PEORIA, Ill – Within four minutes of the face-off the Checkers were two goals to the good with Zac Dalpe and Zach Boychuk getting them on the board.
Dalpe scored with a minute of the start after collecting a rebound from a shot by Justin Shugg. Boychuk then added a second three minutes later with a shot from the circle that beat Peoria’s goalie Jake Allen. Later in the period Justin Shugg drove the puck in-to the roof of the net to make the score 3-0 Charlotte.
The second period was quiet as far as goals were concerned, but the third period proved to be completely different. Evgeny Grachev of the Rivermen pulled a goal back within half a minute of the re-start. Then Charlotte attacked and Michel Jordan scored his first goal since mid-November. Back came Peoria T. J. Hensick chipping John Muse to give them their second goal.
Charlotte had further chances to extend their lead when Boychuk shot wide from a great position. Matthew Pistilli missed two empty net opportunities that would have definitely sealed the game for the Checkers. As it was the scoring stopped and Charlotte came away with a 4-2 victory.
Charlotte outshot the Rivermen 30 to 28 with John Muse in the Checkers goal making 26 saves, he is now 9-2-0 on the season. They now travel to Chicago to face the Wolves in two important Mid-West Division games. The Wolves are four points behind Charlotte in the division with two games in hand.
EddieMitchell@ProHockeyNews.com
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