Checkers rebound from slow start

CHARLOTTE, NC – “It is good to be home,” that is the message the Charlotte Checkers are sending out to the fans. For the fifth time Charlotte has chalked up a win, a club record. Texas, however, did not make it easy for the Checkers who are still not consistent enough especially at home.
 
Zac Dalpe got the Checkers off to a good start scoring in just over four minutes of the face-off. He put a hard low shot past Texas goaltender Tyler Beskorowany to give the home team the lead. The Checkers then missed two great opportunities to go further ahead with back-to-back power plays. The Stars then began to dominate, first tying the game with a goal from Jordie Benn. Luke Gazdic put them ahead after being left alone in front of the net.
 
Brett Sutter, on his return to the Checkers after a four-game run with the Hurricanes tied the game with three minutes to go in the first period. The Checkers captain came from behind the net, faking out a defender before putting the puck home. Sutter played a terrific game for the Checkers, as one of his team mates remarked, “He is an inspiration especially as far as his work rate.”
 
A Checkers power play in the second period had just ended when Jon Matsumoto scored the winning goal. The Stars Hubert Labrie left the penalty box but before he could become involved with the game Matsumo put the puck away to give Charlotte a 3-2 advantage.
Two successive penalties were killed by the Checkers towards the end of the third giving them a five for five for the night. Mike Murphy in the Charlotte goal had his second win in a row with 25 saves and received the Roll up Your Sleeves Hardest Worker of the Game voted on by the fans.
 
Saturday, December 3 the Checkers are at the Time Warner Cable Arena again to face the Texas Stars, face-off 7PM. Sunday, December 4 at 5PM the Lake Erie Monsters are in town for a two game series, the second of whichis on Monday, December 5 at 7P.M.
EddieMitchell@ProHockeyNews.com Photos by Tom.Nelson@prohockeynews.com