VERSUS 
SENS SCORE THREE STRAIGHT TO SKIP CHECKERS
Bailey scores first two goals of the season; Brust makes 31 saves in win
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – After falling behind 1-0 in the game’s opening five minutes, the Binghamton Senators scored three unanswered goals to defeat the Charlotte Checkers, 3-1, at Time Warner Cable Arena.
The Senators’ offense was fueled by Jason Bailey’s first two AHL goals of the season and a tally by Jim O’Brien. Barry Brust won for the fourth time this season against Charlotte by making 31 saves on 32 shots.
Jon Matsumoto supplied the Checkers’ only goal by scoring for the second straight game and Justin Pogge lost for the first time in four starts while stopping 24 shots.
The Checkers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Matsumoto ripped a wrist shot short side during the first power-play opportunity of the game. Zac Dalpe started the play by sending a head-man pass to Bryan Rodney, who skated into Binghamton’s zone and drew two defenders in before dishing off to Matsumoto for the finish.
Charlotte held its lead until 5:30 of the second period when Bailey and Derek Grant each produced their first points as Senators this season to knot the score 1-1. The sequence originated when defenseman Cody Bass nixed a Charlotte clearing attempt and passed to Grant. Grant then attempted a shot that ricocheted off a Checkers defenseman onto the stick of Bailey, who slid a backhander between Pogge’s legs.
Binghamton increased its lead to 2-1, with 2:32 remaining in the second period, on O’Brien’s 18th of the season. O’Brien executed a forehand-to-backhand deke around a Charlotte defenseman and beat Pogge on the short-side with a backhander.
Bailey then finished the night’s scoring by adding his second goal at 4:55 of the third period when he beat Pogge over the shoulder.
The Checkers had a late 6-on-3 but couldn’t find the back of the net and lost for the first time at home since Feb. 15.
The Checkers (36-23-2-6) begin a four-game road trip on Wednesday night in Bridgeport at 7:00 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. Visit www.gocheckers.com or head to www.facebook.com/charlottecheckers.
Notes:
Zac Dalpe has points in two straight games and Bryan Rodney has assists in two of three games… Charlotte wins the season series with Binghamton 4-3-1-0…The Checkers are 23-15-2-5 against inner-division foes…Nick Dodge played his first game since Feb. 13.
Binghamton Senators 3 at Charlotte Checkers 1 – Status: Final
Saturday, March 12, 2011 – Time Warner Cable Arena
Binghamton 0 2 1 – 3
Charlotte 1 0 0 – 1
1st Period-1, Charlotte, Matsumoto 18 (Rodney, Dalpe), 3:02 (PP). Penalties-Locke Bng (slashing), 2:27; Bass Bng (fighting), 7:18; Herauf Cha (fighting), 7:18; Graham Cha (interference), 11:40; Dziurzynski Bng (goaltender interference), 16:23.
2nd Period-2, Binghamton, Bailey 1 (Grant, Bass), 5:30. 3, Binghamton, O’Brien 18 (Locke, Wiercioch), 17:28. Penalties-Dziurzynski Bng (holding), 11:13.
3rd Period-4, Binghamton, Bailey 2 (Bass, Benoit), 4:55. Penalties-Kinrade Bng (hooking), 8:15; Micflikier Cha (tripping), 9:14; Wick Bng (holding), 18:00; Brust Bng (delay of game), 18:19; Benoit Bng (hooking), 19:47.
Shots on Goal-Binghamton 11-7-9-27. Charlotte 10-8-14-32.
Power Play Opportunities-Binghamton 0 / 2; Charlotte 1 / 6.
Goalies-Binghamton, Brust 24-15-1 (32 shots-31 saves). Charlotte, Pogge 17-13-3 (27 shots-24 saves).
A-10,517
Referees-Chris Ciamaga (41).
Linesmen-Alex Stagnone (7), Mike Sheehan (90).
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