March 05, 2012 8:59 AM
Overall record: 31-19-8 (Home: 16-8-4 | Road: 15-11-4)
Last week’s record: 0-0-2 | Last 10 games: 3-3-4
Standings: 1st Midwest Division | 3rd Western Conference
 The Checkers suffered a shootout loss and an overtime loss in a back-to-back, weekend set against Lake Erie, giving them a single point earned in each of their last three games.
While the Checkers enter a six-game home stand that ties their longest of the season with just two victories in their last seven games, they have earned points in six of those contests thanks to a recent slew of unfavorable overtime decisions. That gives them a three-point lead over Chicago in the Midwest Division, with the Wolves coming to town for a crucial two-game set starting Saturday.
The Checkers will not play another road game until March 24, with Norfolk and Peoria also visiting Charlotte this month.
 Lake Erie 3, Checkers 2 (SO) – Recap
Charlotte could not muster a goal in four shootout chances in losing their second consecutive game by way of shootout, this time to Lake Erie by a 3-2 score on Saturday. Bobby Sanguinetti scored early the first period and Nicolas Blanchard tied it with less than two minutes to go in regulation, with Mike Murphy making 18 saves in his first game action since Jan. 21. The Checkers fell to 5-5 in shootouts this season, having lost each of their last three.
Lake Erie 2, Checkers 1 (OT) – Recap
Charlotte went to overtime for the third game in a row, but Cameron Gaunce’s winner just 1:20 into the extra session gave them their third straight loss by a 2-1 score in Lake Erie on Sunday afternoon. Chris Terry scored the only goal for Charlotte, with Justin Peters making 24 saves in his first AHL game since Dec. 11.
 Hurricanes reassign Boychuk
Checkers' top active goal scorer returns after three-game NHL stint.
Seventh annual Salute to Heroes set for March 12
Proceeds to benefit families of injured or fallen service workers.
Peters returns to Charlotte
Checkers' starting goalie tandem reunited in Charlotte for first time in three months.
Dolan earns contract
Tryout center signs AHL deal with Charlotte, keeping him with team for rest of season.
Special teams fueling Checkers' success
Charlotte among league leaders in both power play and penalty kill.
Goalie situation settling
Tumultuous period of injuries and recalls drawing to a close.
 • OVERTIME STREAKS: The Checkers’ current run of three consecutive overtime games ties two previous instances, including one earlier this season, for the longest in the team’s two-year history. Of the three streaks, the latest marks the only time the team has lost all three games. Including a shootout loss on Feb. 18, Charlotte has now lost four consecutive games that were tied at the end of regulation, setting a new team record.
• SHOOTOUTS: After a run of three in their last six games, the Checkers now rank tied for second in the AHL in total shootout appearances (10). They rank 13th in scoring (.328) and tied for 17th in goaltending (.333 opponent shooting) and have lost each of their last three, tying a team record, to fall to 5-5 on the season.
The Checkers have five players who have scored on more than half of their attempts this season, including Chris Terry (5-for-10), Drayson Bowman (3-for-5), A.J. Jenks (3-for-5), Justin Krueger (2-for-3), Nicolas Blanchard (1-for-1). They also have two players who are scoreless on more than three attempts in Zac Dalpe (0-for-7) and Zach Boychuk (0-for-4). In goal, Mike Murphy is the top option with a save percentage of .714 (20-for-28).
• PENALTY KILL: The Checkers have allowed just one power play goal over their last 12 games, killing 44 of 45 penalties during that span (97.8 percent). That goal came on a five-on-three during a Feb. 11 game in Peoria in which Charlotte killed seven of eight penalties.
For the season, the Checkers, who are 26-for-26 over their last eight contests, rank tied for second in the AHL with an 86.1 percent success rate. Discipline has been a factor, as they are tied for the third-fewest shorthanded situations faced of any team this season (223).
• SANGUINETTI ENDS DROUGHT: Though he had 6 goals on the season going into Saturday’s contest, defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti had not scored a goal at even strength since Nov. 19, 2010, prior to his first-period marker in Lake Erie. Sanguinetti, who went on to add an assist for his seventh multi-point game of the season, is tied for third among league defenseman with 6 power-play goals. Sanguinetti has 4 points (1g, 3a) in his last four games.
• DADONOV FINDING GROOVE: After recording just 4 points (1g, 3a) in his first 12 games as a Checker following a January trade from San Antonio, winger Evgenii Dadonov has 5 assists in his last five games, making him the team’s top scorer during that span. Though he’s been piling on the helpers, he currently has a 14-game goal drought, with his only tally with Charlotte going into an empty net in Norfolk on Jan. 24.
• HOLDING THE LEAD: The Checkers have entered every game of 2012 as Midwest Division leaders. Since claiming the lead with a win in Grand Rapids on Nov. 5, they’ve only relinquished it once for a four-day period in late December, with a win in Rockford on Dec. 30 good enough to get it back. Through games of March 4, they held a three-point lead over the Chicago Wolves, who they face twice this weekend.
