CHECKERS CORNERED BY DEVILS 

VERSUS 

DEVILS BLANK CHECKERS IN RUBBER MATCH
Caruso makes 37 saves; Henrique scores twice

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Three unanswered tallies and solid goaltending from Dave Caruso were the difference as the Albany Devils defeated the Charlotte Checkers, 3-0, at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Winning for the second time in three games in Charlotte, the Devils improved to 20-29-0-3, while the Checkers dropped to 30-19-2-4.

Caruso, the game’s first star, made 37 saves to record his first-career AHL shutout. Adam Henrique scored two goals to lead the Devils’ attack, including his second game winner in the three-game series against Charlotte.

Justin Pogge made 25 saves in a losing effort for the Checkers, who were shut out for the third time this season.

After the teams played scoreless hockey through the first half of the game, Henrique broke the stalemate with 8:46 remaining in the second period. The rookie forward ripped a wrist shot past Pogge from the right faceoff dot.

Henrique then put Albany ahead, 2-0, with his second power-play goal of the game at the 19:35 mark of the second period. Jeff Prough threaded a pass through the Checkers’ defense from behind the goal to Henrique, who snapped a quick shot that beat Pogge.

With 2:25 remaining in the third period, Brad Mills provided an insurance goal by finishing off a 2-on-1 passing play started by Alexander Vasyunov.

Although the Checkers fired 14 shots in the third period and out-shot the Devils in all three periods, Caruso had an answer for every Charlotte attempt and Albany walked away with a 3-0 win.

The Checkers (30-19-2-4) will embark on a four-game road trip beginning Friday in Binghamton before returning home on Thursday, Feb. 24 to host the Connecticut Whale (formerly Hartford Wolf Pack). For ticket information, call 704-342-4423 or visit www.GoCheckers.com.

Notes: The Checkers have a league-high 189 goals for…Jon Matsumoto has seven points (3g, 4a) in the last six games…Mike Murphy is 13-2-0 in his last 15 starts.

Albany Devils 3 at Charlotte Checkers 0 – Status: Final
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 – Time Warner Cable Arena

Albany 0 2 1 – 3
Charlotte 0 0 0 – 0

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Mills Alb (goaltender interference), 1:38; Nash Cha (tripping), 8:21.

2nd Period-1, Albany, Henrique 15 (Josefson, Anderson), 11:14. 2, Albany, Henrique 16 (Prough, Anderson), 19:35 (PP). Penalties-Murray Alb (interference), 11:40; Wiseman Alb (slashing), 12:55; Micflikier Cha (goaltender interference), 15:22; Bowman Cha (holding), 18:33.

3rd Period-3, Albany, Mills 7 (Vasyunov), 17:35. Penalties-Micflikier Cha (goaltender interference), 5:16; Wiseman Alb (hooking), 5:56; FitzGerald Cha (roughing), 18:23.

Shots on Goal-Albany 9-11-8-28. Charlotte 10-13-14-37.
Power Play Opportunities-Albany 1 / 5; Charlotte 0 / 4.
Goalies-Albany, Caruso 3-5-0 (37 shots-37 saves). Charlotte, Pogge 15-12-2 (28 shots-25 saves).
A-3,782
Referees-Jason Rollins (37), Curtis Marouelli (58).
Linesmen-Alex Stagnone (7), Mike Sheehan (90).