CHECKERS FIGHT BACK IN 2ND, FALL SHORT, 6-4
Charlotte drops just third game in last 15 tries on the road
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – Despite blowing a 4-1 first-period lead, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins rallied for two goals in the third period to defeat the Charlotte Checkers, 6-4, Wednesday night in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Dustin Jeffrey, Tim Wallace and Ryan Craig, each netted two goals in the Penguins’ league-leading 35th win, while John Curry earned his 17th by making 34 saves on 38 shots. The victory came three days after the Checkers beat Curry for seven goals on 13 shots.
After relieving Justin Pogge in the first period, Mike Murphy made 25 saves on 27 shots for the Checkers, who dropped just their third game in the last 15 tries on the road.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton leading scorer Jeffrey opened the scoring with a shorthanded strike, 6:44 into the first period. Jeffrey grabbed the puck off a Checkers turnover, skated in and fired a shot at Pogge. He grabbed his own rebound and stuffed it home for his 16th of the season.
Ryan Craig put the Penguins ahead by two, just 36 seconds later, before Brett Carson rifled a one-timer over Curry’s shoulder to make it 2-1. The goal was Charlotte’s eighth power-play marker in the last three games.
Jeffrey then restored Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s two-goal lead, less than four minutes later, and Wallace made it 4-1, with less than four minutes to play in the period.
Oskar Osala potted his 13th with 22 seconds to play in the period, off a pass from Jacob Micflikier to make it 4-2 Penguins. The goal gave Osala his 40th point, good enough for second spot on the Checkers.
In the second period, Riley Nash narrowed the Penguins’ lead to 4-3 by scoring his second goal in as many games. Nicolas Blanchard started the play by firing a slap shot that caught John Curry under the chin. The shot stunned the Penguins netminder and gave Nash the chance to score on the rebound.
Just three minutes later, Jerome Samson picked up the puck at center ice and beat Curry with a forehand-to-backhand deke to tie the game, 4-4. Samson’s goal was his 22nd of the season and Brett Carson picked up his second point of the evening.
Less than three minutes into the third period, however, Penguins captain Ryan Craig fired a quick shot from the right faceoff dot past Murphy to put his team ahead once again. The power-play tally would turn out to be the game winner.
Tim Wallace scored his 15th of the season, with 5:27 remaining to make it 6-4 and Curry shut the door as the teams split the two-game mini-series.
The Checkers (25-17-5) continue their current road trip when they travel to Glens Falls, N.Y. Friday to battle the Adirondack Phantoms (7:30 p.m.) The team will return home on Thursday, Feb. 3 to host the Norfolk Admirals at 7 p.m. For ticket information, call 704-342-4423 or visit www.gocheckers.com.
NOTES: The Checkers now have power-play goals in five straight games…Charlotte is 12-3-0 in its last 15 road games…Zac Dalpe’s point streak was snapped at seven games (2g, 12a)…Nicolas Blanchard has six assists in his last five games.
Charlotte Checkers 4 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 6 – Status: Final
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 – Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
Charlotte 2 2 0 – 4
W-B/Scranton 4 0 2 – 6
1st Period-1, W-B/Scranton, Jeffrey 16 6:44 (SH). 2, W-B/Scranton, Craig 11 (Vitale, Bortuzzo), 7:20. 3, Charlotte, Carson 2 (Bowman, Terry), 9:50 (PP). 4, W-B/Scranton, Jeffrey 17 (Mormina, Sterling), 13:38. 5, W-B/Scranton, Wallace 14 (Collins, Vitale), 16:11. 6, Charlotte, Osala 13 (Micflikier, Matsumoto), 19:38. Penalties-FitzGerald Cha (high-sticking), 1:56; Walker Wbs (tripping), 5:02; Nash Cha (tripping), 5:29; Sterling Wbs (roughing), 5:51; Hutchinson Wbs (interference), 7:57; Strait Wbs (cross-checking), 8:43; Tangradi Wbs (unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:31.
2nd Period-7, Charlotte, Nash 10 (Blanchard, Rodney), 13:25. 8, Charlotte, Samson 22 (Carson), 16:39. Penalties-Collins Wbs (roughing), 5:40; served by Pistilli Cha (bench minor – too many men), 8:22; Borer Cha (delay of game), 9:18; Herauf Cha (unsportsmanlike conduct), 16:39.
3rd Period-9, W-B/Scranton, Craig 12 (Johnson, Potter), 2:41 (PP). 10, W-B/Scranton, Wallace 15 (Bortuzzo, Vitale), 14:33. Penalties-Matsumoto Cha (slashing), 2:14; Rodney Cha (cross-checking), 9:53.
Shots on Goal-Charlotte 16-11-11-38. W-B/Scranton 15-10-16-41.
Power Play Opportunities-Charlotte 1 / 6; W-B/Scranton 1 / 6.
Goalies-Charlotte, Pogge 14-9-2 (14 shots-10 saves); Murphy 11-9-2 (27 shots-25 saves). W-B/Scranton, Curry 17-7-0 (38 shots-34 saves).
A-4,193
Referees-David Banfield (44).
Linesmen-Jameel Chaudry (51), Chris Allman (11).
Related
Mitch Beck
Related posts
Top picks
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…
CALDER CUP PLAYOFF SCHEDULE RELEASED
By: Jason Chaimovich, American Hockey League SPRINGFIELD, MA – The AHL Playoff Games begin on Tuesday: OPENING SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED FOR 2024 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS The American Hockey League has released the following schedules for the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs opening series, including the best-of-three First…
WOLF PACK DROP SEASON FINALE 4-2 TO BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack concluded their 2023-24 regular season on Sunday afternoon at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. A third-period tally from the home side proved the difference, as the Bruins took a 4-2 decision….
WOLF PACK INK D HARRISON REES TO PTO
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has signed defenseman Harrison Rees to a professional tryout agreement (PTO). Rees, 24, appeared in 36 games…
CALDER CUP PLAYOFF SCHEDULE RELEASED
By: Jason Chaimovich, American Hockey League SPRINGFIELD, MA – The AHL Playoff Games begin on Tuesday: OPENING SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED FOR 2024 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS The American Hockey League has released the following schedules for the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs opening series, including the best-of-three First…
WOLF PACK DROP SEASON FINALE 4-2 TO BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack concluded their 2023-24 regular season on Sunday afternoon at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. A third-period tally from the home side proved the difference, as the Bruins took a 4-2 decision….
WOLF PACK INK D HARRISON REES TO PTO
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has signed defenseman Harrison Rees to a professional tryout agreement (PTO). Rees, 24, appeared in 36 games…
WOLF PACK TAKE ON CHARLOTTE CHECKERS IN FIRST ROUND
All Three Games to Take Place in North Carolina By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT—The Hartford Wolf Pack and Charlotte Checkers will face off in an Atlantic Division first-round series to kick off the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs. Due to the distance traveled,…
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…
ANDREW LORD NAMED ECHL COACH OF THE YEAR
Fourth-year bench boss becomes first in both franchise and Greenville hockey history to receive recognition By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—The ECHL announced today that Andrew Lord, Head Coach/General Manager of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, a proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los…