STREAKS
None
INJURIES
• (D) Chris Murray – missed two games, last played Feb. 25 vs. Oklahoma City
• (D) Rasmus Rissanen - missed three games, last played Feb. 24 vs. Oklahoma City
• (D) Justin Krueger - missed five games, last played Feb. 18 at Chicago
• (C) Riley Nash – missed nine games, last played Feb. 10 at Milwaukee
| CATEGORY |
RECORD |
AHL RANK |
LAST WEEK |
| Power play: |
20.2% |
6 |
t-3 |
| Penalty kill: |
86.1% |
2 |
4 |
| Goals per game: |
2.81 |
t-15 |
15 |
| Shots per game: |
31.9 |
8 |
8 |
| Goals allowed per game: |
2.67 |
t-7 |
6 |
| Shots allowed per game: |
31.0 |
21 |
21 |
| Penalty minutes per game: |
14.7 |
8 |
7 |
| CATEGORY |
LEADER(S) |
| Points: |
Chris Terry (47), Zach Boychuk, Bobby Sanguinetti (32) |
| Goals: |
Jerome Samson (18), Zach Boychuk (14), Zac Dalpe (13) |
| Assists: |
Chris Terry (35), Bobby Sanguinetti (25), Zach Boychuk (18) |
| Power play goals: |
Jerome Samson (8), Drayson Bowman, Bobby Sanguinetti (6) |
| Shorthanded goals: |
Five players tied at (1) |
| Game-winning goals: |
Zach Boychuk, Matthew Pistilli, Jerome Samson (3) |
| Shots on goal: |
Jerome Samson (171), Chris Terry (145), Zac Dalpe (124) |
| Penalty minutes: |
Justin Soryal (164), Nicolas Blanchard (92), Chris Terry (51) |
| Plus/minus: |
Justin Krueger (+13), Justin Shugg (+5) |
| Wins: |
Mike Murphy (15), John Muse (10), Justin Peters (6) |
| Goals-against average: |
John Muse (1.81), Justin Peters (2.46), Mike Murphy (2.68) |
| Save percentage: |
John Muse (.941), Justin Peters (.920), Mike Murphy (.910) |
• March 3 – (LW) Zach Boychuk reassigned to Charlotte from Carolina (NHL)
• March 2 – (D) Brandon Gentile signed to professional tryout contract
• March 2 – (G) John Muse reassigned to Florida (ECHL) from Charlotte
• March 2 – (G) Justin Peters reassigned to Charlotte from Carolina (NHL)
• Feb. 27 – (LW) Zach Boychuk recalled to Carolina (NHL) from Charlotte
• Saturday, March 10 vs. Chicago (7:00 p.m.)
- Time Warner Cable Customer Appreciation Night
Time Warner Cable Customers receive 2-for-1 tickets.
- Checkers Visor Giveaway
Be one of the first 2,500 fans at the game to receive a complimentary Checkers visor courtesy of Time Warner Cable.
- Community Blood Center of the Carolinas Blood Drive
Donate blood to the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas from 1-4 p.m. and receive a complimentary ticket to an upcoming game and a team autographed “Out for Blood” t-shirt. Click here to make a donation appointment using sponsor code GOCheckers.
- United Way Charity Game
Wells Fargo vs. US Airways in a charitable hockey game to benefit United Way.
- Box Top For Education Drive
Bring in a Box Top for Education from any General Mills product and receive a free ticket to an upcoming Checkers game. Limit one ticket per person (not per box top).
• Sunday, March 11 vs. Chicago (3:00 p.m.)
- Salute to Heroes Night Presented by American Airlines
Stick around after the Checkers game as the Police & Sheriff’s team takes on the Fire & MEDIC team in a charitable hockey game to benefit the families of fallen public service workers.
- Piedmont Natural Gas Share the Warmth
Bring your Piedmont Natural Gas bill to the game and opt into the Share the Warmth ‘Round Up’ Program. This program allows customers to round up their monthly bill to the nearest dollar with all proceeds going to heat homes right here in our community. All who opt in will receive a FREE ticket to an upcoming game and a FREE Co-branded Checkers scarf, courtesy of Piedmont Natural Gas.
- Coke Family Four Pack
4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 Cokes and a Coke coupon for $60. Click here to buy online.
- Family Day Presented by North Carolina Zoo Asheboro
Zoo coupons will be handed out following each Sunday home game. Check out gocheckers.com/zoo for more information and a look at the Checkers' monthly transactions
Start your week off with a cup of Magnolia Coffee, the official coffee of the Checkers. For more information, visit their website, call Magnolia Coffee at 704-654-5393 or email jay@magnoliacoffeeco.com. |
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