PEORIA, Ill – Charlotte had never been to Peoria before but when they met the Rivermen at home in October they won both games. Saturday night was different with Peoria out shooting the Checkers 47-24 and giving new signing from ECHL Trenton Dave Caruso in the Charlotte goal a good workout.
In the first period Peoria set the tone out shooting the Checkers 12-2, it wasn’t until near the end of the period that they got on the scoreboard. Derek Nesbitt scored the first and just over a minute later Anthony Negro made it two. The two shots taken by Charlotte in this period tied a season low.
Charlotte kept things tight in the second period until halfway through when Cade Fairchild hit a great shot that beat Caruso. This was followed also immediately by Tyler Shattock snatching a goal from a shot by teammate Stefan Della Rovere.
T.J. Hensick put the Rivermen even further ahead in the third when they had a five-on-three situation. The Checkers Sean Dolan was penalized for tripping and Bobby Sanguinetti also received a double minor penalty.
Jerome Samson pulled one goal back for Charlotte a few minutes later, Zach Boychuk added a second just before the buzzer. It was the Rivermen’s night though; they dictated the play almost from the face-off, coming out easy winners by 5-2.
Norfolk Admirals are next up for Charlotte on Sunday, February 12 at 6pm. The Checkers will have an opportunity to settle the score with Peoria as they return there next Friday, February 17, part of a three-game road trip that will also see them take-on the Chicago Wolves.
EddieMitchell@ProHockeyNews.com
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