CHARLOTTE CLINCHES RUN FOR THE SILVER 

VERSUS

CHECKERS CAPITALIZE ON PP, DOWN PHANTOMS 5-2
Charlotte sweeps season series 6-0-0, grabs third place in East

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Charlotte Checkers scored four power-play goals and outshot the Adirondack Phantoms 40-19 for a 5-2 victory on Tuesday evening, sweeping the season series six games to none.

Zach Boychuk led the way with two goals and an assist while Chris Terry netted the game-winning tally late in the first period on the power play. Mike McKenzie also chipped in with his first AHL goal and Jacob Micflikier notched his 24th. Michal Jordan, who earned second-star honors, added two assists.

Michael Leighton, who helped the Philadelphia Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals last season, made 35 saves in a losing effort for Adirondack.

McKenzie got the Checkers on the board first at 7:42 of the opening period. After digging the puck out of the right-wing corner, Brad Herauf got it to Cedric McNicoll, who slid a pass across the front of the crease to McKenzie for the one-timer.

The Phantoms answered back, minutes later, capitalizing on a bad break for the Checkers. Pogge attempted to play the puck on a dump in and the puck ricochet off of a stanchion to the stick of Bordson, who buried it into the empty net.

With 3:33 remaining in the first period, Charlotte took a 2-1 lead on Terry’s team-leading 29th goal of the season. While on the power play, Boychuk took a slap-shot from the point that Terry redirected through the five hole of Michael Leighton.

Boychuk extended the Checkers’ lead to 3-1 with another power-play goal with 4:04 left in the second period. Micflikier wristed a shot from the high slot that bounced through traffic and Boychuk drove home the rebound.

Just two minutes later, Micflikier jammed the puck through Leighton’s pads to make the Charlotte advantage 4-1.

Boychuk tacked on a late goal on a 5-on-3 power play and Testwuide replied for the Phantoms to make it 5-2 but it wasn’t enough as the Checkers won convincingly.

The Checkers (39-25-2-6) will go on the road to play Connecticut and Portland on Friday and Saturday before returning to Time Warner Cable Arena for a 5 p.m. meeting with the Norfolk Admirals on Sunday.

For every ‘like’ the Checkers get on their Facebook page between now and Apr. 1, the team will donate $2 to Zach Bennett and his family, who plan to move to Charlotte for better medical care and to be closer to the team. Visit www.gocheckers.com or head to www.facebook.com/charlottecheckers.

NOTES:

The Checkers swept the six-game season series against Adirondack… The combined 123 PIM is the most in a Checkers game… Mike McKenzie’s first goal comes in his 17th career AHL game… Chris Terry has a goal in four of the last five games and ranks tied for fourth among active players in the AHL with 29 goals… Cedric McNicoll has seven points (2g, 5a) in seven AHL games this season.

Adirondack Phantoms 2 at Charlotte Checkers 5 – Status: Final
Tuesday, March 22, 2011 – Time Warner Cable Arena

Adirondack 1 0 1 – 2
Charlotte 2 2 1 – 5

1st Period-1, Charlotte, McKenzie 1 (McNicoll, Herauf), 7:42. 2, Adirondack, Bordson 7 (Testwuide, Pither), 11:23. 3, Charlotte, Terry 29 (Boychuk, Dalpe), 16:27 (PP). Penalties-FitzGerald Cha (delay of game), 1:10; Lauridsen Adk (major – elbowing, fighting, game misconduct – elbowing, game misconduct – secondary altercation), 11:37; Rinaldo Adk (fighting), 11:37; FitzGerald Cha (fighting, game misconduct – secondary altercation), 11:37; Herauf Cha (roughing, fighting), 11:37; Kalinski Adk (hooking), 14:14.

2nd Period-4, Charlotte, Boychuk 18 (Micflikier, Jordan), 15:56 (PP). 5, Charlotte, Micflikier 24 (Jordan, McNicoll), 17:49 (PP). Penalties-Hamel Adk (slashing), 3:33; Rodney Cha (cross-checking), 3:49; Rinaldo Adk (hooking), 8:21; Ryan Adk (hooking), 10:32; Micflikier Cha (goaltender interference), 11:52; Marshall Adk (slashing), 14:29; Sestito Adk (roughing, roughing), 14:29; Dalpe Cha (roughing), 14:29.

3rd Period-6, Charlotte, Boychuk 19 (Matsumoto, Rodney), 5:48 (PP). 7, Adirondack, Testwuide 13 (Gustafsson, Bordson), 14:14. Penalties-Marshall Adk (roughing, misconduct – unsportsmanlike conduct), 0:49; Rinaldo Adk (interference, fighting, match – attempt/deliberate injury), 0:49; Rodney Cha (roughing), 0:49; Terry Cha (fighting), 0:49; Micflikier Cha (interference), 2:54; Testwuide Adk (slashing), 4:54; Zolnierczyk Adk (high-sticking), 9:52; Jordan Cha (holding), 12:14.

Shots on Goal-Adirondack 2-7-10-19. Charlotte 14-13-13-40.
Power Play Opportunities-Adirondack 0 / 5; Charlotte 4 / 11.
Goalies-Adirondack, Leighton 9-11-3 (40 shots-35 saves). Charlotte, Pogge 18-16-3 (19 shots-17 saves).
A-4,333
Referees-Curtis Marouelli (58), Jason Rollins (37).
Linesmen-Mike Sheehan (90), Alex Stagnone (7).