Between a heavy second-period offensive push and another Alex Nedeljkovic shutout performance, the Checkers took the series lead against Bridgeport by sinking the Sound Tigers 4-0.
Nedeljkovic picked up his fourth shutout of the season, stopping all 23 shots that came his way from a formidable Bridgeport attack, including several highlight-reel saves to keep his clean sheet.
Charlotte’s offense worked hard on their end as well with three goals in the second period, the last of which caused Bridgeport to switch goalies halfway through the frame.
The Checkers go on the road for a three-game series that includes two games against the second-place Bridgeport Sound Tigers before returning to Charlotte for the last stretch of home games of the regular season.
Patrick Brown found the back of the net early in the first with a power-play strike sent his way from Zach Nastasiuk, marking the captain’s 17th goal of the season. Andrew Poturalski continued his hot streak by tallying two goals, both of which were quick shots fired from the circles in the second frame – one in the slot off a feed from Aleksi Saarela, and one from the top of the circle as the result of a strong individual effort.
Poturalski picked up an assist just 40 seconds after his first tally as he passed the puck to Nastasiuk for a breakaway, who tapped in a slick backhanded goal past Bridgeport netminder Christopher Gibson.
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