February 12, 2012 7:16 AM
Jerome Samson has been impressive since returning from injury, and on Sunday, the Carolina Hurricanes rewarded him for it.
 Samson, who has 4 points (3g, 1a) in four AHL since recovering from the separated shoulder that prematurely ended his most recent NHL stint in mid-January, is joining the Checkers’ parent club for Monday’s game in his hometown of Montreal. The Canes simultaneously reassigned Drayson Bowman to Charlotte, where he’ll compete in Sunday’s televised home game against Norfolk (6 p.m., Time Warner Cable channel 520).
Samson, a 24-year-old with 33 games of experience with Carolina, scored his first NHL goal in his first game of the season on Jan. 10. That was the first of three games he would play until a hit from Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara sidelined him until last week. In what ended up being a brief return to the AHL, Samson extended his team-leading total to 18 goals while setting up Zac Dalpe’s overtime winner on Friday.
On Monday, the undrafted fifth-year pro will return to the site of one of his best NHL games, as he recorded an assist and a game-high five shots in the Hurricanes’ 4-3 loss on Feb. 26, 2011. Despite missing nine games, he still ranks tied for third in the AHL with 171 shots on goal.
Samson now occupies a roster spot dedicated to a forward from the Checkers, making his potential return to Charlotte indefinite.
Bowman, who had been with the Hurricanes since Feb. 1, concludes his third NHL recall of the season. He recorded one assist in four games, giving him a total of 6 points (2g, 4a) in 17 games played. Prior to this season, Bowman had just 3 points (2g, 1a) 32 games with Carolina.
Bowman returns to the Checkers with an active three-game point streak, having posted a goal and 2 assists prior to his recall. The 22-year-old, third-year pro ranks third among active Charlotte skaters with 11 goals, a team-leading 6 of which have come on the power play. |
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