CHECKERS SHOOTOUT SOUND TIGERS 

VERSUS  

CHECKERS PREVAIL IN SHOOTOUT FOR SECOND STRAIGHT GAME

Terry continues with hot hand, scores 27th

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – After surrendering a two-goal third-period lead, the Charlotte Checkers got shootout goals from Zac Dalpe, Chris Terry and Jon Matsumoto to defeat the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 3-2, at Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard.

The Sound Tigers scored two shootout goals of their own, but Mike Murphy stopped Robin Figren in the sixth round to secure the win for the Checkers, who improved to 38-23-2-6.

Jon Matsumoto and Chris Terry were Charlotte’s regulation-time scorers against Nathan Lawson, who fell to 3-5-3 in his first start since being sent down by the New York Islanders. Rhett Rakhshani and Rob Hisey scored in regulation for Bridgeport.

After a scoreless first period, Matsumoto scored during a five-on-three power play to give the Checkers a 1-0 lead, 56 seconds into the second period. With Mark Katic ejected from the game after taking a five-minute boarding penalty in the last minute of the first period, a high Bryan Rodney slap shot caught Lawson under the chin and stunned the Bridgeport goalie long enough for Matsumoto to capitalize on the rebound.

Charlotte enhanced its lead to 2-0 when Terry scored his team leading 27th goal of the season at 3:55 of the second period. Nick Dodge started the sequence by carrying the puck into the Bridgeport zone and firing a pass to Terry, who directed the puck in off his skate.

In the third period, Bridgeport’s leading scorer, Rakhshani, narrowed Charlotte’s lead to 2-1 when he blistered a cross-ice-feed from Reese through Murphy’s legs with 9:58 remaining.

The Sound Tigers then pulled even with their goalie pulled, when Hisey scored a shorthanded goal with 22 seconds remaining in the third period, by knocking in the rebound of a Justin DiBenedetto shot.

After a scoreless overtime period, Charlotte and Bridgeport headed to a shootout for the second straight game, where the Checkers scored on three of six chances against Nathan Lawson to secure the 3-2 win.

The Checkers (38-23-2-6) continue their three-game road trip when they face off against the Syracuse Crunch tomorrow night at 7:30 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:

The Checkers got their fifth shootout win of the season, while Zac Dalpe leads the team with five shootout goals…The Checkers sweep the season series from Bridgeport, 4-0-0-0…The Checkers have scored during a five-on-three power play…Chris Terry has goals in two straight games and netted his 100th pro point…With the Hurricanes’ overtime win over the New York Islanders, Friday was the first time that Carolina’s NHL and AHL teams won on the same night against the same organization’s two teams

Charlotte Checkers 3 (SO) at Bridgeport Sound Tigers 2 – Status: Final SO

Friday, March 18, 2011 – Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard

Charlotte 0 1 1 0 – 3

Bridgeport 0 0 2 0 – 2

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Herauf Cha (goaltender interference), 9:24; Katic Bri (major – boarding, game misconduct – boarding), 19:00.

2nd Period-1, Charlotte, Matsumoto 19 (Rodney, Terry), 0:56 (PP). Penalties-Reese Bri (cross-checking), 0:45; Wotton Bri (delay of game), 7:56; Svendsen Bri (hooking), 8:40; Nash Cha (boarding), 11:10; Bellemore Cha (tripping), 15:19.

3rd Period-2, Charlotte, Terry 27 (Dodge), 3:55. 3, Bridgeport, Rakhshani 17 (Reese, Colliton), 10:02 (PP). 4, Bridgeport, Hisey 11 (DiBenedetto, Rakhshani), 19:37 (SH). Penalties-Bellemore Cha (double minor – high-sticking), 7:07; served by Ginand Bri (bench minor – too many men), 8:07; Rodney Cha (tripping), 9:07; Svendsen Bri (high-sticking), 14:40; Wotton Bri (holding), 18:10.

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Bellemore Cha (roughing), 2:59; Wotton Bri (slashing), 2:59; Matsumoto Cha (hooking), 5:00.

Shootout – Charlotte 3 (Dalpe G, Rodney NG, Micflikier NG, Terry G, Boychuk NG, Matsumoto G), Bridgeport 2 (Hisey G, Rakhshani NG, Reese NG, Colliton NG, Ullstrom G, Figren NG).

Shots on Goal-Charlotte 12-15-6-3-1-37. Bridgeport 9-7-18-3-0-37.

Power Play Opportunities-Charlotte 1 / 6; Bridgeport 1 / 6.

Goalies-Charlotte, Murphy 21-11-3 (37 shots-35 saves). Bridgeport, Lawson 3-4-4 (36 shots-34 saves).

A-5,908

Referees-Nick Krebsbach (35).

Linesmen-Luke Galvin (2), David Spannaus (8).