EARLY OUTBURST HELPS CHECKERS TO 5-3 VICTORY OVER BEARS
Checkers jump Hershey for third place; Boychuk adds four points
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Charlotte Checkers scored three first-period goals and held on to beat the Hershey Bears, 5-3, on Sunday afternoon. With the win, the Checkers jump Hershey and grab sole possession of third place in the East Division.
Charlotte’s top line of Zach Boychuk, Zac Dalpe, and Jacob Micflikier led the way offensively, combining for 10 points (3g, 7a). Micflikier netted a pair of goals and added an assist, while Boychuk had a career high four assists. The Checkers also had goals from Dalpe, Matthew Pistilli, and Bryan Rodney. Mike Murphy turned away 28 of 31 shots and made many impressive saves to keep his team ahead.
Jay Beagle, Sheldon Souray and Lawrence Nycholat scored for Hershey and goaltender Braden Holtby was solid after giving up the three early goals, stopping 21 of the next 22 shots.
Dalpe gave Charlotte an early lead 3:31 in. Boychuk entered the zone with Dalpe on a 2-on-1 and saucered a pass to the driving center, who redirected it past Holtby.
Micflikier gave the Checkers a 2-0 lead, five minutes later. A hard forecheck by Dalpe forced a Hershey turnover. Boychuk grabbed the puck and flipped it over a sprawling Holtby to Micflikier, who buried it from the outside of the crease.
Just 13 seconds later, off the ensuing faceoff, the Checkers increased their lead to three goals. Jon Matsumoto quickly drove the offensive zone and left the puck in the slot for Pistilli to snap past Holtby.
Hershey made it a 3-1 game, late in the first period, with a shorthanded goal from Beagle. Charlotte turned the puck over in the defensive zone where Boyd Kane fed an undefended Beagle in front of the Checkers net. Murphy made the initial stop, but Beagle collected the rebound and lifted it over the Charlotte netminder.
Late in the second, the Bears made it a 3-2 game when Souray scored a powerplay goal from the right-wing point. The former NHL All-Star, whose shot has been recorded at over 106 MPH, blasted a laser of a one-timer over the glove of Murphy.
Rodney gave the Checkers some breathing room, midway through the third period, on a 5-on-3 power play. The Charlotte captain drove to the net, took a pass from Boychuk at the side of the net and made no mistake.
In typical Checkers fashion, Micflikier scored again, just 20 seconds later, on the second half of the power play. Holtby was caught out of his net and Micflikier threw the puck into the empty net from the right-wing corner for his 13th of the season.
Nycholat tacked on a goal for Hershey late in the third period, but the Checkers held on for the victory. Charlotte is now 3-1-0-1 against the defending Calder Cup champions.
The Checkers (15-9-4) head to Providence on Friday to begin a five-game road trip before returning home on Jan. 1 to face the Binghamton Senators at 7 p.m. at Time Warner Cable Arena.
Holiday packs are now on sale and include four games and a puck for as low as $35. Call 704-342-4423 or head to www.gocheckers.com for more information.
NOTES:
The Checkers are 7-2-1 in their last ten games… Zach Boychuk is tied for second in AHL scoring with 32 points (10g, 22a)… Jerome Samson has 12 points (4g, 8a) in his last nine games. He is also tied for third in league in goals (15) and is tied for eighth in points with 29 (15g, 14a).
Hershey Bears 3 at Charlotte Checkers 5 – Status: Final
Sunday, December 12, 2010 – Time Warner Cable Arena
Hershey 1 1 1 – 3
Charlotte 3 0 2 – 5
1st Period-1, Charlotte, Dalpe 11 (Boychuk, Micflikier), 3:31. 2, Charlotte, Micflikier 12 (Boychuk, Dalpe), 8:34. 3, Charlotte, Pistilli 1 (Matsumoto, Osala), 8:47. 4, Hershey, Beagle 7 (Kane), 13:49 (SH). Penalties-Kane Her (interference), 5:05; McNeill Her (fighting), 10:11; FitzGerald Cha (fighting), 10:11; Collins Her (hooking), 12:47; Bruess Her (hooking), 16:49; Sutter Cha (slashing), 19:17.
2nd Period-5, Hershey, Souray 1 (Nycholat), 17:19 (PP). Penalties-Bruess Her (tripping), 2:36; Pinizzotto Her (roughing), 16:16; FitzGerald Cha (roughing, roughing), 16:16; Borer Cha (slashing), 16:47.
