March 12, 2012 8:58 AM
Overall record: 32-20-8 (Home: 17-9-4 | Road: 15-11-4)
Last week’s record: 1-1-0 | Last 10 games: 3-3-4
Standings: 1st Midwest Division | 3rd Western Conference
Though they lost their division lead for the first time over two months on Saturday, the Checkers were able to get it right back via Sunday’s win over Chicago that secured a split of the team’s weekend series in Charlotte.
 The Checkers emerge from those games exactly how they entered them – with a one point lead over the Wolves in the Midwest. The convincing 4-0 victory on Sunday halted Charlotte’s four-game winning streak and, as of Monday morning, increased the distance between the third-seeded Checkers and the ninth-seeded Rochester Americans by three points in a tight Western Conference playoff race.
There are four more games left in Charlotte’s six-game home stand, with the Norfolk Admirals coming to down for games on Friday and Sunday. The Admirals have won 15 consecutive games to surge to the top of the Eastern Conference, though they have a midweek game against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton before heading to Time Warner Cable Arena.
Chicago 3, Charlotte 1 – Recap
Veteran forward Darren Haydar scored two power-play goals to end the Checkers’ streak of 26 consecutive penalty kills en route to Chicago’s 3-1 win in Charlotte on Saturday. With the win, the Wolves leapfrogged Charlotte to gain a one-point lead in the Midwest Division race. Zac Dalpe scored a shorthanded goal and Justin Peters made 24 saves for the Checkers, who lost the Midwest lead for the first time in 2012.
Charlotte 4, Chicago 0 – Recap
Defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti recorded three points (1g, 2a) and Mike Murphy made 22 saves to record his first shutout of the season as Charlotte reclaimed the Midwest Division lead with a 4-0 win over Chicago on Sunday. Nicolas Blanchard, Zac Dalpe and Brett Sutter also scored for Charlotte, which out-shot the Wolves by a 46-22 margin to end its four-game winless streak.
 Soryal likely out for season
Checkers winger suffers significant injury during Sunday' win over Chicago
Canes' development staff has star power
Carolina legend Rod Brind'Amour latest of big names to pay visit to Charlotte
Checkers goal song chosen
Fans vote original submission by Ben Carter as new song to be played after Checkers goals.
Checkers in the Community: February
The Checkers made a season-high 38 appearances, raising more than $60,000 for local non-profit organizations.
Checkers Clear Day roster released
Drayson Bowman and Jerome Samson to return for playoffs; Jared Staal reassigned to Providence.
Checkers bowl with Special Olympics athletes
Brett Sutter, Zac Dalpe, Justin Soryal and Mathieu Roy recently hosted a group of Special Olympics athletes for an afternoon of bowling and pizza.
Hurricanes Watch Party is Tuesday, March 14
Come out to the Carolina Ale House in uptown Charlotte to watch the Hurricanes take on the New York Rangers.
 • BACK IN THE SADDLE: One day after losing the Midwest Division lead for the first time since Dec. 30 by way of a 3-1 loss to Chicago on Saturday, the Checkers reclaimed it in a 4-0 win in the following day’s rematch. Since a victory over Grand Rapids gave them the division’s top spot on Nov. 5, the Checkers have relinquished it on two separate occasions for a total of five days.
• SHUTOUT KING: Mike Murphy made 22 saves on Sunday for his third shutout as a Checker – the most of any goalie in the team’s two-year history. Murphy, who was playing just his second game since suffering a lower-body injury on Jan. 24, broke a tie with John Muse to take sole possession of the record. Murphy now has five career AHL shutouts, having posted two in each of his first two seasons.
SANGUINETTI STARS: Defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti recorded the third three-point night of his AHL career on Sunday, giving him seven points (2g, 5a) in his last six games. Sanguinetti, who earlier in 2012 posted the longest point streak by an AHL defenseman in three years (11 games) now ranks tied for seventh among league defensemen and second in overall Checkers scoring (35 points in 49 games).
DALPE FIRES AWAY: Zac Dalpe’s 10 shots on goal during Sunday’s win over Chicago were the most by any Checkers player this season and the third-most in the team’s two year history. Dalpe, who has goals in each of the team’s last two games, became just the second player to hit double-digit totals in shots, with Jerome Samson taking 11 and 12 shots in two separate occasions last season. Despite playing in just 40 games this season, Dalpe ranks third on the team with 137 shots on goal.
