SANGUINETTI RETURNS, CHECKERS JUMP SOUND TIGERS 

VERSUS  

CHECKERS USE SHOOTOUT TO SQUEAK BY SOUND TIGERS
Terry scores team-leading 26th goal; Murphy stops 30 for 20th win

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – After tying the game midway through the second period, the Charlotte Checkers got shootout goals from Jacob Micflikier and Chris Terry to defeat the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 2-1, at Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard.

Mike Murphy stopped four of Bridgeport’s five shootout attempts and 30 of 31 shots in regulation and overtime to reach the 20 win plateau for the first time in his professional career. Chris Terry was the regulation-time goal-scorer for the Checkers, who improved to 37-23-2-6 and 3-0-0-0 against the Sound Tigers. Terry’s 26th goal pulled him into a sixth place tie in league scoring.

Joel Martin made 27 saves on 28 shots and Jeremy Colliton scored the only goal for the Sound Tigers (22-36-3-6), who fell for the 10th time in their last 11 games.

With the teams scoreless through the game’s first 30 minutes, Colliton scored a power-play goal to give Bridgeport a 1-0 lead at 10:17 of the second period. Bridgeport’s top two scorers, Rhett Rakhshani and Rob Hisey, cycled the puck along the left-wing boards and generated a shot that Murphy stopped, but Colliton was on the doorstep to cash in on the rebound.

Just over a minute after they took the lead, the Sound Tigers took two penalties 12 seconds apart to hand the Checkers a five-on-three power play. During the advantage, Zach Boychuk set up a shot for Zac Dalpe and the rebound bounced to Terry, who deposited it into an open right side of the net.

The teams remained scoreless through the rest of regulation and overtime, and Jacob Micflikier and Chris Terry scored shootout goals to seal a 2-1 win for Charlotte.

The Checkers (37-23-2-6) continue their four-game road trip and look for a season-series sweep on Friday night in Bridgeport at 7:00 p.m. The next game at Time Warner Cable Arena will be Mar. 22 when the Checkers entertain the Adirondack Phantoms at 7:00 p.m. For ticket information, call 704-342-4423 or visit gocheckers.com.

For every ‘like’ the Checkers get on their Facebook page between now and Apr. 1, the team will donate $2 to Zach Bennett and his family, who plan to move to Charlotte for better medical care and to be closer to the team. Visit www.gocheckers.com or head to www.facebook.com/charlottecheckers.

Notes:

Bobby Sanguinetti played for the first time since Nov. 19… Michal Jordan played for the first time in five games… Zac Dalpe has a goal and two assists on his three-game point streak…The Checkers got their fourth shootout win of the season… Charlotte is now 23-5-1-1 following a loss.

Charlotte Checkers 2 (SO) at Bridgeport Sound Tigers 1 – Status: Final SO
Wednesday, March 16, 2011 – Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard

Charlotte 0 1 0 0 – 2
Bridgeport 0 1 0 0 – 1

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Bellemore Cha (tripping), 3:20; Boychuk Cha (slashing), 8:43; Micflikier Cha (boarding), 11:47; Rakhshani Bri (interference), 12:31.

2nd Period-1, Bridgeport, Colliton 13 (Hisey, Rakhshani), 10:16 (PP). 2, Charlotte, Terry 26 (Dalpe, Boychuk), 12:06 (PP). Penalties-Boychuk Cha (cross-checking), 9:47; FitzGerald Cha (fighting), 9:47; Olson Bri (fighting), 9:47; Wishart Bri (interference), 11:01; Kohn Bri (high-sticking), 11:13; Boychuk Cha (boarding), 13:48; Herauf Cha (goaltender interference), 16:57.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Boychuk Cha (tripping), 1:32; Kohn Bri (boarding), 2:56; Katic Bri (interference), 11:03; Bourbeau Bri (delay of game), 12:31.

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout – Charlotte 2 (Pistilli NG, Dalpe NG, Micflikier G, Terry G), Bridgeport 1 (Figren NG, Hisey NG, Rakhshani G, Romano NG, DiBenedetto NG).
Shots on Goal-Charlotte 8-10-9-1-1-29. Bridgeport 13-11-3-4-0-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Charlotte 1 / 6; Bridgeport 1 / 7.
Goalies-Charlotte, Murphy 20-11-3 (31 shots-30 saves). Bridgeport, Martin 2-11-2 (28 shots-27 saves).
A-2,554
Referees-Chris Cozzan (18), Mark Lemelin (84).
Linesmen-Kevin Redding (16), Glen Cooke (6).