12)… Zach Boychuk is on a four-game point streak (1g, 6a) and is tied for third in the league in points with 23 (8g, 15a)…Bryan Rodney has seven points (2g, 5a) in his last six games.

Charlotte Checkers 4 at Norfolk Admirals 3 – Status: Final
Wednesday, November 24, 2010 – Norfolk Scope

Charlotte 1 1 2 – 4
Norfolk 1 2 0 – 3

1st Period-1, Charlotte, Nash 4 (Terry, Samson), 1:29. 2, Norfolk, Fornataro 5 (Wright, Szczechura), 6:22. Penalties-Sutter Cha (fighting), 1:32; Giliati Nor (fighting), 1:32.

2nd Period-3, Charlotte, Rodney 2 (Boychuk, Dalpe), 3:20. 4, Norfolk, Labrie 1 (Simek, Durno), 5:02. 5, Norfolk, Labrie 2 (Angelidis), 14:36. Penalties-Barberio Nor (tripping), 1:18; Herauf Cha (holding), 8:16; Micflikier Cha (boarding), 12:02; Pogge Cha (tripping), 16:41; Wright Nor (tripping), 17:46.

3rd Period-6, Charlotte, Dalpe 8 (Bowman), 19:07. 7, Charlotte, Dalpe 9 (Samson, FitzGerald), 19:18. Penalties-Gudas Nor (tripping), 0:48; Blanchard Cha (fighting), 14:52; Labrie Nor (fighting), 14:52.

Shots on Goal-Charlotte 11-7-16-34. Norfolk 15-9-7-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Charlotte 0 / 3; Norfolk 0 / 3.
Goalies-Charlotte, Pogge 5-5-0 (31 shots-28 saves). Norfolk, Tokarski 4-3-0 (34 shots-30 saves).
A-3,750
Referees-Steve Patafie (85).
Linesmen-Mark Hamlett (81), Tom George (61).