VERSUS 
CHECKERS DOUBLE UP SENS FOR SEVENTH STRAIGHT ROAD WIN
Matsumoto pots two; Staal nets first ever AHL goal
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – The Charlotte Checkers broke a third-period tie with two goals, 1:18 apart, and downed the Binghamton Senators, 4-2, on Saturday evening.
The win was the seventh in a row on the road for the Checkers, who improve to 17-9-4 and open up a five-point lead over Hershey for third place in the East Division.
Jon Matsumoto scored twice for Charlotte, while Mike Murphy stopped 30 of 32 shots for his sixth straight win. Jared Staal potted his first ever AHL goal and Colin Greening replied twice for Binghamton in a losing effort.
Staal opened the scoring, seven minutes into the game, when he drove down the right side and fired a shot at Senators goaltender Barry Brust. Staal then picked up his own rebound and put it five-hole on Brust from the right-wing circle.
The Senators pulled even, early in the second, on Greening’s first of the game. Forward Roman Wick took a shot from the right-wing side and Greening converted the rebound past a sprawling Murphy.
The score remained 1-1 through two periods of play, while Binghamton held a 22-21 shot advantage.
The Checkers then scored two quick goals, early in the third, to take a 3-1 lead. Samson took a wrist shot from inside the blue line that deflected off a Senators defender and in before Matsumoto took a pass in the slot and fired a laser off the cross-bar and in, 1:18 later.
Greening made it 3-2, less than three minutes later, on another rebound, this time from the left-wing side.
The Binghamton comeback wouldn’t last long, however, as the Checkers stormed back and replied just 49 seconds later. While working on the power play from a Francis Lessard major penalty, Jacob Micflikier threw the puck out front and it bounced off a Senators defenseman and onto the stick of Matsumoto. Matsumoto made no mistake and buried his seventh of the season for a 4-2 win.
The Checkers (17-9-4) will travel to Hershey tomorrow to face the Bears (5 p.m.) The team will return home on Jan. 1 to host the Binghamton Senators at 7 p.m. Holiday packs on sale until Monday and include four games and a puck for as low as $35. Call 704-342-4423 or head to www.gocheckers.com for more information.
NOTES:
The Checkers are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games and have won seven straight road games… Charlotte is also 7-0-0 on the second game of a back-to-back… Charlotte has the top-ranked penalty kill in the AHL (88.3%) and the third-ranked power play… Jerome Samson has 13 points (4g, 9a) in his last nine games and is tied for second in the league in goals (16)…Jacob Micflikier has nine points (4g, 5a) in his last seven games.
Charlotte Checkers 4 at Binghamton Senators 2 – Status: Final
Saturday, December 18, 2010 – Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena
Charlotte 1 0 3 – 4
Binghamton 0 1 1 – 2
1st Period-1, Charlotte, Staal 1 (Nash), 6:57. Penalties-Osala Cha (slashing), 8:08; Jordan Cha (tripping), 13:38.
2nd Period-2, Binghamton, Greening 7 (Wick), 2:37. Penalties-Hale Bng (tripping), 3:41; Osala Cha (hooking), 5:04; Smith Bng (boarding), 12:20; Pistilli Cha (high-sticking), 19:05.
3rd Period-3, Charlotte, Samson 16 6:18. 4, Charlotte, Matsumoto 6 (Dalpe, Pistilli), 7:36 (PP). 5, Binghamton, Greening 8 (Kinrade, Daugavins), 10:10. 6, Charlotte, Matsumoto 7 (Micflikier, Pistilli), 10:59 (PP). Penalties-Daugavins Bng (cross-checking), 2:12; Hale Bng (cross-checking), 7:31; Bellemore Cha (roughing), 8:27; Lessard Bng (major – boarding, game misconduct), 8:27; Borer Cha (cross-checking), 19:12.
Shots on Goal-Charlotte 9-12-19-40. Binghamton 14-8-10-32.
Power Play Opportunities-Charlotte 2 / 6; Binghamton 0 / 5.
Goalies-Charlotte, Murphy 9-4-2 (32 shots-30 saves). Binghamton, Brust 10-10-1 (40 shots-36 saves).
A-3,093
Referees-Jean Hebert (43).
Linesmen-Jameel Chaudry (51), Judson Ritter
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