Grumet-Morris stones Checkers in 2-0 whitewash

CHARLOTTE, NC – Charlotte ended their five-game point streak (4-0-1)

with a lack-luster performance against the San Antonio Rampage. It was goaltender Dov Grumet-Morris for the Rampage who caused the Checkers problems with a 33-save evening at the Time Warner Cable Arena.
 
In early December, the Rampage overcame the Checkers with a 4-1 win when goaltender Jacob Markstrom made 44 saves. This time it was Grumet-Morris between the pipes that kept Charlotte at bay. Although in the first period it was the Ramapage that dictated play out-shooting Charlotte 18-10 with Greg Rallo scoring San Antonio’s opening goal just before the buzzer.
 
Charlotte did have an opportunity to go ahead when Bobby Sanguinetti beat the San Antonio goalie midway through the first period. The referee,waiting to make a delayed call on Rampage’s Keith Seabrook decided that San Antonio had touched the puck before Sanguinetti. No goal.
 
Mike Murphy, making his seventh straight start in the Checkers goal had a 30-save evening, making several important stops. It was Grumet-Morris in the San Antonio goal that caught the eye. This Evanston, Illinois native, who began his career with the Rampage in 2005 and had returned to the club this season, was having an exceptional evening. In the third period he made 14 saves opening the way for his teammate Mark Cullen to score number two for the Rampage, with 11.34 left in regulation.
 
San Antonio has used six goaltenders so far this season, a league high. Grumet-Morris has played in seven of those games, this was his second shutout of the campaign and his seventh of his AHL career.
 
The general opinion was that Charlotte has to put away any chances that they have; this was the difference between the two teams.
 
The fans named Matt Pistilli the winner of the Roll up Your Sleeves Hardest Worker of the Game Award.
 
Charlotte and San Antonio meet again this evening, face-off 7pm at the Time Warner Cable Arena.
 
Eddie Mitchell@ProHockeyNews.com Photos by Tom.Nelson@prohockeynews.com