CHARLOTTE, NC – The Checkers had 41 shots on goal yet still came up short against the Chicago Wolves on Thursday night. Although Charlotte played well this 2-1 loss really hurt. The team was frustrated, especially after dominating the first period.
Mathieu Roy gave Charlotte the lead late in the first period, in when they had got off 19 shots to the Wolves 4. Mike Murphy, back in the net for Charlotte, had to wait until seven minutes into the game to make his first save.
Eddie Lack, the Wolves goaltender, had a good night, keeping his team in the game during the first period. Even after all the pressure Charlotte applied to the Wolves goal, they came off the ice at the buzzer with only one goal to show for it.
The second period the Wolves came back into the game with Bill Sweatt scoring on a two-on-one situation to tie things up at 1-1. Chicago snatched the winner with 5.41 left in the game. Jordan Schroeder beat Murphy, who made 23 saves, to give the Wolves a 2-1 lead and eventual victory.
Charlotte has had trouble finding the net of late, it was the second consecutive game in which they had taken 40 shots or more yet only recorded a total of two goals. During the current losing streak of four games they have only scored three goals. This showed in the final minute when Charlotte had a two-player advantage yet could not put the puck away.
The players seemed pleased with the effort, possibly it is just a goal scoring slump at the moment. Friday night gives Charlotte the opportunity to take revenge when they face Chicago again at the Time Warner Cable Arena.
Justin Shugg, was the only injured Checker, after taking a hard hit in the second period. Shugg had returned from ECHL’s Florida Everblades and had assisted on Roy’s goal. Mike Murphy was voted by fans as “The Roll Up Your Sleeves Hardest Worker Of the Game.”
EddieMitchell@ProHockeyNews.com
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