CHECKERS FALL, 3-2, TO ADMIRALS IN SHOOTOUT

     VERSUS    

CHECKERS FALL, 3-2, TO ADMIRALS IN SHOOTOUT
Teams to meet again tomorrow in Norfolk

The Charlotte Checkers forced overtime with a third-period goal but were downed, 3-2, in the shootout by the Norfolk Admirals on Friday evening.

Riley Nash scored his second goal in as many games, while Chris Terry extended his point scoring streak to three games (3g, 1a). Mike Murphy made 26 saves in the loss and Cedric Desjardins had 27 saves in the Norfolk net for the win. The Checkers are now undefeated in regulation over their last five games (2-0-3).

Charlotte struck first at the 1:19 mark of the opening period. Drayson Bowman picked off an outlet pass from an Admirals defenseman at the red line, stepped in over the blue line and fired a bullet off the far post.

Marc-Antoine Pouliot knotted the game up late in the second period. Johan Harju sent a pass up ice which sprung Pouliot and Juraj Simek on a 2-on-1 break. After a give-and-go, Pouliot buried the puck behind a sprawling Murphy.

Harju put the Admirals in front, three minutes into the third period, on an unlucky bounce. After picking off a failed clearing attempt behind the net, Harju walked out and banked a shot off a Checkers defender and into the back of the net.

Nash pulled the Checkers even, just past the midway point of the third period, while on the power play. Terry fired a shoulder-high shot toward the goal that struck a player in front and landed on the stick of Nash, who then put it up and over Desjardins. Jerome Samson drew the secondary assist on the play.

Murphy and Desjardins were both solid in the final minutes and overtime, and set the stage for a shootout. Desjardins stopped all five shooters and Pouliot scored for Admirals as they grabbed a 3-2 win.

Charlotte (4-6-3) will travel to Norfolk tomorrow to face the Admirals before returning Sunday (3 p.m.) to host the defending Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears. Ticket information can be obtained by calling 704-342-4423 or visiting www.gocheckers.com.

NOTES: Chris Terry extended point to three games (3g, 1a) … Riley Nash scored his second goal in as many games … Samson added three shots to his league lead (76 shots).

Norfolk Admirals 3 at Charlotte Checkers 2 – Status: Final SO
Friday, November 5, 2010 – Time Warner Cable Arena

Norfolk 1 0 1 0 1 – 3
Charlotte 1 0 1 0 0 – 2

1st Period-1, Charlotte, Bowman 1   1:19. 2, Norfolk, Pouliot 4 (Simek, Harju), 19:29. Penalties-Dodge Cha (goaltender interference), 3:16; Blanchard Cha (high-sticking), 9:14; Milam Nor (interference), 13:05; Samson Cha (boarding), 13:12; Berry Nor (fighting), 19:50; Blanchard Cha (fighting), 19:50.

2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Osala Cha (hooking), 3:37; Marks Nor (fighting), 7:14; Herauf Cha (fighting), 7:14; Fornataro Nor (high-sticking), 19:20.

3rd Period-3, Norfolk, Harju 6   2:58. 4, Charlotte, Nash 2 (Osala, Samson), 11:15 (PP). Penalties-Fornataro Nor (hooking), 11:05; Jordan Cha (high-sticking), 14:28; Harju Nor (goaltender interference), 16:30.

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Norfolk 8-10-8-3-29. Charlotte 11-7-8-2-28.
Power Play Opportunities-Norfolk 0 / 5; Charlotte 1 / 4.
Goalies-Norfolk, Desjardins 2-2-1 (28 shots-26 saves). Charlotte, Murphy 2-3-1 (29 shots-27 saves).
A-6,164
Referees-Jamie Koharski (84).
Linesmen-Ben Shiley (21), Terry Wicklum (58).