Albany-Charlotte Pregame Notes #3

Before previewing the last of the 3 game series between the Devils and Checkers, time to recap game 2 from Sunday afternoon:

A few lineup changes, Mike Murphy in net for Charlotte and Zach Boychuk and Brett Sutter back from Carolina (Jerome Samson and Zac Dalpe went up in their place), while J.S. Berube replaced Louis Robitaille in Albany’s lineup. Not as much rough stuff compared to the night before, although Pierre Luc Leblond took a 10 minute misconduct during the first period. Murphy and Dave Caruso were both very sharp in net, making outstanding saves and keeping the game scoreless after one period.

Second period saw the Devils get on the board first, much like the night before. Brad Mills gave Albany a 1-0 lead halfway through the period. But the Checkers tied it up late in the second on a Jon Matsumoto short handed goal. That became a momentum changer for the Checkers into the 3rd. Brett Carson gave Charlotte a 2-1 lead early in the 3rd, then new Devil Steven Zalewski continued to make an impact, scoring a game tying goal on the power play about 2 and a half minutes later. Both teams went back and forth as the period progressed, but it was defenseman Brett Bellemore who snagged the game winner with 3 and a half minutes to go in the game. The Devils pulled Caruso late, but it wasn’t to be and Charlotte held on for a 3-2 win.

Now to look ahead to the last game of the 3 game set in North Carolina:

Season: This is the 5th meeting of 6, both teams have 2 wins apiece. After tonight they square off one more time on April 2nd in Albany.

Standings: With Norfolk idle and Hershey taking a 7-1 beating from the Penguins, Charlotte now sits in 3rd place in the East Division, with a record of 30-18-2-4 and 66 points. They are 1 point ahead of Norfolk and 4 points behind 2nd place Hershey. Albany falls to a 19-29-0-3 record and 41 points, 1 point ahead of Adirondack and 1 point behind Syracuse.

Game time 7:00. Due to work obligations I will not be able to live tweet it…sorry…but will try to send updates when possible…