MIRACULOUS COMEBACK SENDS CHECKERS TO CONFERENCE FINALS
Charlotte scores four third-period goals in 9:18 to win game, series
WILKES-BARRE, PA—Trailing 3-0 in the third period, the Charlotte Checkers scored four goals in a span of 9:18 to defeat the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 4-3, and win the East Division Final series, 4-2.
The Checkers will now face their division rivals, the Binghamton Senators, in the Eastern Conference Finals beginning Thursday at Time Warner Cable Arena.
Chris Terry led the comeback with two goals, while leading scorer Zac Dalpe capped off the comeback with a game-winning tally with 3:18 to play. Brett Sutter added a goal and two assists and Mike Murphy earned his seventh win of the postseason after making 32 saves.
Despite holding the Checkers to more than five straight scoreless periods, Brad Thiessen, the AHL’s top goaltender during the regular season, allowed four goals on eight shots in the third period and took the loss.
Following the third straight scoreless first period of the series, the Penguins came out in the second frame and took a 1-0 lead on a goal by captain Ryan Craig before former ECHL Corey Potter scored 2:32 later to make it 2-0.
Early in the third period, the Checkers were given a chance to get back in the game when Tim Wallace was sent off for slashing at 58 seconds. The Penguins went on the offensive, however, and Joe Vitale scored a shorthanded marker to make it 3-0.
With less than 13 minutes to play, the Checkers, trailing by three, mounted the unbelievable comeback which decided the series.
First, Terry wristed a shot over Thiessen’s glove off a pass from Brett Sutter, to cut Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s lead to 3-1. Then, Sutter narrowed the Penguins’ lead to 3-2 when he deked a defensemen, walked in on goal and scored over Thiessen’s blocker from point-blank range.
Having shifted the game’s momentum, the Checkers pulled even when Terry added another off a deflection from a shot by Michal Jordan.
With 3:18 left in the third period and the game tied 3-3, Dalpe poked in a leading pass from Sutter for what turned out to be the series-deciding goal.
With their season on the line, the Penguins managed few late offensive chances as a solid Charlotte forecheck kept them hemmed in their own zone for much of the final minute. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton couldn’t muster the tying goal and the Checkers held on for a 4-3 victory.
NOTES:
With seven total goals scored, Game 6 was the highest scoring game of the series…Both of the Checkers’ series have been clinched with road wins in Game 6…The Checkers/Penguins series was the lowest scoring six-game series in AHL history (20 goals)…In all eight of the Checkers’ wins in the playoffs, the winning goal was scored in the third period or later.
Charlotte Checkers 4 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 3 – Status: Final
Saturday, May 7, 2011 – Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
Charlotte 0 0 4 – 4
W-B/Scranton 0 2 1 – 3
1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Dodge Cha (holding), 9:16; Petersen Wbs (holding the stick), 10:49; Wagner Wbs (holding), 13:03; Strait Wbs (boarding), 13:45; FitzGerald Cha (high-sticking), 17:45.
2nd Period-1, W-B/Scranton, Craig 3 (Street, Bortuzzo), 7:13. 2, W-B/Scranton, Potter 2 (Hutchinson, Craig), 9:45 (PP). Penalties-Walker Wbs (interference), 1:30; Borer Cha (high-sticking), 5:19; Sterling Wbs (hooking), 6:44; Osala Cha (boarding), 8:08; Blanchard Cha (cross-checking), 9:37; Walker Wbs (slashing), 14:22; served by Marshall Wbs (bench minor – too many men), 16:29.
3rd Period-3, W-B/Scranton, Vitale 3 (Sill), 1:13 (SH). 4, Charlotte, Terry 3 (Sutter, FitzGerald), 7:24. 5, Charlotte, Sutter 4 (Rodney, Dalpe), 10:40. 6, Charlotte, Terry 4 (Matsumoto, Boychuk), 11:10. 7, Charlotte, Dalpe 5 (Sutter, Pistilli), 16:42. Penalties-Wallace Wbs (slashing), 0:58; Rodney Cha (delay of game), 8:28.
Shots on Goal-Charlotte 15-10-8-33. W-B/Scranton 13-15-7-35.
Power Play Opportunities-Charlotte 0 / 8; W-B/Scranton 1 / 6.
Goalies-Charlotte, Murphy 6-3-0 (35 shots-32 saves). W-B/Scranton, Thiessen 6-5-0 (33 shots-29 saves).
A-4,092
Referees-Francis Charron (46), Marcus Vinnerborg (45).
Linesmen-Jameel Chaudry (51), Judson Ritter (34).
Eastern Conference Final Schedule – (Best-of-7)
E3-Charlotte Checkers vs. E5-Binghamton Senators
Game 1 – Thu., May 12 – Binghamton at Charlotte, 7:05
Game 2 – Fri., May 13 – Binghamton at Charlotte, 7:05
Game 3 – Tue., May 17 – Charlotte at Binghamton, 7:05
Game 4 – Wed., May 18 – Charlotte at Binghamton, 7:05
*Game 5 – Sat., May 21 – Charlotte at Binghamton, 7:05
*Game 6 – Mon., May 23 – Binghamton at Charlotte, 7:05
*Game 7 – Tue., May 24 – Binghamton at Charlotte, 7:05
*if necessary… All times Eastern
Related
Mitch Beck
Related posts
Top picks
WOLF PACK PREGAME: ATLANTIC SEMIS VS. BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins open their second Calder Cup Playoff series in as many years against each other tonight at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. The puck drop is set for 7:05…
WOLF PACK COMPLETE PAIR OF TRANSACTIONS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack Bryce McConnell-Barker Reassigned by Rangers, Maxim Barbashev Released from ATO HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club has reassigned forward Bryce McConnell-Barker to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack from…
ROAD WARRIORS LOST TO RABBITS; SWAMP RABBTS IMPRESSIVE IN DEFEAT
SOLAR BEARS TAKE SERIES LEAD WITH OVERTIME WIN Orlando puts Greenville on the brink despite Colton Young’s 3-point night, Bobby Russell’s pair of goals By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits ORLANDO, Fla. – Despite a high-scoring affair, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits fell to the Orlando…
WOLF PACK TO PLAY BRUINS IN ATLANTIC SEMIS
WOLF PACK TO FACE PROVIDENCE BRUINS IN ATLANTIC DIVISION SEMIFINALS Foes Faceoff For Second Straight Postseason HARTFORD, CT—For the second straight postseason, The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins will face off in the Atlantic Division Semifinals. This series will follow a 2-2-1 setup, with the…
WOLF PACK PREGAME: ATLANTIC SEMIS VS. BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins open their second Calder Cup Playoff series in as many years against each other tonight at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. The puck drop is set for 7:05…
WOLF PACK COMPLETE PAIR OF TRANSACTIONS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack Bryce McConnell-Barker Reassigned by Rangers, Maxim Barbashev Released from ATO HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club has reassigned forward Bryce McConnell-Barker to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack from…
WOLF PACK TO PLAY BRUINS IN ATLANTIC SEMIS
WOLF PACK TO FACE PROVIDENCE BRUINS IN ATLANTIC DIVISION SEMIFINALS Foes Faceoff For Second Straight Postseason HARTFORD, CT—For the second straight postseason, The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins will face off in the Atlantic Division Semifinals. This series will follow a 2-2-1 setup, with the…
GARAND AND WOLF PACK ELIMINATE CHECKERS IN 3
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack CHARLOTTE, NC – Dylan Garand made a playoff career-high 39 saves on Sunday afternoon to help the Hartford Wolf Pack complete their First Round series victory over the Charlotte Checkers. The Wolf Pack used a five-on-five, powerplay, and shorthanded…
ORLANDO ENDS SWAMP RABBITS SEASON
Swamp Rabbits show life late, but Orlando pulls away to win the series BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC– Jaydon Dureau’s two-goal night spearheaded a 5-1 Orlando Solar Bears win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Tuesday to win the South Division Semifinals…
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…