CHECKERS CRUNCHED

SYRACUSE SHOOTS-OUT CHECKERS
Charlotte goes 2-1-0-1 on four-game trip

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Rookie forward Kyle Palmieri`s power-play goal with less than six minutes to play tied the game and the Syracuse Crunch got three goals in the shootout as they beat the visiting Charlotte Checkers, 4-3, on Tuesday evening.

The Checkers had two leads and multi-point games from Zach Boychuk and Ethan Graham but could not close out the resilient Crunch.  Finishing their four-game road trip with a 2-1-0-1 record, Charlotte now has 71 points and trails the Hershey Bears by three for second place in the East Division. Mike Murphy put forth a 37-save effort in a losing cause and is now 6-0-1 over his last seven games.

Green contributed a goal and assist for the Crunch and was named the game’s first star, while former Ottawa Senators goaltender Ray Emery made 34 saves for the win.

After Green gave the Crunch an early 1-0 lead, less than three minutes into the game, Chris Terry knotted the game, 1-1, by hammering a slap shot past Emery. The goal came at 5:23 and was assisted by Boychuk and Graham.

The score remained tied until almost a period later, when Matt Pistilli cashed in on a rebound off a Boychuk tip in front of the net. Rodney blasted a shot from the point which was tipped by Boychuk and Emery was unable to control the puck.

Syracuse tied the game, early in the third, on Patrick Maroon’s team-leading 17th goal of the season but the Checkers stormed back and regained the lead on a tally by Drayson Bowman. Bowman skated into the zone, made a quick pivot and threw a shot on net that seemed to fool Emery.

The resilient Crunch rallied again, however, and tied the game, 3-3, with 5:49 remaining in the third period. Palmieri took a centering feed in front from David Laliberte and beat Murphy for his 14th of the season, forcing overtime.

After a scoreless overtime period, the teams headed to a shootout, where Green scored Syracuse’s third shootout marker to seal a 4-3 victory.

The Checkers (32-20-2-5) look to get back in the win column when they host the the Connecticut Whale (formerly Hartford Wolf Pack) on Thursday at 7 p.m. For ticket information, call 704-342-4423 or visit www.gocheckers.com. The first 3,000 fans at Saturday’s game against Connecticut will receive a free Checkers backpack.

NOTES: The Checkers are the first team to 200 goals this season after Chris Terry’s first-period goal…Matt Pistilli has two goals in the last three games…Bryan Rodney notched his 100th AHL assist on Pistilli’s goal…Drayson Bowman played his 100th AHL game…Mike Murphy is 6-0-1 in his last seven games.

Charlotte Checkers 3 at Syracuse Crunch 4 (SO) – Status: Final SO
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 – Onondaga County War Memorial at Oncenter

Charlotte 1 1 1 0 – 3
Syracuse 1 0 2 0 – 4

1st Period-1, Syracuse, Green 9 (Deschamps, Palmieri), 2:28. 2, Charlotte, Terry 23 (Boychuk, Graham), 5:23. Penalties-FitzGerald Cha (hooking), 10:01.

2nd Period-3, Charlotte, Pistilli 3 (Boychuk, Rodney), 4:47 (PP). Penalties-Lebler Syr (high-sticking), 3:03; Green Syr (slashing), 11:54.

3rd Period-4, Syracuse, Maroon 17 (Green, Bonino), 7:32 (PP). 5, Charlotte, Bowman 10 (Micflikier, Graham), 10:04. 6, Syracuse, Palmieri 14 (Laliberte, Macenauer), 14:11 (PP). Penalties-served by Bowman Cha (bench minor – too many men), 6:04; Mitera Syr (cross-checking), 7:57; Nash Cha (hooking), 12:24.

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout – Charlotte 1 (Micflikier NG, Bowman NG, Terry NG, Dalpe G), Syracuse 3 (Bonino G, Deschamps NG, Maroon NG, Palmieri G, Green G).
Shots on Goal-Charlotte 12-13-10-2-0-37. Syracuse 12-15-12-1-1-41.
Power Play Opportunities-Charlotte 1 / 3; Syracuse 2 / 3.
Goalies-Charlotte, Murphy 17-9-3 (40 shots-37 saves). Syracuse, Emery 2-1-0 (37 shots-34 saves).
A-4,621
Referees-Jamie Koharski (84), Chris Ciamaga (41).
Linesmen-Derek Sylvester (76), Dan Murphy (21).