3rd Period-6, Charlotte, Rodney 5 (Matsumoto, Boychuk), 10:26 (PP). 7, Charlotte, Micflikier 13 (Dalpe, Boychuk), 10:46 (PP). 8, Hershey, Nycholat 4 18:28. Penalties-Willsie Her (interference), 8:52; McNeill Her (bench minor – too many men), 10:09; Miskovic Her (misconduct – unsportsmanlike conduct), 18:11; Souray Her (hooking), 18:11; Herauf Cha (roughing, misconduct – unsportsmanlike conduct), 18:11; Jordan Cha (misconduct – unsportsmanlike conduct), 18:11; Carson Cha (slashing), 20:00.
Shots on Goal-Hershey 9-14-8-31. Charlotte 12-9-9-30.
Power Play Opportunities-Hershey 1 / 3; Charlotte 2 / 6.
Goalies-Hershey, Holtby 7-2-1 (30 shots-25 saves). Charlotte, Murphy 8-4-2 (31 shots-28 saves).
A-5,758
Referees-Ghislain Hebert (49), Jeff Smith (49).
Linesmen-Paul Carnathan (93), Terry Wicklum (58).
Related
Mitch Beck
Related posts
Top picks
WOLF PACK SEND BRUINS PACKING WITH OT WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack are headed to the Atlantic Division Finals for the second straight season. A wild bounce saw a puck clip Jake Leschyshyn and beat Brandon Bussi 9:41 into overtime of Game 4 at…
PRE-GAME: WOLF PACK CAN CLOSE OUT BRUINS TONIGHT
PRE-GAME REPORT: WOLF PACK LOOK TO CLOSE OUT SERIES AGAINST BRUINS AT XL CENTER By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack welcome the Providence Bruins to town tonight for Game 4 of their Atlantic Division Semifinals series. Thanks to…
WOLF PACK SUFFER UGLY LOSS TO P-BRUINS IN GAME 2
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack were forced to settle for a split in Providence, as the Bruins roared back to take Game 2 6-0 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday night. The series, now tied 1-1,…
WOLF PACK TAKE GAME ONE OF SEMIS IN P-TOWN
By: Shay Costa, Howlings PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack’s Anton Blidh scored 1:28 into the third period to give the team a 4-3 road win against his former team, the Providence Bruins, in Game One of the Atlantic Division semifinal in front of…
WOLF PACK SEND BRUINS PACKING WITH OT WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack are headed to the Atlantic Division Finals for the second straight season. A wild bounce saw a puck clip Jake Leschyshyn and beat Brandon Bussi 9:41 into overtime of Game 4 at…
WOLF PACK SUFFER UGLY LOSS TO P-BRUINS IN GAME 2
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack were forced to settle for a split in Providence, as the Bruins roared back to take Game 2 6-0 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday night. The series, now tied 1-1,…
WOLF PACK TAKE GAME ONE OF SEMIS IN P-TOWN
By: Shay Costa, Howlings PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack’s Anton Blidh scored 1:28 into the third period to give the team a 4-3 road win against his former team, the Providence Bruins, in Game One of the Atlantic Division semifinal in front of…
WOLF PACK GET 3-PT NIGHT FROM PITLICK IN GM 1 WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – Tyler Pitlick picked up three points on Wednesday night as the Hartford Wolf Pack marched into the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence and took Game 1 of their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinals series. The Wolf Pack…
ORLANDO ENDS SWAMP RABBITS SEASON
Swamp Rabbits show life late, but Orlando pulls away to win the series BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC– Jaydon Dureau’s two-goal night spearheaded a 5-1 Orlando Solar Bears win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Tuesday to win the South Division Semifinals…
SWAMP RABBITS ANSWER BACK IN GAME 2
Eberle nets game-winner; three multi-point performers shine in win BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—Tanner Eberle broke a deadlock in a wild third period to headline the Greenville Swamp Rabbits’ Game 2 win over the Orlando Solar Bears by a 4-2 score on Monday…
SWAMP RABBITS DROP GAME 1 in OT
Spencer Kersten ends a 72-minute game to steal Game 1 from Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – Spencer Kersten ended a marathon goalie duel to give the Orlando Solar Bears a lead in the South Division Semifinals, 1-0, over the Greenville…
SWAMP RABBITS SCHEDULE FOR SOUTH DIVISION SEMIFINALS
Swamp Rabbits and Solar Bears begin a best-of-seven series this Sunday in Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the full schedule for the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs…