CHECKERS TAKE GAME THREE IN OVERTIME

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Brett Sutter scored at 5:40 of overtime to send the Charlotte Checkers to a 2-1 victory in Game Three of the East Division Finals on Monday night at Time Warner Cable Arena.

The Penguins took control of the contest at the 13:23 mark after a good play in the defensive zone.  Tim Wallace muscled the puck around a Checkers defenseman on the right wing boards, initiating a two-on-one rush.  Wallace held the puck until he reached the right faceoff dot, then sent a pass for a driving Chris Collins who had a tap-in goal past Charlotte’s Mike Murphy to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead.

The Checkers’ penalty kill, which entered the game perfect on home ice, had to go to work three times in the opening frame and prevented the Penguins from pulling any further ahead.

The hosts then tied the game in the second period, just three seconds after their second power play came to a close.  Brad Thiessen attempted a clear by himself up the center of the ice, but the puck hit Nicolas Blanchard whose turnaround shot was blocked aside by Thiessen.  Nick Dodge then pounced on the rebound and sent a wrist shot into the upper right corner of the net at 9:45.

The Checkers then had one more opportunity on the man advantage but the Penguins’ penalty kill stood up to the task.  The Penguins were held to just five shots on goal in the middle period.

The two teams played a scoreless third period and forced the first overtime of the Penguins’ postseason, with each team earning scoring chances in the period’s final minute of play.

The Penguins missed on their one scoring chance of overtime, and the Checkers went on to take possession deep in Penguins territory.  Sutter emerged with the puck at the bottom of the left circle, and placed a perfect wrist shot from a bad angle over Thiessen’s shoulder for the winner.

Thiessen falls to 5-4 with the loss, making 21 saves in the game.  Murphy turned aside 26 shots to improve to 5-2 in the postseason.

The Penguins ended the night 0-for-5 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.