MONARCHS OVERRULE CHECKERS 

VERSUS

MONARCHS SPOIL CHARLOTTE COMEBACK ATTEMPT
Sutter scores twice, adds assist; Teams to meet again tomorrow

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Manchester Monarchs scored three times in the opening 11:34 and fended off a late comeback attempt as they defeated the Charlotte Checkers, 6-4, on Thursday evening at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Martin Jones stopped 32 of Charlotte’s 36 shots to earn his 15th win of the season, while Justin Pogge took the loss, making 22 saves.

A key for the Monarchs (26-14-1-10) in their ninth win in the last 12 games was a balanced attack. Both Dwight King and Corey Elkins scored two goals apiece and six different players registered multi-point games.

One of the bright spots for Charlotte was the play of Brett Sutter, whose three-point night (2g, 1a) extended his current point streak to a career-high four games. Father Darryl, a longtime NHL player, coach and general manager was in attendance as Brett was named the game’s first star.

The Monarchs came storming out of the gate and got a pair of goals from King and one from Elkins to make it 3-0 before the 12-minute mark of the opening period.

With less than a minute to play in the period, Sutter got the Checkers on the board when he took a pass in front of the net and beat Jones along the ice.

Sutter then scored his second of the night to make it a one-goal game, just 1:36 into the second period. On a 2-on-1 with Chris Terry, the former Calgary Flames draft pick elected to shoot and fired a wrist shot into the top corner.

Justin Azevedo scored for Manchester before Elkins added his second of the night to make it 5-2 Monarchs.

Charlotte, however, climbed to within one on goals by Jacob Micflikier and Oskar Osala. Micflikier pounded home a rebound in front before Osala beat Jones with a wrist shot from the point to make it 5-4 with 6:15 to play.

The Checkers pulled Pogge for an extra attacker and looked as though they might tie the game. The would-be comeback was ended, however, when Marc-Andre Cliche scored an empty-net goal with 56 seconds remaining.

Charlotte (22-14-1-4) has a chance to avenge its defeat against the Atlantic Division-leading Monarchs when the same two clubs face off tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. Friday night’s game is also ‘Race Night,’ and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Joey Logano is back as the headliner. Proceeds from the jersey auction and a portion of ticket sales will be donated to the Bennett family from Albany, N.Y. Visit www.gocheckers.com/racenight for more information.

NOTES:

Brett Sutter is on a career-high four game point streak (3g, 3a)…Jerome Samson has four points (1g, 3a) in his last four games…Nick Dodge played in his 200th consecutive game Tuesday…Jacob Micflikier has points (6g, 9a) in 11 of his last 14 games…Defenseman Michal Jordan has five points (2g, 3a) in his last six games.

Manchester Monarchs 6 at Charlotte Checkers 4 – Status: Final
Thursday, January 13, 2011 – Time Warner Cable Arena

Manchester 3 1 2 – 6
Charlotte 1 1 2 – 4

1st Period-1, Manchester, King 10 (Azevedo, Holloway), 2:21. 2, Manchester, King 11 (Holloway, Hickey), 5:25 (PP). 3, Manchester, Elkins 10 (Kozun, Nolan), 11:34. 4, Charlotte, Sutter 4 (Samson, Jordan), 19:20. Penalties-Dodge Cha (roughing), 0:21; Blanchard Cha (holding), 5:18; Teubert Mch (hooking), 7:25; FitzGerald Cha (interference), 12:05; Voynov Mch (slashing), 16:25.

2nd Period-5, Charlotte, Sutter 5   1:36. 6, Manchester, Azevedo 12 (Holloway, Cliche), 6:42. Penalties-Meckler Mch (holding the stick), 3:52; Sutter Cha (high-sticking), 9:30; King Mch (holding), 18:51.

3rd Period-7, Manchester, Elkins 11 (Voynov, Nolan), 3:34. 8, Charlotte, Micflikier 17 (Carson, Jordan), 11:06 (PP). 9, Charlotte, Osala 10 (Sutter, Bowman), 13:45. 10, Manchester, Cliche 9 (Campbell), 19:04 (EN). Penalties-Meckler Mch (slashing), 9:14; Kolomatis Mch (roughing), 11:06; Bowman Cha (roughing), 11:06.

Shots on Goal-Manchester 11-11-6-28. Charlotte 12-8-16-36.
Power Play Opportunities-Manchester 1 / 4; Charlotte 1 / 5.
Goalies-Manchester, Jones 15-3-0 (36 shots-32 saves). Charlotte, Pogge 13-8-2 (27 shots-22 saves).
A-3,972
Referees-Tim Mayer (19), David Banfield (44).
Linesmen-Mark Hamlett (81), Ben Shiley (21).