VERSUS 
CHECKERS PREVAIL, 3-2, OVER ADMIRALS IN SHOOTOUT
Pogge wins sixth straight on the road; Charlotte now 3-0-0 in Norfolk
NORFOLK, Va. – Zac Dalpe scored the shootout-winning goal and Justin Pogge stood his ground as the Charlotte Checkers downed the Norfolk Admirals, 3-2, on Tuesday evening.
The Checkers have now won eight of their last nine road games and have also won three times in three tries in Norfolk this season. Jacob Micflikier was named first star of the game and potted his 15th goal of the season, while Pogge stopped 32 of 34 shots for his ninth win in his last 12 decisions (9-2-1).
The game was a tight-checking matchup with both teams keeping everything to the outside and getting solid goaltending performances.
The Admirals got on the board first with 12:42 gone in the game when forward Marc-Antoine Pouliot made a nifty inside-out move to gain the zone. Blair Jones then picked up the puck in the slot and fed Alex Berry at the side of the net for a tap-in.
Pogge kept the Checkers in the game with a great stick save on a Norfolk 2-on-1 with 30 seconds left in the period.
Midway through the second period, Matsumoto tied the game for the Charlotte when he picked up the loose puck in the slot and beat Admirals goaltender Dustin Tokarski short side. Brett Sutter and Oskar Osala drew the assists.
As they have done many times this season, the Checkers scored again, just 27 seconds later on Micflikier’s 15th. Dalpe won the faceoff to Drayson Bowman and Bowman, in his first game back from injury, fired a shot toward the Norfolk net. Micflikier tipped it home from the slot to put the Checkers up, 2-1.
Tempers flared early in the third period and Bowman and Berry were both handed game misconducts for a secondary altercation.
With the Admirals trailing late in the third, Tokarski made an impressive toe save on Oskar Osala to keep his team in the game. Norfolk seemed to feed off the save and immediately went on the attack, getting a goal from Mark Barberio. Barberio redirected a pass from Stefano Giliati in the corner for his third of the season with 3:10 to play.
The teams headed to overtime and both netminders came up big, setting the stage for a shootout.
In the shootout, Brett Carson scored on the backhand, before Dalpe tallied the eventual winner with a wrist shot. Pogge stopped four of five shooters for his sixth straight road win.
The Checkers (18-10-4) will battle the Admirals again Thursday (7:15 p.m.) in Norfolk before returning to Charlotte Saturday, Jan. 1 to host the Binghamton Senators. The first 3,000 fans through the door that night will receive a Checkers winter hat. Call 704-342-4423 or head to www.gocheckers.com for ticket information.
NOTES:
The Checkers are 8-1-0 in their last nine games and 3-0-0 in Norfolk this season…Justin Pogge has six straight road wins and is 9-2-1 in his last 12 games…Jacob Micflikier has 11 points (6g, 5a) in the last nine games…Charlotte ranks first in the AHL in penalty killing (87.6%)
Charlotte Checkers 3 (SO) at Norfolk Admirals 2 – Status: Final SO
Tuesday, December 28, 2010 – Norfolk Scope
Charlotte 0 2 0 0 – 3
Norfolk 1 0 1 0 – 2
1st Period-1, Norfolk, Berry 10 (Jones, Pouliot), 12:42. Penalties-Jones Nor (delay of game), 2:07; Matsumoto Cha (hooking), 5:59; Micflikier Cha (roughing), 14:00; Gudas Nor (roughing), 14:00.
2nd Period-2, Charlotte, Matsumoto 8 (Osala, Sutter), 13:35. 3, Charlotte, Micflikier 15 (Bowman, Dalpe), 14:02. Penalties-Berry Nor (delay of game), 15:08; Dodge Cha (boarding), 17:15; Pouliot Nor (cross-checking), 18:02.
3rd Period-4, Norfolk, Barberio 3 (Giliati, Durno), 16:50. Penalties-Bowman Cha (roughing, fighting, game misconduct – secondary altercation), 0:43; Dalpe Cha (fighting), 0:43; Berry Nor (fighting, game misconduct – secondary altercation), 0:43; Jones Nor (fighting), 0:43; FitzGerald Cha (slashing), 6:12; Wright Nor (hooking), 11:55.
OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties
Shootout – Charlotte 2 (Carson G, Micflikier NG, Dalpe G, Rodney NG), Norfolk 1 (Harju NG, Szczechura NG, Pouliot G, Jones NG, Fornataro NG).
Shots on Goal-Charlotte 12-12-10-4-1-39. Norfolk 11-10-10-3-0-34.
Power Play Opportunities-Charlotte 0 / 4; Norfolk 0 / 4.
Goalies-Charlotte, Pogge 8-6-1 (34 shots-32 saves). Norfolk, Tokarski 6-7-0 (38 shots-36 saves).
A-3,612
Referees-Jason Rollins (37).
Linesmen-Scott Pomento (25), Tom George (61).
