Zac Dalpe scores two short-handed goals to lead Checkers over Heat 5-1

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. - Zac Dalpe had two short-handed goals and two assists as the Charlotte Checkers defeated the Abbotsford Heat 5-1 in American Hockey League action Friday.

Brett Sutter added a goal and three assists for the Checkers (31-17-5). Matt Beca and Luke Pither also scored for Charlotte. Justin Peters made 28 saves in the win.

Greg Nemisz scored for the Heat (26-21-8), while Barry Brust made just 16 saves in suffering his third-straight loss.

Nemisz opened the scoring for Abbotsford on a two-on-one with Roman Horak at 6:06 of the first period. Horak waited until the last moment to slide the puck to Nemisz at the side of the net, and buried it for his first goal of the season.

Sutter tied the game at 12:31 when he redirected Dalpe’s point shot.

Dalpe put the Checkers up 2-1 at 12:22 of the second period.

Dalpe scored his second short-handed goal 71 seconds into the third period . After the Checkers were served a penalty for too many men on the ice Sutter cut through the Abbotsford defence and slid the puck to Dalpe, who beat Brust just under the glove, for his 18th goal of the season.

Becca made it 4-1 at the 10-minute mark of the third, converting his own rebound after being set up by Sutter and Dalpe off an odd-man rush.

At 11:40 Chris Terry threw a puck towards the net before Pither deflected it past Brust for his sixth of the season.