VERSUS 
SENATORS EXPLODE FOR 7, TAKE GAME 3
Checkers trail best-of-seven series 3-0; Game 4 tomorrow
BINGHAMTON, N.Y.—Zack Smith recorded a hat trick and Robin Lehner stopped 37 of 38 shots as the Binghamton Senators downed the Charlotte Checkers, 7-1, on Tuesday evening.
With the loss, the Checkers now trail the best-of-seven series, 3-0. Charlotte will look to avoid elimination on Wednesday in game 4 from Binghamton. The game will be available on Time Warner Cable digital channel 520.
Jon Matsumoto recorded the only tally for Charlotte while goalie Mike Murphy made 23 saves before being replaced by Justin Pogge with 8:37 remaining in regulation.
The Checkers, who outshot the Senators 38-31, had opportunities to get back into the game early, but Charlotte’s forwards could not convert the second attempts.
Along with Smith’s three markers, Erik Condra, Ryan Keller and Roman Wick also added goals for the Senators.
Binghamton opened the scoring, 8:33 into the first period, with a goal by Condra. The Senators moved in on a 3-on-1, when Kaspars Dugavins fed Condra, who dove to chip the puck past Murphy.
At 3:41 of the second period, the Senators took a 2-0 lead on a tally by Smith. The Binghamton center attempted a pass that was tipped by Bobby Sanguinetti. Smith grabbed the puck again and ripped a shot over Murphy, who was anticipating the pass.
Minutes later, Binghamton extended its lead to 3-0 with Smith’s second goal of the period. While shorthanded, Smith won a foot race to a loose puck at center ice, took a shot that was stopped, but squeezed the second chance between Murphy’s glove and the post.
With 8:39 remaining in the second period, the Checkers finally got on the board with a goal by Matsumoto. Sanguinetti slipped a pass out front to Matsumoto, who skated in on Lehner and backhanded a shot that went off of the goaltender’s arm and in.
Keller and Butler each tacked on third period goals, which caused Murphy to be relieved of his duties with less than nine minutes left.
Smith completed the hat trick with a shot that beat Pogge, stick side, and Wick added another goal with under a minute remaining to seal the 7-1 victory for Binghamton.
The Checkers (0-3) will remain in Binghamton for Games 4 and 5 (if necessary) on Wednesday and Saturday. Puck drop for both games is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. All games in the Eastern Conference Finals are televised live, throughout the Carolinas, on Time Warner Cable digital channel 520.
NOTES:
The 1959-60 Rochester Americans and 1988-89 Adirondack Red Wings are the only teams to come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven Calder Cup playoff series…The Senators have scored the first goal in all three games in the series…Binghamton scored its AHL-best fourth shorthanded goal of the playoffs… Zack Smith’s hat trick was the second of the playoffs by a Senator and ninth multi-goal performance by a Binghamton player…The Senators have an AHL-best 63 goals in the playoffs.
Charlotte Checkers 1 at Binghamton Senators 7 – Status: Final
Tuesday, May 17, 2011 – Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena
Charlotte 0 1 0 – 1
Binghamton 1 2 4 – 7
1st Period-1, Binghamton, Condra 4 (Daugavins), 8:33. Penalties-Sanguinetti Cha (slashing), 2:14; Locke Bng (slashing), 6:21; Osala Cha (boarding, fighting), 10:15; Greening Bng (fighting), 10:15; O’Brien Bng (high-sticking), 12:54; Hoffman Bng (tripping), 17:27.
2nd Period-2, Binghamton, Smith 4 3:41. 3, Binghamton, Smith 5 (Daugavins, Lehner), 6:09 (SH). 4, Charlotte, Matsumoto 3 (Sanguinetti), 11:21. Penalties-Boychuk Cha (slashing), 1:09; Condra Bng (elbowing), 5:03; Dodge Cha (roughing), 9:26; Smith Bng (hooking), 9:34; Sutter Cha (high-sticking), 19:16.
3rd Period-5, Binghamton, Keller 7 (Potulny, Smith), 0:55 (PP). 6, Binghamton, Butler 10 (Locke, Gryba), 11:23. 7, Binghamton, Smith 6 (Keller, Cowen), 12:43. 8, Binghamton, Wick 3 (Hoffman), 19:06. Penalties-Gryba Bng (slashing), 14:05; FitzGerald Cha (roughing), 19:38.
Shots on Goal-Charlotte 15-12-11-38. Binghamton 10-12-10-32.
Power Play Opportunities-Charlotte 0 / 6; Binghamton 1 / 6.
Goalies-Charlotte, Murphy 7-6-0 (29 shots-24 saves); Pogge 1-1-0 (3 shots-1 saves). Binghamton, Lehner 9-2-0 (38 shots-37 saves).
A-3,756
Referees-Francis Charron (46), David Banfield (44).
Linesmen-John Everett (82), Jameel Chaudry (51).
