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TONIGHT'S GAME NOTES - GAME FIVE - PENGUINS AT CHECKERS

The Penguins are preparing for tonight's crucial Game Five at Charlotte's Time Warner Cable Arena.  Faceoff is set for 7:00 pm.  A win brings the series back to Wilkes-Barre tomorrow.

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CHECKERS TAKE GAME FOUR; DISALLOWED GOAL BURNS PENGUINS

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Chris Terry scored a power play goal at 2:01 of the third period and was all that goaltender Mike Murphy needed, as Terry’s goal was paired with Murphy’s 44 saves to help the Charlotte Checkers to a 1-0 victory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Wednesday night at Time Warner Cable Arena in Game Four of the East Division Finals.

Both Penguins netminder Brad Thiessen and Murphy again turned in an impressive performance in goal.  Each team had two power play chances in the first period, but the penalty killing on both sides continued to dominate.  The Penguins had an apparent goal waved off when Ryan Craig chipped a loose puck underneath Murphy on the second power play chance, but the referee ruled incidental contact on Murphy.

The Penguins outshot the Checkers 14-11 after the first period.

The visitors’ best chance of the series to break a road power play drought came past the halfway point when they had 59 seconds of a two-man advantage.  A key block by Nicolas Blanchard on a Penguins point shot helped Brett Sutter return to the ice, and two saves by Murphy and a quick clear moments later capped off a gritty penalty kill by the Checkers.  The second period would end scoreless and chippy, with Corey Potter and Zach Boychuk earning double-minor penalties for roughing.

Keven Veilleux then took a penalty early in the third period which led to the Checkers’ goal.  The Penguins ultimately failed to clear the puck out of the defensive zone, and Bryan Rodney hurried the turnover to Terry at his left.  Terry’s wrist shot went through traffic and past Thiessen’s glove for the only goal of the contest.

Thiessen took the tough loss, giving up just one goal and making 31 saves to fall to 5-5 in the postseason.  Murphy improved to 6-2.

The Penguins ended the night 0-for-5 on the power play and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill.          

The Checkers now have a three games to one lead in the East Division Finals.

The two teams will face off for Game Five of the East Division Finals on Friday, May 6 at 7:00 pm at Time Warner Cable Arena.  If necessary, Game Six will be played back at Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday, May 7 at 7:05 pm.  Individual tickets are on sale at the Mohegan Sun Arena box office, through any TicketMaster outlet, online at ticketmaster.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

Ticket packages for the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs are also currently available through the Penguins’ ticket offices by calling (570) 208-PENS.

TONIGHT'S GAME NOTES - GAME FOUR - PENGUINS AT CHECKERS

The Penguins are preparing for tonight's Game Four against the Charlotte Checkers in the East Division Finals, and you can do the same by perusing tonight's game notes...

CLICK HERE FOR GAME FOUR NOTES

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.

TONIGHT'S GAME NOTES - GAME THREE - PENGUINS AT CHECKERS

Get ready for tonight's Game Three by perusing the game notes at the link below.

Pregame with Tom and Scott kicks off on 102.3 The Mountain at 6:30 pm, faceoff from Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, NC is at 7 sharp.

Let's Do This!!

CLICK HERE FOR TONIGHT'S GAME NOTES

Game 2 Highlights - Penguins vs. Checkers