SHOT DOMINANCE: Charlotte took 24 more shots than Chicago on Sunday, marking the largest differential, positive or negative, the Checkers have seen this season. The Checkers’ 46 shots on goal were the third-most they’ve taken this season (high of 50 vs. Rockford on Nov. 18), while the 22 shots allowed were the second-lowest (low of 21 at Lake Erie on March 3). The Checkers have held opponents to fewer than 30 shots in each of their last four games, tying one other instance for their longest such streak of the season.
STREAKS
• (C) Zac Dalpe has points in each of his last two games (March 10-11; 2g, 1a)
• (C) Brett Sutter has points in each of his last two games (March 10-11; 1g, 1a)
INJURIES
• (LW) Justin Soryal – injured during most recent game on March 11 vs. Chicago (out for season)
• (D) Chris Murray – missed four games, last played Feb. 25 vs. Oklahoma City
• (D) Rasmus Rissanen - missed five games, last played Feb. 24 vs. Oklahoma City
• (D) Justin Krueger - missed seven games, last played Feb. 18 at Chicago
• (C) Riley Nash – missed 11 games, last played Feb. 10 at Milwaukee
| CATEGORY |
RECORD |
AHL RANK |
LAST WEEK |
| Power play: |
19.9% |
t-7 |
6 |
| Penalty kill: |
85.7% |
2 |
2 |
| Goals per game: |
2.80 |
t-16 |
t-15 |
| Shots per game: |
32.0 |
8 |
8 |
| Goals allowed per game: |
2.63 |
5 |
t-7 |
| Shots allowed per game: |
30.7 |
16 |
21 |
| Penalty minutes per game: |
14.5 |
7 |
8 |
| CATEGORY |
LEADER(S) |
| Points: |
Chris Terry (47), Bobby Sanguinetti (35), Zach Boychuk (34) |
| Goals: |
Jerome Samson (18), Zac Dalpe (15), Zach Boychuk (14) |
| Assists: |
Chris Terry (35), Bobby Sanguinetti (27), Zach Boychuk (20) |
| Power play goals: |
Jerome Samson (8), Drayson Bowman, Bobby Sanguinetti (6) |
| Shorthanded goals: |
Zac Dalpe (2) |
| Game-winning goals: |
Zach Boychuk, Matthew Pistilli, Jerome Samson (3) |
| Shots on goal: |
Jerome Samson (171), Chris Terry (154), Zac Dalpe (137) |
| Penalty minutes: |
Justin Soryal (164), Nicolas Blanchard (92), Chris Terry (55) |
| Plus/minus: |
Justin Krueger (+13), Justin Shugg (+5), Zac Dalpe (+4) |
| Wins: |
Mike Murphy (16), John Muse (10), Justin Peters (6) |
| Goals-against average: |
John Muse (1.81), Justin Peters (2.50), Mike Murphy (2.58) |
| Save percentage: |
John Muse (.941), Justin Peters (.918), Mike Murphy (.912) |
• March 12 - (D) Chris Murray reassigned to Florida (ECHL) from Charlotte
• Friday, March 16 vs. Norfolk (7:00 p.m.)
- St. Patrick's Day Kickoff Presented by Fitzgerald's Irish Pub
- Black Friday Presented by Amtrak
The Checkers will wear special black jerseys, with fans encouraged to wear black themselves. Jerseys will be auctioned April 6.
- Goodwill Fashion Show and Collection Night
Bring in any new or like new clothing items to donate to Goodwill of the Southern Piedmont and receive a complimentary ticket to an upcoming game.
- GEICO Challenge Cup
Whichever team finishes with the most standings points in the season series between the Checkers and Norfolk will win and receive a branded trophy at the conclusion of the series.
• Sunday, March 18 vs. Norfolk (3:00 p.m.)
- Pooch Party
Bring your dog to the game! Rules, frequently asked questions and more information on bringing your favorite four-legged friend for this unique experience can be found here.
- Coke Family Four Pack
4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 Cokes and a Coke coupon for $60. Click here to buy onilne.
- Skate with the Team Presented by Extreme Ice Center
Fans can skate with the Checkers after the game.
- 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.
- GEICO Challenge Cup
Whichever team finishes with the most standings points in the season series between the Checkers and Norfolk will win and receive a branded trophy at the conclusion of the series.
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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