WEEKLY TEAM UPDATE
Overall Record: 1-4-0 (Home 0-2-0, Away 1-2-0)
Previous 10: N/A
Standings: 8th – East Division, 15th – Eastern Conference
The Checkers have stumbled a little out of the gate and dropped both home games to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this past weekend. The team does, however, possess three first-round picks and nine players with NHL experience, and it’s only a matter of time before things turn around. Forward Jiri Tlusty has seven days left of eligibility on his conditioning stint and, barring any injuries or moves by the Hurricanes, will be looked upon this week to provide a spark. Jerome Samson continues to impress and is currently riding a four-game goal streak, while Mike Murphy showed flashes of brilliance in Sunday’s loss to the Penguins, demonstrating why he is a former Canadian Hockey League Goaltender of the Year.
UPCOMING GAMES
Wednesday at Albany Devils, 7pm
Friday at Adirondack Phantoms, 7:30pm
Sunday at Manchester Monarchs, 3pm
Charlotte will travel to Albany on Wednesday to face the Devils. The game will mark the return of 17 current Checkers to their former city after the River Rats were purchased and moved to Charlotte in July. The Checkers will then battle division-rival Adirondack for the first time on Friday before heading to Manchester to take on the Monarchs on Sunday.
LAST WEEK’S RECAPS
October 15 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (L 4-2)
Charlotte staged a late comeback but was eventually doubled up, 4-2, by the Penguins in its first ever AHL game at Time Warner Cable Arena. Penguins forward Dustin Jeffrey led the charge with two goals on nine shots while Jerome Samson and Oskar Osala scored for the Checkers. Justin Pogge got the start for Charlotte and made 35 saves in a losing effort.
October 17 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (L 4-3)
The Checkers held a one-goal lead midway through the third period but could not hold on as they were edged, 4-3, by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Zach Boychuk, a former first-round pick of the Hurricanes, notched two goals for the Checkers, while Jerome Samson extended his goal streak to four games. Tim Wallace led the way for the Penguins with two goals while Tim Jeffrey added three assists for a two-game, five-point effort against Charlotte over the weekend.
NOTES
Friday’s opener was the largest crowd in Charlotte hockey history and is the second largest crowd in the AHL this season (12,512)…Jerome Samson is currently on a four game goal streak (4g), leads the AHL in shots (31) and is tied for the AHL lead in power play goals (3)…Zack FitzGerald leads all AHL defensemen with 23 penalty minutes.
LEADERS
Goals: Samson (4)
Assists: Matsumoto (4)
Points: Matsumoto (6)
+/-: Jordan (+2)
PIM: Fitzgerald (23)
Wins: Murphy (1)
GAA: Murphy (2.68)
SV%: Murphy (.897)
The Checkers will return to Time Warner Cable Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 2 to host the Portland Pirates (AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres). Pro-rated season ticket packages and mini-plans for the inaugural 2010-11 AHL season are on sale and start as low as $10 per game. Ticket information can be obtained by calling 704-342-4-ICE or visiting www.gocheckers.com.
