VERSUS 
CHECKERS EXPLODE FOR 10 GOALS IN WIN OVER SYRACUSE
Charlotte gets goals from nine different forwards in 10-3 win
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Charlotte Checkers exploded for eight unanswered, second-period goals and routed the visiting Syracuse Crunch, 10-3, on Monday evening.
The eight second-period tallies were the most in a period in the American Hockey League since the Providence Bruins scored 10 goals in the first period on Nov. 25, 1998, also against Syracuse. The Checkers’ 10 goals ties the most by one team in a game this season (Grand Rapids).
Charlotte had goals from nine different forwards and points from 15 of 18 skaters overall.
Oskar Osala had a four point game (1g, 3a), while Chris Terry (3a), Zach Boychuk (1g, 2a) and Jerome Samson (1g, 2a) all had three-point efforts. Riley Nash scored two goals for his first pro multi-goal game. Brett Sutter, Brad Herauf, Zac Dalpe, Jacob Micflikier and Jon Matsumoto added goals for Charlotte. Mike Murphy won his fourth straight start, making 32 saves.
Samson opened the scoring five minutes into the first period with his team-leading 14th goal of the season. Zack FitzGerald made a pass from the boards at the left wing hash marks to Samson behind the net. He walked out from behind the net and stuffed the puck past goaltender Timo Pielmeier. Terry picked up the second assist to extend his point streak to five games.
Kyle Palmieri evened the score for Syracuse at the dying seconds of the opening period. He received a cross-ice pass from Brett Festerling on the rush and fired a snap-shot through the legs of Murphy.
The Checkers then scored six goals in a span of 3:39, early in the second period, to begin the onslaught.
Boychuk got things going when he took a pass from Matsumoto and sent a snap shot off the crossbar and in. Dalpe extended the Checkers lead to 3-1, 19 seconds later, when he converted a pass from Samson at the side of the net. Just 46 seconds later, Herauf received a pass from Nick Dodge in the slot and bounced a shot behind Pielmeier for his first goal of the season.
The Syracuse netminder was pulled in favor of Jean-Philippe Lavasseur. Levasseur did not fare well, however, allowing two goals on two shots in a 1:34 span. Sutter one-timed a shot over the glove of Lavasseur after a give-and-go with Herauf before Riley Nash squeaking a shot through the legs of the defenseless goaltender to make it 6-1.
After another Crunch goaltending change, Osala walking out of the left-wing corner, picked up his own rebound and slid it past Pielmeier.
Micflikier and Nash capped off the eight-goal period for the Checkers and they went to the locker room with a 9-1 lead after 40 minutes.
Stefan Chaput and Jake Newton scored third period goals for the Crunch and Matsumoto scored his fifth of the season as Charlotte walked away with a 10-3 victory.
NOTES:
The eight goals scored by Charlotte was the most in a period since Providence scored 10 in 1998… The Checkers are 8-2-0 in their last ten games… Chris Terry is currently riding a five-game point streak (3g, 4a)…Bryan Rodney is tied for third among AHL defensemen with 17 points (4g, 13a)… Jacob Micflikier has 12 points (7g, 5a) in his last ten games… Jerome Samson has 11 points (3g, 8a) in the last seven games and is tied for third in league in goals (14)…Zach Boychuk (10g, 18a) and Samson (14g, 14a) are tied for third in league in scoring with 28 points each… Justin Pogge has won seven of his last nine decisions…Mike Murphy has won four straight starts.
The Checkers (14-9-3) will host Hershey on Friday at 7 p.m. for “As Seen on TV Night” and Teddy Bear Toss. The first 2,000 fans will receive an official “As Seen on TV” product. 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.
Syracuse Crunch 3 at Charlotte Checkers 10 – Status: Final
Monday, December 6, 2010 – Time Warner Cable Arena
Syracuse 1 0 2 – 3
Charlotte 1 8 1 – 10
1st Period-1, Charlotte, Samson 14 (FitzGerald, Terry), 5:09. 2, Syracuse, Palmieri 9 (Festerling), 19:56. Penalties-Clark Syr (holding), 9:09.
2nd Period-3, Charlotte, Boychuk 10 (Matsumoto, Terry), 4:06 (PP). 4, Charlotte, Dalpe 10 (Samson, Osala), 4:27. 5, Charlotte, Herauf 1 (Dodge, Osala), 5:13. 6, Charlotte, Sutter 1 (Herauf, Jordan), 5:47. 7, Charlotte, Nash 5 (Terry), 6:47. 8, Charlotte, Osala 5 (Jordan, Boychuk), 7:45. 9, Charlotte, Micflikier 11 (Bellemore, Osala), 11:21. 10, Charlotte, Nash 6 (Samson, Boychuk), 17:50. Penalties-Kennedy Syr (tripping), 2:52.
3rd Period-11, Syracuse, Newton 2 1:17. 12, Syracuse, Chaput 2 16:12 (SH). 13, Charlotte, Matsumoto 5 (Dodge, Carson), 16:37 (PP). Penalties-Salters Syr (fighting), 11:36; Herauf Cha (slashing, fighting), 11:36; Macenauer Syr (cross-checking), 15:59; Sutter Cha (slashing), 19:09.
Shots on Goal-Syracuse 10-8-17-35. Charlotte 11-18-14-43.
Power Play Opportunities-Syracuse 0 / 2; Charlotte 2 / 3.
Goalies-Syracuse, Pielmeier 6-7-1 (41 shots-33 saves); Levasseur 2-5-2 (2 shots-0 saves). Charlotte, Murphy 6-4-2 (35 shots-32 saves).
A-3,517
Referees-Keith Kaval (40).
Linesmen-Terry Wicklum (58), Mark Hamlett (81).
