Overall record: 36-23-2-6 (Home 18-12-1-4, Away 18-11-1-2)
Last week’s record: 1-1-0-0
Previous 10: 5-3-0-2
Standings: 4th – East Division, 6th – Eastern Conference
The Checkers returned to Time Warner Cable Arena from a three-game road trip this week and played two games against the Binghamton Senators. On Tuesday, Charlotte one-upped Binghamton, 2-1, but the Senators returned the favor by winning 3-1 on Saturday in front of 10,517 fans. After their brief homestand, the will Checkers embark on a four-game road trip this week and will play six of the next seven away from home, before finishing the regular season by playing four of the final six games in Charlotte.
WEEK IN REVIEW
Game 66: Tuesday, Mar. 8 – vs. BNG (W, 2-1)
Pogge Stands Tall In 2-1 Victory Over Sens
Justin Pogge earned first-star honors by making 38 saves as the Checkers defeated the Senators, 2-1, at Time Warner Cable Arena. Jon Matsumoto’s goal with 26 seconds left in the second period proved to be the game winner for the Checkers, who also received a goal from the AHL’s leader in rookie scoring, Zac Dalpe. Barry Brust allowed two goals on 24 shots for Binghamton and lost for just the second time in 13 starts, while the only Senator to score a point was their leading goal scorer, Ryan Keller, who contributed his 26th marker of the season.
Game 67: Saturday, Mar. 12 – vs. BNG (L, 3-1)
Sens Score Three Straight To Down Checkers
After falling behind 1-0 in the game’s opening five minutes, Binghamton scored three unanswered goals to defeat the Checkers, 3-1, in front of 10,517 fans 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. More than $26,000 was raised for Carolina Breast Friends in the Checkers' fifth annual Pink in the Rink.
THIS WEEK’S GAMES
Wed., Mar 16 at Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 7:00 p.m.
Fri., Mar 18 at Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 7:00 p.m.
Sat., Mar 19 at Syracuse Crunch, 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Mar 20 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 3:00 p.m.
A LOOK AHEAD
Wednesday and Friday at Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Wednesday: Watch/Listen: AHLLive.com, WBCN 1660AM
Friday: Watch/Listen: AHLLive.com
The Checkers make their only trip of the season to Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard for a two-game series against the Sound Tigers on Wednesday and Friday. Charlotte has beaten Bridgeport in two prior meetings this season, both at Time Warner Cable Arena, while producing six goals in each victory. The Sound Tigers have continued to struggle defensively and have allowed five or more goals in four of their last six games. Meanwhile, their 52 points are last in the league and 13 fewer than any other team in the Atlantic Division
Saturday at Syracuse Crunch
Watch/Listen: AHLLive.com
The Checkers finish their season series with the Crunch at War Memorial at Oncenter on Saturday night. Although Syracuse has struggled and enters the week with the third fewest number of points in the league, it has won two of three against Charlotte. The Crunch’s latest win against the Checkers came in a shootout on Feb. 22, when former Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers goalie Ray Emery denied three straight shootout attempts to secure the victory.
Sunday at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Watch/Listen: AHLLive.com, WBCN 1660AM
Charlotte finishes its four-game road trip with a matinee affair with the AHL-leading Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins on Sunday. Entering the week with 93 points, the Penguins are the only team that the Checkers have a losing record (1-4-0-1) against. However, Charlotte’s lone victory came by a score of 9-5 and was the most goals that Wilkes-Barre Scranton has ever allowed in a game in its 12-year history.
NOTABLES
- Jon Matsumoto’s game winning goal Tuesday against Binghamton was the 100th goal of his pro career.
- Zach Boychuk played his 100th AHL game on Tuesday against Binghamton
- Zac Dalpe scored the game’s first goal for the fifth time this season on Tuesday against Binghamton.
- The Checkers are 23-15-2-5 against inner-division foes.
- Charlotte is 18-6-2-6 in one-goal games.
- The Checkers are 26-6-1-1 when scoring first.
- Charlotte is 22-5-1-1 after a loss.
- The Checkers are at .500 or better against every team in the Eastern Conference except for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (1-4-0-1).
ACTIVE LEADERS
Goals: Terry (25)
Assists: Boychuk (31)
Points: Terry (51)
PIM: FitzGerald (180)
Plus/Minus: Jordan (+14)
Wins: Murphy (19)
GAA: Murphy (2.64)
Save %: Murphy (.915)
